Stop The Code Increase

Columbia: Don't Price Out Families with Costly New Building Codes 

The city wants to increase building costs by $8,000-$12,000 per home to save homeowners just $10/month.

That's a losing deal for Columbia families.


Sign the Petition to Stop the Code Increase

The Problem

Columbia City Council is about to make a $10,000 mistake—and homebuyers will pay for it.


The city is planning to update building codes from 2018 standards to 2024 standards. Sounds reasonable, right? Here's what they're not telling you:


  • Cost to homebuyers: $8,000-$12,000 in additional materials per home
  • Monthly utility savings: $10 per month (maximum)
  • Real monthly impact: $40-50 MORE per month in mortgage payments


The math is simple: Columbia families will pay $40-50 more each month to save $10. That's a net loss of $30-40 every single month for 30 years.

By the Numbers

What the city admits:


  • New codes will cost $8,000-$12,000 more per home in materials alone
  • Maximum utility savings: $10/month
  • Labor costs and other expenses will add even more


What that means for a $400,000 home:


  • Additional monthly mortgage payment: $40-50
  • Monthly utility savings: $10
  • Net monthly cost to families: $30-40 MORE per month
  • Over 30 years: $10,800-$14,400 in extra costs

Who Gets Hurt Most?

  • First-time homebuyers - An extra $10,000 upfront makes homeownership even harder to achieve
  • Young families - Already stretched budgets can't absorb an extra $40/month in housing costs
  • Essential workers - Teachers, nurses, and public safety workers earning median incomes get priced out
  • Students and young professionals - Recent Mizzou grads wanting to stay in Columbia face higher barriers
  • Seniors - Fixed-income residents looking to downsize face fewer affordable options

The Real Cost of "Savings"

The city claims these codes will save energy. But let's be honest about the real costs:


Upfront: $10,000+ more to buy a home Monthly: $30-40 more in total housing costs Long-term: Over $10,000 in additional costs over the life of the loan


For a family earning Columbia's median income, that extra $40/month represents groceries, school supplies, or emergency savings they won't have.

What We're Asking

Pause the adoption of 2024 building codes until the city can prove the benefits outweigh the costs.


Before forcing Columbia families to pay thousands more for their homes, the city should:


  • Provide a full cost-benefit analysis that includes ALL costs, not just materials
  • Show how this helps Columbia's affordable housing crisis
  • Explain why a $30-40 monthly cost increase is worth $10 in savings
  • Consider voluntary incentives instead of mandatory requirements


Take Action Now!

The city council will vote on this soon. Your voice matters.


✅ Sign our petition demanding the city halt the code changes

✅ Contact your council member and ask them to vote NO

✅ Attend the next city council meeting to speak during public comment

✅ Share this page with neighbors, coworkers, and friends


Don't let the city price out Columbia families in the name of saving $10/month.