According to a new poll released earlier this week, Georgia voters support the recently-passed Sandy Springs, GA, construction regulations that require buildings over three stories tall or more than 100,000 square feet in total size to be constructed with enhanced quality materials like concrete or steel (96% support). Additionally, these voters support their own city passing similar regulations by overwhelming margins (94% support). The poll of 400 registered voters living in Georgia, commissioned by Build with Strength, a coalition led by NRMCA, was conducted online from September 22 - 26 and is representative of voters in the state in terms of gender, party affiliation, race and age.

In mid-August, the Sandy Springs City Council, along with Mayor Rusty Paul, amended the city’s building code to include new requirements that prohibit combustible materials from being used in certain building elements with the aim of providing increased building quality, sustainability, durability and longevity while at the same time revitalizing the areas zoned for uses other than what is currently developed. The Georgia poll comes on the heels of similar polls in New Jersey and New York which found respondents supportive of their states making changes to building codes following the devastating Edgewater (NJ) apartment complex fire in 2015 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Build With Strength is addressing this issue in many states and cities with both a public affairs campaign and a robust advocacy effort.