2025 Mutual Aid for Building Departments Overview

This fact sheet series provides an overview of mutual aid agreements for building departments, focusing on how local officials and community stakeholders can access additional personnel for post-disaster building inspections, permitting, and enforcement. It explains the structure and benefits of interstate (EMAC) and intrastate mutual aid systems, including legal protections and reimbursement options for both public- and private-sector responders. The document also outlines eligibility for FEMA Public Assistance grant funding under DRRA-1206 to support recovery staffing needs, and offers guidance on coordinating with relevant organizations and understanding state-specific mutual aid laws. The resource is intended to help communities prepare for and manage the surge in building department workload following disasters.