24 C.F.R. Subpart C—Certification of Substantially Equivalent State Law
Title 24 - Housing and Urban Development
Authority: Sec. 1419, Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act, 82 Stat. 590, 598; 15 U.S.C. 1718; sec. 7(d), Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Act, 42 U.S.C. 3535(d).
Source: 45 FR 40491, June 13, 1980, unless otherwise noted.
(a) This subpart establishes procedures and criteria for certifying State land sale or lease disclosure programs and State land development standards programs. The purpose of State Certification is to lessen the administrative burden on the individual developer, arising where there are duplicative state and federal registration and disclosure requirements, without affecting the level of protection given to the individual purchaser or lessee. If the Secretary determines that a state has adopted and is effectively administering a program that gives purchasers and lessees the same level of protection given to them by the Federal Interstate Land Sales Registration Program, then the Secretary shall certify that state. Developers who accomplish an effective registration with a state in which the land is located after the Secretary has certified the state may satisfy the registration requirements of the Secretary by filing with the Secretary materials designated by agreement with certified states in lieu of the federal Statement of Record and Property Report. (b) A state that is certified by the Secretary shall be known as the situs certified state for all land located within its borders. (c) After a developer is effectively registered with the Secretary through a certified state, the Secretary has the same authority over that developer as the Secretary has over developers who file directly with the Secretary. This includes the authority to subpoena information and to examine, evaluate and suspend a developer's registration under sections 1407(d) and (e) of the Act and §1710.45(b)(1) and (b)(2) of these regulations. (d) The prohibitions against the use of the Property Report contained in §1710.29 apply to state disclosure materials and substantive development standards. In addition, for purposes of this paragraph, references made to the Secretary, OILSR and the Department of Housing and Urban Development in §1710.29 will include a reference to the equivalent state officer or agency. (e) The Purchaser's Revocation Rights, Sales Practices and Standards rules contained in part 1715 of these regulations apply to developers who register with the Secretary through certified States. All of the rules in part 1715 apply, excepting the disclaimer statement in §1715.50(a) which is modified to read as follows:
Obtain the Property Report or its equivalent, required by Federal and State law and read it before signing anything. No Federal or State agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. (f) Developers are obliged to pay filing fees as set forth in §1710.35 of these regulations. (a) If the Secretary determines that a state qualifies for certification under §1710.501(a) or §1710.501(b), the Secretary shall so notify the state in writing. The state will be effectively certified under the section and as of the date specified in the notice. (b) If the Secretary determines that a state does not meet the standards for certification, the Secretary shall so notify the state in writing. The notice will specify particular changes in state law, regulations or administration that are needed to obtain certification. The Secretary shall not be bound in advance to certify a state that makes the suggested changes if other deficiencies become apparent at a later time. (c) The Secretary's final determination to accept or reject a State's Application for Certification of Land Sales Program shall be published in the (d) A state's certification will remain in effect until it is voluntarily suspended by the state or withdrawn by the Secretary. A state can voluntarily suspend its certification by notifying the Secretary in writing. The suspension will take effect as of the date and time specified in the notice to the Secretary, or upon receipt by the Secretary if no date is specified. The Secretary may withdraw certification as provided in §1710.505. (a) By filing an Application for Certification of State Land Sales Program pursuant to §1710.502, a state agrees that, if it is certified by the Secretary, it will: (1) Accept for filing and allow to be distributed as the sole disclosure document, a disclosure document currently in effect in the situs certified state. Only those documents filed with the situs state after certification by the Secretary must automatically be accepted by other certified states; (2) Certify copies of all disclosure documents, amendments and consolidations filed with it by developers of land located within its borders for and as needed by developers required to submit certified copies to the Secretary and all other certified states. The certification shall indicate whether the documents are currently in effect. The certification should state as follows:
The (indicate the State Department of Real Estate or other appropriate entity) has reviewed the attached materials and finds they are true copies of (1) the (indicate Property Report or other similar state accepted document or amendment to such document) for (indicate the name of the subdivision), made effective by the State of ________ on ________ (give date) and still in effect; and (2) the supporting documentation upon which such (indicate the document or amendment) is based. Signature (3) Assist and cooperate with the Secretary and other certified states by requiring that developers of land within its borders amend disclosure documents if any change occurs in any representation of material fact required to be stated in the disclosure documents, including a change resulting from the developer's compliance with the requirements of the law in another certified state. The state shall require developers to send certified copies of the amended documents to the Secretary and requesting certified states. All amendments to such materials, which reflect changes in material facts regarding the subdivision, shall be submitted to the situs certified state authorities within 15 days of the date on which the developer knows, or should have known, of such change. Certified copies of the disclosure documents shall be submitted by the developer to the Secretary and the other certified states within 15 days after it becomes effective under the situs certified state laws. (4) Continue to effectively operate its Land Sales Program as that Program is described in the Application for Certification and as it was certified by the Secretary. (5) Assist and cooperate with the Secretary by monitoring the sales practices of developers registered with it directly or through another certified state, and by reporting to the Secretary any violations of the Act, including but not limited to the required contract provisions, revocation rights and anti-fraud provisions of 15 U.S.C. 1703, or the regulations. (b) A state required to accept the disclosure documents of another situs certified state pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section, may, in its discretion, require the developer to furnish it with copies certified pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of this section. (c) No state shall be prevented from establishing substantive or disclosure requirements which exceed the federal standard provided that such requirements are not in conflict with the Act or these regulations. For example, a certified state may impose additional disclosure requirements on developers of land located within its borders but may not impose additional disclosure requirements on developers whose disclosure documents it is required to accept pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section. However, a certified state may impose additional nondisclosure requirements on out of state developers even though the developer is registered in the certified state in which the land is located. (d) After a developer is effectively registered with a certified state through a situs certified state, either or both certified states may exercise full enforcement authorities and powers over that developer according to applicable law and regulations. (e) The Secretary shall cooperate with the certified states by offering a forum for nonbinding arbitration of disputes between two or more certified States arising out of the State Certification Program. (a) The Secretary shall periodically review the laws, regulations and administration thereof, of a certified state. If the Secretary finds that, taken as a whole, the laws, regulations or administration thereof, no longer meet the requirements of subpart C, then the Secretary may issue a notice to withdraw the certification of that state. (b) The notice of proceedings to withdraw a state's certification will be issued to the state by the Secretary pursuant to §1720.236. The Secretary may, after notice and after an opportunity for a hearing, pursuant to §1720.237, issue an order withdrawing certification. In the event that a withdrawal order is issued, the order shall remain in effect until the state has amended its laws, regulations or the administration thereof or has otherwise complied with the requirements of the order. When the state has complied with the requirements of the order, the Secretary shall so declare and the withdrawal order shall cease to be effective. (c) Withdrawal orders issued pursuant to this subsection will be effective as of the date the order is received by the state. The withdrawal order shall be published in the (d) The rules of chapter IX of 24 CFR part 1720, subpart D will generally apply to hearings on withdrawal of a state's certification. (a)(1) If the Secretary has certified a state under §1710.501, the Secretary shall accept for filing disclosure materials or other acceptable documents which have been approved by the certified state within which the subdivision is located. Only those filings made by the developer with the state after the state was certified by the Secretary shall be automatically accepted by the Secretary. (2) Retroactive application of the effectiveness of state's certification to a specified date may be granted on a state-by-state basis, where the Secretary determines that retroactive application will not result in automatic federal registration of any state filing that has not met the requirements of the certified state laws. (b) For a developer to be registered with the Secretary, the developer shall file with the Secretary a state certified copy of the Property Report or its equivalent, and any other documentation as stipulated in the Secretary's Notice of Certification to the state. (c) The documents and materials filed under paragraph (b) of this section will be automatically effective as the Federal Statement of Record and Property Report after these materials and the proper filing fee have been received by the Secretary. (d) The Secretary has authority pursuant to §1710.45(b)(1) and (b)(2) to suspend individual filings which fail to meet the requirements of the certified state's law or regulations or the standards in the certification agreement whether or not the state agency has initiated a similar action. (e)(1) State accepted materials filed with the Secretary pursuant to this section must be amended to reflect any amendment to such materials made effective by the state. All amendments to such materials must be submitted to the Secretary within 15 days after becoming effective under the applicable state laws. Amendments are automatically effective upon their receipt by the Secretary and the provisions of §1710.45(b)(1) and (2) apply to amendments filed under this section. (2) Amendments shall include or be accompanied by: (i) A letter from the developer giving a narrative statement fully explaining the purpose and significance of the amendment and referring to that section and page of the material which is being amended, and; (ii) A signed state acceptance certification substantially the same as that required by §1710.504(a)(2). (f) If a certified state suspends the registration of a particular subdivision for any reason, the subdivision's federal registration with the Secretary shall be automatically suspended as a result of the state action. No action need be taken by the Secretary to effect the suspension. (g) A state is certified only with regard to land located within the state borders. The Secretary is not required to accept filings which have been accepted by a certified state if the land which is the subject of the filing is not located within that certified state. For example, if State A is certified by the Secretary and State B is not, the Secretary is not required to accept filings from State B simply because State A accepts filings from State B. (a) If a state certified under §1710.501(a) suspends its own certification or has its certification withdrawn under §1710.505, the Federal disclosure materials accepted and made effective by the Secretary, pursuant to §1710.506, prior to the suspension or withdrawal shall remain in effect unless otherwise suspended by the Secretary. (b) In the event that there is a change in a material fact with regard to a subdivision that remains registered under the provisions of paragraph (a), the developer shall file a new registration with the Secretary meeting the requirements of the then applicable Federal registration regulations. Modifications of the Federal format may be used as specified by the Secretary. (a) If a state certified under §1710.501(b) suspends its own certification or has its certification withdrawn under §1710.505, the effectiveness of the Federal disclosure materials accepted and made effective by the Secretary, pursuant to §1710.506, prior to the suspension or withdrawal shall terminate ninety (90) days after the notice of withdrawal order is published in the (b) At the end of the ninety day period, or during the ninety day period in the event that there is a change in material fact with regard to a subdivision that remains registered under the provisions of paragraph (a), the developer shall file a new registration with the Secretary meeting the requirements of the then applicable Federal registration regulations. Modifications of the Federal format may be used as specified by the Secretary. (a) Materials filed with a state and accepted by the Secretary as a Statement of Record prior to January 1, 1981, pursuant to 24 CFR 1710.52–59 (as published in the (b) If any such filing becomes inactive or suspended under the laws of the state, the registration with the Secretary shall be ineffective from that time. (c) Such Statement of Record may be suspended pursuant to §1710.45. (d) The Secretary may refuse to accept any particular filing under this section when it is determined that acceptance is not in the public interest. (e) The Secretary may require such changes, additional information, documents or certification as the Secretary determines to be reasonably necessary or appropriate in the public interest. (a) Amendments—(1) General requirements. State accepted materials, filed with the Secretary pursuant to §1710.552 shall be amended to reflect any amendment to such materials made effective by the state or any change of a material fact regarding the subdivision. All amendments to such materials, which reflect changes in material facts regarding the subdivision, shall be submitted to the state authorities within 15 days of the date on which the developer knows, or should have known, of such change and to the Secretary within 15 days after it becomes effective under the applicable State laws. However, such amendment shall not be effective as a Federal registration until the Secretary has determined that the amendment meets all applicable requirements of these regulations. (2) Amendments shall include or be accompanied by: (i) A letter from the developer giving a narrative statement fully explaining the purpose and significance of the amendment and referring to that section and page of the Statement of Record which is being amended, and; (ii) All amended pages of the state accepted materials filed with the Secretary. These pages shall be retyped with their amendments. Each such page shall have its date of preparation in the lower right hand corner, and; (iii) A signed state acceptance certification, and; (iv) The appropriate fees as indicated in §1710.35. (b) Consolidations—(1) When consolidations allowed. If lots are to be registered pursuant to §1710.552 which are in the same common promotional plan with other lots already registered with the Secretary, then new consolidated state accepted materials including such lots may be filed with the Secretary as a Statement of Record following the format of the previously accepted filing. (2) Consolidated Statements of Record shall include or be accompanied by: (i) State accepted consolidation materials which are also acceptable to the Secretary as a Statement of Record (state property report inclusive). These state accepted consolidation materials shall cover all lots previously registered in the common promotional plan except those deleted pursuant to other provisions in these regulations. These materials shall also include information and items required for state accepted materials filed as an initial registration Statement of Record, except that, supporting documentation in materials previously made effective by the Secretary for other lots in the subject common promotional plan may be incorporated by reference into the new consolidation materials submitted as a Statement of Record. However, such documentation may be incorporated by reference only if it is applicable to the new consolidated lots as well as to the previously registered lots. (ii) A signed state acceptance certification. (iii) The appropriate fees as indicated in §1710.35. (c) Effective date—State filing. The effective dates of state materials filed as amendments and consolidated Statements of Record shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of §1710.21. [45 FR 40491, June 13, 1980, as amended at 49 FR 31372, Aug. 6, 1984] (a)(1) The cover page on Property Reports for filings made with the Secretary pursuant to §1710.552 shall be prepared in accordance with §1710.105 and shall include the following paragraphs:
“If you received this Report prior to signing a contract or agreement, you may cancel your contract or agreement by giving notice to the seller anytime before midnight of the seventh day following the signing of the contract or agreement. “If you did not receive this Report before you signed a contract or agreement, you may cancel the contract or agreement anytime within two years from the date of signing.” (2) If the purchaser is entitled to a longer revocation period by operation of State law, that period becomes the Federal revocation period and the Cover Page must reflect the longer period, rather than the seven days. (b)(1) If a deed is not delivered within 180 days of the signing of the contract or agreement of sale or unless certain provisions are included in the contract or agreement, the purchaser is entitled to cancel the contract within two years from the date of signing the contract or agreement. (2) The deed must be a warranty deed, or where such a deed is not commonly used, a similar deed legally acceptable in the jurisdiction where the lot is located. The deed must be free and clear of liens and encumbrances. (3) The contract provisions are: (i) A legally sufficient and recordable lot description, and; (ii) A provision that the seller will give the purchaser written notification of purchaser's default or breach of contract and the opportunity to remedy the default or breach within 20 days of the notice; and (iii) A provision that, if the purchaser loses rights and interest in the lot because of the purchaser's default or breach of contract after 15 percent of the purchase price, exclusive of interest, has been paid, the seller shall refund to the purchaser any amount which remains from the payments made after subtracting 15 percent of the purchase price, exclusive of interest, or the amount of the seller's actual damages, whichever is the greater. (4) If a deed is not delivered within 180 days of the signing of the contract or if the necessary provisions are not included in the contract, the following statement shall be used in place of any other rescision language:
“Under Federal law you may cancel your contract or agreement of sale any time within two years from the date of signing.” (a)(1) All contracts or agreements, including promissory notes used in sale of lots for filings made with the Secretary pursuant to §1710.552, must contain the following language in boldface type (which must be distinguished from the type used for the rest of the contract) on the face or signature page above all signatures:
You have the option to cancel your contract or agreement of sale by notice to the seller until midnight of the seventh day following the signing of the contract or agreement. If you did not receive a Property Report prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Office of Interstate Land Sales Registration, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in advance of your signing the contract or agreement, this contract or agreement may be revoked at your option for two years from the date of signing. (2) If the purchaser is entitled to a longer revocation period by operation of State law or the Act, that period becomes the Federal revocation period and the contract or agreement must reflect the longer period, rather than the seven days. The language shall be consistent with that shown on the Cover Page (see §1710.558). (b) The above revocation provisions may not be limited or qualified in the contract or other document by requiring a specific type of notice or by requiring that notice be given at a specified place.
Title 24: Housing and Urban Development
PART 1710—LAND REGISTRATION
Subpart C—Certification of Substantially Equivalent State Law
§ 1710.500 General.
§ 1710.503 Notice of certification.
§ 1710.504 Cooperation among certified states and between certified states and the Secretary.
§ 1710.505 Withdrawal of State certification.
§ 1710.506 State/Federal filing requirements.
§ 1710.507 Effect of suspension or withdrawal of certification granted under §1710.501(a): Full disclosure requirement.
§ 1710.508 Effect of suspension of certification granted under §1710.501(b): Sufficient protection requirement.
§ 1710.552 Previously accepted state filings.
§ 1710.556 Previously accepted state filings—amendments and consolidations.
§ 1710.558 Previously accepted state filings—notice of revocation rights on property report cover page.
§ 1710.559 Previously accepted state filings—notice of revocation rights in contracts and agreements.
