The time and cost of compliance with regulations results in some contractors not complying in order to minimize costs and move their projects ahead. Contractors who fully comply can face delays and added costs that are avoided by others. Consumers typically have little understanding of the applicable regulations and what is required in order to comply.

While regulations are needed to ensure quality and comprehensive work to protect the consumer, they must be effectively communicated, consistently applied, and enforced to avoid driving work to the underground economy to the detriment of consumers, the industry, and society as a whole.The interpretation of regulations varies across jurisdictions and sometimes even within jurisdictions, leading to uncertainty, delays, and added costs.

Contractors are not consulted enough when new codes, regulation, policies, and bylaws are developed. There are sometimes unintended consequences to regulation.