A building moratorium stops construction on building projects. There are numerous reasons why a moratorium is put on a project, including environmental risks, building code violations, safety concerns or contractor finances. In each case, a government agency or court determines if the moratorium is called for and what requirements are required to have it lifted. For example, if a general contractor building a subdivision in a rural area encounters a protected wetland in a rural area, an environmental group could present evidence to the city council or local court to have the building project stopped until adequate protection is in place for the wetlands or have the construction drawings altered to avoid the area. Should the governing body pass the moratorium, the contractor would then have a set time to present the changes.
