# 42 U.S.C. § 1479: General powers of Secretary

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1479

## Section

- **Citation:** 42 U.S.C. § 1479
- **Heading:** General powers of Secretary
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 9, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE > CHAPTER 8A—SLUM CLEARANCE, URBAN RENEWAL, AND FARM HOUSING > SUBCHAPTER III—FARM HOUSING

## Text

The Secretary, for the purposes of this subchapter, shall have the power to determine and prescribe the standards of adequate farm housing and other buildings, by farms or localities, taking into consideration, among other factors, the type of housing which will provide decent, safe, and sanitary dwelling for the needs of the family using the housing, the type and character of the farming operations to be conducted, and the size and earning capacity of the land. The Secretary shall approve a residential building as meeting such standards if the building is constructed in accordance with (1) the minimum standards prescribed by the Secretary, (2) the minimum property standards prescribed by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for mortgages insured under title II of the National Housing Act [ 12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.], (3) the standards contained in any of the voluntary national model building codes, or (4) in the case of manufactured housing, the standards referred to in section 1472(e) of this title . To the maximum extent feasible, the Secretary shall promote the use of energy saving techniques through standards established by such Secretary for newly constructed residential housing assisted under this subchapter. Such standards shall, insofar as is practicable, be consistent with the standards established pursuant to section 526 of the National Housing Act [ 12 U.S.C. 1735f–4 ] and shall incorporate the energy performance requirements developed pursuant to such section.

( July 15, 1949, ch. 338 , title V, § 509, 63 Stat. 436 ; Pub. L. 95–128, title V, § 504 , Oct. 12, 1977 , 91 Stat. 1139 ; Pub. L. 96–153, title V, § 508 , Dec. 21, 1979 , 93 Stat. 1136 ; Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title V, § 506(a)], Nov. 30, 1983 , 97 Stat. 1242 ; Pub. L. 101–625, title VII , §§ 708, 709(b), Nov. 28, 1990 , 104 Stat. 4287 , 4288; Pub. L. 102–550, title VII, § 705 , Oct. 28, 1992 , 106 Stat. 3835 ; Pub. L. 104–120, § 4(a) , Mar. 28, 1996 , 110 Stat. 835 ; Pub. L. 104–180, title VII, § 734(b) , Aug. 6, 1996 , 110 Stat. 1602 ; Pub. L. 105–86, title VII, § 735(a) , Nov. 18, 1997 , 111 Stat. 2110 ; Pub. L. 105–276, title V, § 599C(a) , (e)(2)(B), Oct. 21, 1998 , 112 Stat. 2661 , 2662.)

## Nearby sections

- [42 U.S.C. § 1441 Congressional declaration of national housing policy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1441.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1441a National housing goals](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1441a.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1441b Plan for elimination of all substandard housing and realization of national housing goal; report by President to Congress](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1441b.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1441c Omitted](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1441c.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1442 Repealed. Aug. 31, 1954, ch. 1158, § 7 , 68 Stat. 1026](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1442.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1443 Provisions as controlling over other laws](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1443.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1444 Separability](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1444.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1445 Repealed. Aug. 9, 1955, ch. 690, § 4(1) , 69 Stat. 625](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1445.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1446 Transferred](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1446.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1471 Financial assistance by Secretary of Agriculture](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1471.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1471a Exemption on construction or modification of residential housing located on an infill site](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1471a.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1472 Loans for housing and buildings on adequate farms](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1472.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1473 Loans for housing and buildings on potentially adequate farms; conditions and terms](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1473.md)
- [42 U.S.C. § 1474 Loans and grants for repairs or improvements of rural dwellings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1474.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t42_s1479. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.