2024 ICC Building Codes (Ordinance 2025-19)

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.

What: Ordinance 2025-19 adopts the 2024 International Code Council codes (building, residential, existing building, property maintenance, fire, swimming pool and spa), replacing the city's 2009 building code.
Where it stands: adopted on final reading on 2026-10-12 as amended, seven yes and one no. First reading was 2026-09-28.
Contested point: residential sprinklers. An amendment limits the sprinkler requirement to the new addition when renovations cross the 50 percent threshold, rather than the whole existing house.

The ordinance

Energy, mechanical, plumbing and fuel gas work stay under statewide codes; the old ICC Performance Code is repealed.
Projects already in active design may finish under the prior code if the owner elects it and documents it.
The tiny-house appendix sets building standards only; zoning still controls where tiny houses or accessory dwelling units may go.
Residential sprinklers apply to newly built one- and two-family homes and townhouses; existing houses are not retrofitted just because of adoption.
Local items kept: flood-zone floors at base flood elevation plus 18 inches, a child daycare path for up to 12 children in a home, and permit expiration rules.

Main concerns

Councilman Lewis opposed sprinklers in additions and renovations, citing cost passed to buyers and reliability, and voted no on the amendment and the ordinance.
Councilman Anderson moved the amendment to protect owners of older homes from whole-house retrofits.
Another councilmember (name garbled in the captions) called the sprinkler question a hard tradeoff between housing affordability and fire safety, and supported the ordinance as amended.

Sources

Discussion time

About 20 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-12 - Regular City Council	20

Log

2026-10-12 - 2026-10-12 - Regular City Council: final reading. Committee amendment (sprinklers only in the new addition) passed by voice with Lewis opposed; ordinance adopted by roll call, seven to one.
2026-09-28 - 2026-09-28 - Regular City Council: first reading (from the posted agenda).
2026-09-14 - 2026-09-14 - Regular City Council: The August 11 Legislative, Finance, and Administration Committee report, accepted by consent agenda, recommended forwarding Ordinance No. 2025-19 to Council. The committee motion by Ms. Arndt, seconded by Ms. Hall, carried with Mr. Anderson voting no; an amendment to exempt existing residential structures from sprinkler requirements was moved by Dr. Sudler, seconded by Mr. Anderson, with Mr. Neil abstaining.
2026-09-28 - 2026-09-28 - Regular City Council: Deputy Fire Marshal Matthew Brown briefed Council on the proposed update, including tiny houses under 400 square feet and residential sprinklers. Council acknowledged the first reading by title and set final action for October 12, 2026.
2026-11-09 - 2026-11-09 - Regular City Council Meeting: the agenda lists a motion to rescind Ordinance No. 2025-19 (the adoption of the 2024 ICC codes) as a non-consent item. On 2026-11-10 the 2026-11-10 - Council Committee of the Whole Legislative, Finance and Administration Committee takes up Proposed Ordinance 2026-16 (2024 ICC Codes). Agenda only; reasons are not stated in the agenda.
2026-11-09 - 2026-11-09 - Regular City Council Meeting: non-consent item 13 to rescind Ordinance 2025-19; 2026-11-10 - 2026-11-10 - Council Committee of the Whole: Ordinance No. 2026-16 (2024 ICC Codes) forwarded to Council on the agenda. Results not yet recorded.