The International Residential Code, 2021 (hereinafter referred to as the Code) published by the International Code Council, Inc, is hereby adopted and by reference thereto is made a part of this chapter with the same force and effect as though set out in full herein, save and except such changes, amendments, revisions, deletions, substitutions and/or additions as are specified in this chapter. If conflicts arise between this code and other codes adopted by the State of Maryland or Garrett County, the more restrictive provisions shall govern. At least one copy of this code and supplements thereto shall be on file and open for public use, examinations, and inspections in the offices of the Garrett County Department of Community Development - Permits & Inspections Division.
(A) Modifications to International Residential Code.
(1) Chapter 1, Section R101.1 Title is amended is amended by inserting “GARRETT COUNTY” as the “[NAME OF JURISDICTION]”.
(2) Chapter 1, Section R101.2 Scope, Exception 3, 4 and 5 are each amended by deleting “five or fewer persons” and inserting “eight or fewer persons”.
(3) SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
“SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION. Chapter 1 of the International Building Code as amended within this ordinance shall apply to the administration of the International Residential Code.”
(4) Chapter 3, Table R301.2 CLIMATE AND GEOGRAPHIC DESIGN CRITERIA is to be completed by inserting the data listed below and keyed to the table headings.
a. Ground snow load: 40 psf
b. Wind speed: 115 (mph)
c. Topographic effects: No
d. Special wind region: No
e. Wind-borne debris zone: No
f. Seismic design category: A
g. Weathering: Severe
h. Frost line depth: 36 inches
i. Termite: Moderate to Heavy
j. Ice barrier underlayment required: Yes
k. Flood Hazards: 3/2/89 -10/2/2013. FIRM Panel #'s available upon request
l. Air freezing index: 1309
m. Mean annual Temp: 47.6
n. Elevation: 1948
o. Altitude correction factor: 0.98
p. Coincident wet bub: 70
q. Indoor winter design dry-bulb temperature: 70
r. Outdoor winter design dry-bulb temperature: S
s. Heating temperature difference: 65
t. Latitude: 38 Degrees North
u. Daily Range: M
v. Indoor summer design relative humidity: 50%
w. Summer design gains: 26
x. Indoor summer design dry-bulb temperature: 75
y. Outdoor summer design dry-bulb temperature: 83
z. Cooling temperature difference: 8
(5) Chapter 3, Table R302.6 DWELLING GARAGE SEPARATION is amended by deleting “½-inch gypsum board” in all applicable sections and inserting “5/8-inch Type X gypsum board” in lieu thereof.
(6) Chapter 3, Section R309.1 Floor surface is amended by adding a new sentence at the end as follows:
“No point on the finish garage floor of an attached garage shall be closer than four (4) inches to the finish floor level of the dwelling.”
(7) Chapter 3, Section R310.1 Emergency escape and rescue opening required is amended by deleting Exception 2.
(8) Chapter 3, Section R310.5 Replacement windows for emergency escape and rescue openings is deleted in its entirety.
(9) Chapter 3, Section 310.6 Dwelling additions Exception 3 is deleted in its entirety.
(10) Chapter 3, Section R310.7 Alterations or repairs of existing basement Exception is deleted in its entirety.
(11) Chapter 3, Section R310.7.1 Existing emergency and escape rescue openings is deleted in its entirety.
(12) Chapter 3, Section R313.2 One- and two-family dwelling automatic sprinkler systems is amended by adding the following additional exception:
“Exception 2. An automatic residential fire sprinkler system shall not be required in one- and two-family dwellings for a property not connected to an electrical utility.”
(13) Chapter 3, Section R317.1 Location required is amended by deleting from subsection 2 the words “and are less than 8 inches (203 mm) from exposed ground” and by deleting from subsection 3 the words “unless separated from such slab by an impervious moisture barrier.”
(14) Section R322.1 General is deleted and replaced with the following:
“General. Buildings and structures constructed in whole or in part in flood hazard areas shall comply with the Garrett County Floodplain Management Ordinance.” Sections R322.1.1 through R322.10 are deleted.
(15) Chapter 3, Section R327.1 General is hereby amended by adding the following after the words Spa Code:
“as adopted & amended by the State of Maryland in COMAR 09.12.56"
(16) Chapter 4, Section R401.3 Drainage is amended by deleting the last sentence and inserting the following in lieu thereof:
“The grade away from the foundation shall fall a minimum of 3 inches (77 mm) within the first 5 feet (1524 mm), a slope of 5 percent.” The Exception which follows is amended by deleting the words, “6 inches (152 mm) of fall within 10 feet (3048 mm)” and inserting the following in lieu thereof. “3 inches (77 mm) of fall within 5 feet (1524 mm).”
(17) Chapter 4, Figure R403.1(2) PERMANENT WOOD FOUNDATION BASEMENT WALL SECTION is amended by deleting the note “FINISH GRADE SLOPE ½” PER FOOT MIN. 6 FT. FROM WALL” and inserting the following note in lieu thereof “MINIMUM FINISH GRADE SLOPE 3" IN 5' FROM WALL”
(18) Chapter 4, Figure R403.1(3) PERMANENT WOOD FOUNDATION CRAWL SPACE SECTION is amended by deleting the note, “FINISH GRADE SLOPE ½ IN. PER FOOT MIN. 6 FT. FROM WALL” and inserting the following note in lieu thereof “MINIMUM FINISH GRADE SLOPE 3" IN 5' FROM WALL.”
(19) Chapter 4, Section R405.1 Concrete or masonry foundations is amended by deleting the following from the first sentence: “and enclose habitable or usable spaces located below grade.”
(20) Chapter 4, Section R406.1 Concrete and masonry foundation dampproofing is amended by deleting “and enclose interior spaces and floors below grade” from the first sentence and by deleting the last sentence and inserting the following in lieu thereof “Concrete walls shall be dampproofed by applying any one of the above listed dampproofing materials, any one of the waterproofing materials listed in Section R406.2, or any other industry accepted product to the exterior of the wall.”
(21) Chapter 4, Section R406.2 Concrete and masonry foundation waterproofing is amended by adding a new sentence as follows, “Other industry accepted products which offer comparable waterproofing performance may also be used.”
(22) Chapter 5, Section RS02.1 General is amended by adding the following exception:
“Exception: Lumber sold by sawmills must be visually graded structural lumber evidenced by a stamp or certificate of inspection showing species, grade, and moisture content.”
(23) Chapter 5, Section R507.3 Footings is amended by deleting Exception 2.
(24) Chapter 6, Section R602.1 General is amended by adding the following exception:
“Exception: Lumber sold by sawmills must be visually graded structural lumber evidenced by a stamp or certificate of inspection showing species, grade, and moisture content”
(25) Chapter 8, Section R802.1 General is amended by adding the following exception:
“Exception: Lumber sold by sawmills must be visually graded structural lumber evidenced by stamp or certificate of inspection showing species, grade, and moisture content.”
(26) Chapter 11, ENERGY EFFICIENCY is prefaced by the following note:
“This Chapter is subject to the amendments adopted in Public Safety Article Subtitle 12, Chapter 51, Maryland Building Performance Standards.”
(27) Part V-Mechanical, Chapters 12-23 are hereby prefaced by the following statement:
“For the applicable requirements concerning mechanical systems, refer to the Garrett County Mechanical Code and the mechanical code adopted pursuant to the Business Regulation Article, 9A-205, Annotated Code of Maryland.”
(28) Chapter 24 Fuel Gas is hereby prefaced by the following statement:
“For the applicable requirements concerning fuel gas, also refer to the Garrett County Plumbing Code Ordinance and the plumbing code adopted pursuant to the Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 12, Annotated Code of Maryland.”
(29) Chapter 24, Section G2420.3.2 (409.3.2) Individual buildings is deleted and replaced with the following:
“Individual buildings. A shutoff valve shall be installed outdoors, above ground and within 10 feet of each building, including at each building in a common system serving more than one building. Such shutoff valves shall be readily accessible and visible to emergency personnel.”
(30) Part VII Plumbing, Chapters 25 through 33 are hereby prefaced by the following statement:
“For the applicable requirements concerning plumbing systems, refer to the Garrett County Plumbing Code Ordinance and the plumbing code adopted pursuant to the Business Occupations and Professions Article, Title 12, Annotated Code of Maryland.
(31) Part VIII-Electrical, Chapters 34-43 are hereby prefaced by the following statement:
“For the applicable electrical requirements, refer to the Garrett County Electrical Code Ordinance and the National Electrical Code as adopted and enforced by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to the provisions of the Public Safety Article, Title 12, Subtitle 6, Annotated Code of Maryland.”
(32) Chapter 35 SERVICES, Section E3601.1 Scope Add a new as follows:
“Section E3601.1.1 Additional references: The installation of electrical services shall also be subject to the regulations of the power company serving the area in which the service is to be installed”.
(33) APPENDIX AC EXIT TERMINALS OF MECHANICAL DRAFT AND DIRECT-VENT VENTING SYSTEMS is hereby incorporated into this section.
(34) APPENDIX AE MANUFACTURED HOUSING USED AS DWELLINGS is hereby incorporated into this section.
(35) APPENDIX AE, Section AE101.1 General is amended by deleting “(non-rental)”and inserting the words “or rental” in lieu thereof.
(36) APPENDIX AE, Section AE103 DEFINITIONS is amended by adding a new definition as follows:
“RENTAL LOT. A parcel of real estate inside a manufactured home rental community or other privately owned land where the land and the manufactured home to be installed are not held in common ownership.”
(37) APPENDIX AQ TINY HOUSES is hereby incorporated into this section.
(B) This section shall not apply to buildings for which a permit is applied for prior to the effective date of this section.
(Ord. —, passed 6-16-2015; Am. Ord. —, passed 10-7-2024)