(A) There is hereby adopted by reference as the “City Building Code,” that certain building code known as the 2021 International Residential Code, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., exclusive of any appendix not specifically adopted by the city, notwithstanding any reference thereto in the provisions of said International Residential Code, and subject to the amendments and other provisions of this section. The provisions of the City Building Code as adopted shall be controlling in the construction of buildings and other structures and in all matters covered by such building code within the corporate limits of the city. A copy of said International Residential Code shall be on file in the office of the City Clerk for public inspection.
(B) Said International Residential Code is hereby amended as follows:
(1) Repairs, alterations, and additions necessary for the preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, continued use, or change of use of a historic building may be made in compliance with the State Historic Preservation Office requirements. Where, in any specific case, different sections of this building code specify different materials, methods of construction, or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern. Where there is a conflict between a general requirement and a specific requirement, the specific requirement shall be applicable.
(2) Fees are hereby amended by repealing subsections “Permit Fees,” and replacing such subsection with new subsections in lieu thereof, as follows:
“a. Permit Fees. The fee for each permit shall be as set forth by Resolution of the City Council. The payment of fees under this section of the Building Code shall not relieve the applicant, permit holder or other persons from the payment of any other fee or fees that may be prescribed by this Building Code, by law or by ordinance. No fee shall be required for buildings owned and used exclusively by the City.
b. Plan Review Fees. When a plan or other data is required to be submitted, a plan review fee shall be due and payable prior to the issuance of a permit. Such plan review fee shall be as set forth by Resolution of the City Council.
The plan review fees specified in this subsection are separate fees from the permit fees specified in Section 2(a) and are in addition to the permit fees.
When plans are incomplete or changed so as to require additional plan review, an additional plan review fee shall be charged as set forth by Resolution of the City Council.”
(3) Section R302.5.1 “Opening Protection” is hereby repealed by deleting such section.
(4) Section R303.4 “Mechanical ventilation” is hereby repealed by deleting such section.
(5) Section R309.5 “Fire sprinklers” is hereby repealed by deleting such section.
(6) Section R310 “Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings” is hereby amended by adding to the section:
“R310.6 A platform capable of supporting a live load of 300 pounds shall be permanently affixed at the interior of the window. This platform shall be no higher than 20 inches and constructed so that the distance from the platform to the finished sill height shall not exceed 44 inches. The platform shall extend outward from the wall a minimum of 20 inches and shall be at least as wide as the clear openable width of the window.”
(7) Section R314.1 “Smoke detection and notification” is hereby amended by adding the following sections:
“a. R314.1.1 All new construction home alarm systems must be hard wired, interconnected with battery backup.
b. R314.1.2 Approved wireless alarm systems may be used for alterations, repairs and additions.”
(8) Section R403 “Footings” is hereby amended by adding a new section to read as follows:
“R403.5 Bearing Walls. Bearing walls shall be supported on masonry or concrete foundations or piles or other approved foundation system that shall be of sufficient size to support all loads. Where a design is not provided, the minimum foundation requirements for stud bearing walls shall be as set forth in Table 18-I-C, unless expansive soils of a severity to cause differential movement are known to exist. EXCEPTIONS:
a. A one-story wood- or metal-frame building not used for human occupancy and not over 4200 square feet in floor area may be constructed with walls supported on a treated wood foundation plate when approved by the Building Inspector.
b. The support of buildings or decks by posts embedded in earth shall be designed for the purpose intended. Wood posts or poles embedded in earth shall be pressure treated with an approved preservative. Steel posts or poles shall be protected as required.
c. In homes constructed with this code the following reinforcement requirements for 8” minimum thick concrete foundation walls between 96 and 120 inches in height: footing imbedded #4 bars 20 inches on center vertically and #4 bars 24 inches on center horizontally. Walls less than 96 inches in height required no less than 4 #4 bars installed horizontally spaced equally. Subwalls required 2 #4 bars. All footings require 2 #4 bars. Anything outside of the scope of these wall heights require a stamped engineered reinforcement schedule.”
(9) Section R405.1 “Concrete or masonry foundations” is hereby replaced with the following:
“Drains shall be provided around all concrete or masonry foundations that retain earth and enclose habitable or usable spaces located below grade. Drainage tiles, gravel or crushed stone drains, perforated pipe or other approved systems or materials shall be installed at or below the area to be protected and shall discharge by gravity or mechanical means into an approved drainage system. Gravel or crushed stone drains shall extend at least 1 foot (305mm) beyond the outside edge of the footing and 6 inches (152 mm) above the top of the footing and be covered with an approved filter membrane material. The top of open joints of drain tiles shall be protected with strips of building paper. Drainage tiles or perforated pipe shall be placed on a minimum of 2 inches (51 mm) of washed gravel or crushed rock at least one sieve size larger than the tile joint opening or perforation and covered with not less than 6 inches (152 mm) of the same material.”
(10) Section R501.3 “Fire protection of floors” is hereby repealed by deleting such section.
(11) Section R507.2 “Deck ledger connection to band joist” is hereby amended by repealing and deleting R507.2.3 “Deck lateral load connection” and adding a new section to read as follows:
. “R507.2.4 Any changes or alterations to Section R507 “Decks” will require stamped engineered documents.”
(12) Section R602.3 “Design and construction” is hereby replaced with the following:
“All roof trusses and rafters, at all bearing locations, shall be secured to top plates with labeled and listed approved screws, H-clips or other system tested and designed for such use.”
(13) Section R905.2.8.3 “Sidewall flashing” is hereby replaced with the following:
“Base flashing against a vertical sidewall shall be step flashing and shall be a minimum of 4 inches (102 mm) in height and 4 inches (102 mm) in width and shall direct water away from the vertical sidewall onto the roof and/or into the gutter. Where siding is provided on the vertical sidewall, the vertical leg of the flashing shall be step flashed under the siding. Where anchored masonry veneer is provided on the vertical sidewall, the base flashing shall be provided in accordance with this section and counterflashing shall be provided in accordance with Section R703.7.2.2. Where exterior plaster or adhered masonry veneer is provided on the vertical sidewall, the base flashing shall be provided in accordance with this section and Section R703.6.3.”
(14) Chapter 11 “Energy Efficiency” is hereby repealed by deleting the section. It shall be the contractor’s responsibility to follow the state energy code.
(15) Appendix G “Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs” is hereby repealed by deleting such section.
(Prior Code, § 6-13-7) (Ord. 2013-04, passed 12-10-2013; Ord. 2016-05, passed 6-15-2016)