The Phoenix City Council voted unanimously June 13 to adopt the 2024 Phoenix Building and Construction Code with a package of amendments that city staff and advocates said will expand accessibility and support electric‑vehicle readiness in new housing.

Advocates from disability, aging and housing groups testified in favor of the changes. Dana Kennedy of AARP Arizona urged the council to “require universal design in all new housing developments,” saying features such as step‑free entries and wider doorways are “not luxury upgrades.” Will Green of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) told the council the adoption should include Appendix NE to the International Residential Code to ensure new single‑family homes and townhomes have EV capability and readiness.

Nicole Anderson, chair of the Mayor’s Commission on Disability Issues, and Daryl, a longtime accessibility advocate, described the revisions as the culmination of decades of community advocacy; Anderson recounted personally requesting accessible design changes when building a family home. Industry witnesses including an elevator‑industry representative supported deletion of a proposed elevator amendment and told the council they would continue technical discussions with staff.

Councilwoman Stark, who led the planning committee that advanced the changes, said the package balanced accessibility requirements with affordable‑housing concerns and credited builders and community groups for reaching compromise language. The council then adopted the ordinance and related amendments by unanimous vote.