Council hears staff briefing on adopting 2024 international model codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code

City staff told the City Council at the Aug. 19 study session they intend to update Farmers Branch’s adoption of model building codes to the 2024 International Codes and to the 2023 National Electrical Code, with local amendments and a proposed effective date of Oct. 1. Interim Community Services Director Sam Chavez said the city currently enforces the 2018 International Codes with 2020 NEC local amendments and that the update would align the city with the newer model codes and regional amendments.

Chavez described an implementation plan that would include a comprehensive outreach effort to developers and residents and noted the change would not affect projects that already have permits: “It would not apply to them. They'd still be under the 2018 codes,” he said. Council members asked for clarity on how mid-build projects and permit vesting would be handled; staff said permit date determines applicability.

Key technical and policy clarifications raised during the discussion included a proposed minimum $500 penalty for conducting work that requires a permit without first obtaining one, which staff said is intended to deter unpermitted construction; an allowance to place kitchen island receptacles on island sides instead of on top; and a regional change on fire-apparatus load requirements moving from 80,000 to 85,000 pounds to match heavier modern apparatus. Assistant Fire Marshal Tim Didier said the city’s fully loaded Truck 131 registers about 82,600 pounds and that regional mutual aid considerations motivated the change.

Council members also sought detail on items that could raise construction costs: emergency disconnect requirements for single-family dwellings, potential sprinkler or fire-alarm requirements under the existing-building code when occupancies change, and pavement-strength requirements tied to heavier fire apparatus. Tim Didier said residential sprinklers would not become newly required by this update unless a house already has a sprinkler system that must be modified to remain compliant; he noted state law limits the city’s authority on mandatory residential sprinklers.

Next steps and staff direction: Chavez said staff would propose the 2024 model codes with local amendments for council consideration and would implement outreach to permit applicants, architects and builders; no final adoption vote occurred during the study session. Council members recommended informational seminars for local builders and clearer cost impact estimates for developers and residents.