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Council approves first reading to adopt 2021 international codes and local amendments
Summary
Portland City Council approved first reading of ordinance 23-07 to adopt the 2021 International Code Council building codes (and the NFPA electrical code edition noted in packet) with local amendments consistent with regional practice; second reading scheduled at a future meeting.
The Portland City Council on April 15 approved first reading of ordinance 23-07 to adopt updated building and safety codes and a set of local amendments largely aligned with the larger regional code process used by Corpus Christi.
City Development Services staff presented the proposed adoption package, which includes the 2021 editions of the International Building Code, International Existing Building Code, International Fire Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and International Property Maintenance Code. Staff also recommended adopting the National Fire Protection Association’s National Electrical Code edition referenced in the packet; staff materials named the 2020 edition in the public materials and included local amendments consistent with regional practice.
Sarah Munoz explained that the city currently uses the 2015 editions and that the 2021/2020 updates reflect construction and safety changes. She described a number of notable local amendments included in the packet: clarifying that framing inspections do not substitute for windstorm inspections; added flexibility for illuminated egress paths; clarified posting of certificates of occupancy; residential code clarifications for homeowner permits and natural gas services; electrical safety changes for first- and second-family dwellings; plumbing and fuel-gas technical updates (burial depths and testing), and new provisions for charging-station emergency disconnects and indoor special-effects/fireworks in the fire code.
Munoz told council that the city convened a developer and builder roundtable and consulted Corpus Christi’s contractor engagement effort; the feedback received raised no fundamental objections and many area builders are already using the updated codes. A Planning & Zoning public hearing raised no comments.
Council voted to approve the ordinance’s first reading. The council packet and the proposed local amendments are posted on the city website for review; staff said the second reading will be scheduled at the next council meeting and that final adoption would trigger publication and implementation steps.
Ending: If the ordinance is adopted on second reading, the updated codes and local amendments will replace the city’s 2015 code editions and be used in permit review and inspections.
