Littleton staff previews 2024 code adoption; proposes Wildland‑Urban Interface code, insulation and rooftop-solar tweaks

City staff on May 13 presented a preview of proposed amendments to bring Littleton’s adopted regulations up to the 2024 international building, plumbing, mechanical and energy codes while adding targeted local amendments intended to reduce impractical retrofit costs and preserve firefighting access.

"We're going to talk about the proposed amendments to the codes," said the presenter, and later Tim Tango (the city’s chief building official) described specific changes staff will recommend, including a temporary decision not to adopt the 2024 international fire code until South Metro Fire Rescue can review enforcement implications.

Nut graf: The package would adopt the 2024 code cycle generally but carve out and amend several provisions staff said would impose significant cost or practical difficulties for Littleton homeowners and contractors — for example, eliminating a new requirement to upgrade existing insulation exposed during renovations and proposing an 18-inch solar setback at virtual lot lines between attached units so fire crews can access roofs between townhouses.

Key items staff highlighted include: adoption of the 2024 codes generally with about 63 administrative amendments that align local chapter and jurisdictional entries; deferring adoption of the 2024 International Fire Code until coordinated enforcement with South Metro Fire is complete; adopting the International Wildland‑Urban Interface Code or the state equivalent (staff said WUI adoption is required by October) with Appendix A (vegetation/clearance permits) and Appendix C (alternative compliance options) proposed locally; and adopting the Colorado model electric-ready / solar-ready provisions for new construction to require conduit and EV-ready parking infrastructure where applicable.

Staff also proposed multiple local clarifications: remove the 2024 code’s new requirement to force insulation upgrades when walls or ceilings are opened during modest remodels (staff said this is often impractical in older 2x4 framed walls); require an 18-inch setback from virtual lot lines on long continuous roofs over attached housing to provide a firefighter path between units; exempt bathroom and hallway fixtures from mandatory dimming/automatic lighting-control requirements; require dryer exhaust terminations to be at least 12 inches above the adjacent roof to avoid snow blockage; and restore roof scupper provisions to the building code so roofers are not forced to use licensed plumbers for routine drainage openings.

Councilors asked about the geographic reach of wildland provisions (staff pointed to the Colorado State Forest Service risk map and identified TrailMark and parts of the Santa Fe corridor as having an assigned WUI risk), about oversight of temporary-event tent engineering, and about administrative flexibility for contractors discovering unforeseen issues during implementation. Staff said some 24-code provisions on temporary structures and paperwork need more study and will be brought back in a later amendment package.

Ending: Staff said the full ordinance package will come back for formal readings (first reading tentatively scheduled June 3 and second reading July 15); no adoption occurred at the May 13 study session.