Westminster council advances first reading of ordinance to reinstate technical building codes after lengthy questions on 2024 code adoption

Westminster City Council continued a multi-hour discussion April 8 and approved on first reading ordinance 05132025-01, a cleanup measure to reinsert technical building and property-maintenance codes into the city code and to adopt the most recent model technical codes referenced by the ordinance.

City Attorney Reagan told the council the 2023 zoning-code amendment inadvertently moved several technical-code references and appeal procedures; he said the proposed ordinance restores the prior organization and reinstates an appeals path to the council. "State law authorizes those technical codes and zoning codes in different statutes," Reagan said, explaining the recommended reordering and that the change is intended to avoid cross‑statute conflicts.

Council members questioned whether the city should adopt the 2024 editions of the International Property Maintenance Code and similar technical codes immediately or remain aligned with Oconee County and neighboring jurisdictions that still operate under the 2021 editions. Several council members warned adopting the newer editions before the county moves could create enforcement and inspection mismatches for builders and contractors who work across jurisdictions.

Members also raised three substantive concerns that staff promised to clarify before second reading: (1) licensing requirements in the proposed code language that appear to require licensed electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors for work in the city, which council members warned could limit available local contractors; (2) mobile-home underpinning language requiring block or masonry skirting and how that applies to existing manufactured homes (grandfathering); and (3) whether the council or a separate board of construction appeals should serve as the appellate body for code enforcement decisions.

Reagan and staff told the council the changes are intended as reorganization and cleanup rather than new enforcement policy, and they agreed to consult the city's outside counsel (Pope Flynn) and Oconee County staff and report back before second reading. Councilmembers asked that staff return with a clear recommendation on whether the city should adopt the 2021 editions until the county moves to the 2024 codes to preserve inspection continuity.

The council opened and closed the required public hearing before taking the first-reading vote. The ordinance will return for a second reading after staff follow-up with the attorney and the planning commission, which holds a separate public hearing on the zoning portion on April 21.

The council did not adopt substantive, new enforcement policies at first reading; the action on April 8 was procedural (first reading) and contingent on follow-up research and attorney recommendations that staff promised to deliver ahead of the second reading.

The ordinance affects sections of the city code described in the council packet as Title 15, Chapter 150 and Chapter 151 (zoning and technical codes). Staff and council agreed to present clarifying language and counsel advice at the next meeting before any final adoption.

A second reading will determine final adoption and any effective dates.