Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building And Safety Codes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves first reading to adopt 2024 ICC and 2023 NEC, keeps required kitchen island outlets and excludes IFC Appendix B
Summary
The Fair Oaks Ranch City Council on a voice vote approved first reading of an ordinance to adopt the 2024 International Code Council model residential codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code with a local amendment retaining required kitchen-island receptacles and removing International Fire Code Appendix B.
The Fair Oaks Ranch City Council on a voice vote approved first reading of an ordinance to adopt the 2024 International Code Council (ICC) model residential codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) with two local changes: maintaining a requirement for 120-volt receptacles on kitchen islands and striking Appendix B of the International Fire Code from the local adoption.
City building official Scott Davis told the council that the new model codes make island receptacles optional and allow an alternative junction box for future receptacles, but staff recommended keeping the receptacle requirement for safety. "The absence of a dedicated receptacle creates unnecessary safety risks, which is why we are proposing an amendment," Davis said during the public hearing portion of the item.
The council also agreed with staff that Appendix B to the International Fire Code would create inconsistent methods for calculating required fire flow with the city's Unified Development Code (UDC). "We don't want conflicting methods of calculating fire flow," Davis said, and recommended striking Appendix B from the ordinance language.
Jonathan moved to approve first reading of the ordinance as presented, explicitly excluding Appendix B; Keith seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.
The ordinance as amended adopts the 2024 ICC residential codes and the 2023 NEC but preserves the city's local requirement for at least one kitchen-island receptacle (rather than permitting the junction-box-only option). The council discussed code specifics such as allowable receptacle placement, two-tier island designs, and pop-up receptacles as acceptable alternatives under the amendment. The local change keeps the receptacle requirement either in a counter backsplash or a listed pop-up device so cords will not cross aisles.
The measure returns for a subsequent reading before final adoption. Staff noted the local amendment is intended to preserve a longstanding local safety standard while updating other code sections to the more recent national model codes.
