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Mountlake Terrace reviews ordinance to align local code with 2021 state building and fire codes
Summary
The Mountlake Terrace City Council reviewed an ordinance to update Title 15 of the Mountlake Terrace Municipal Code to adopt the 2021 Washington State Building and Fire Codes and related 2021 International Codes; a public hearing and vote are scheduled for the next council meeting.
Mountlake Terrace officials on the council agenda reviewed an ordinance to update the city’s building code to match the 2021 Washington State Building and Fire Codes and the 2021 International Codes, the city’s building official said.
The review is intended to bring Title 15 of the Mountlake Terrace Municipal Code into alignment with state code that became effective statewide on March 15, 2024, and to add procedures for automatic local amendments when the state adjusts its codes, Building Official Matthew Gissel said. Gissel told council members the city has already been implementing many of the state code requirements and that the ordinance would formalize the alignment.
Gissel said the adoption effort began in 2023 but was delayed in part because of changes to the Washington State Energy Code. "The 2021 Building and Fire Codes became effective statewide March fifteenth of 2024," Gissel said. He listed a range of codes to be adopted or updated in Title 15, including the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, the International Fuel Gas Code, the International Existing Building Code (IEBC), the Uniform Plumbing Code and the state fire code.
Council Member Ryan asked about a legislative energy goal mentioned in the discussion: "the legislative goal of 70% reduction in fuel consumption in buildings by 02/1930. What do they mean by fuel?" Gissel responded that he would obtain more detail for the council, saying the goal is intended to be met in the future and that the state is increasing energy-efficiency requirements to reduce electricity, gas and other fuel uses in buildings.
No vote was taken at the meeting; council members were told the ordinance will return for a public hearing and a vote at the next council meeting.
Notes: The presentation focused on code alignment and implementation timing; staff said many of the code changes have already been applied in practice and the ordinance would update the municipal code language to reflect state adoption.
