Castle Rock staff outlines timeline to adopt 2024 ICC model codes and wildfire resiliency measures

Town of Castle Rock staff told the Board of Building Appeals on Sept. 8 that the town is preparing to adopt the 2024 International Code Council (ICC) model codes and related energy and wildfire resiliency requirements.

The staff presentation said the town is aiming to sync its adoption with neighboring jurisdictions and is targeting local adoption of the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code and the 2024 ICC model codes by April 1, 2026, with enforcement beginning July 1, 2026. Staff cited the Colorado wildfire resiliency measure as Senate Bill 23-166 and said the state adopted that standard effective July 1, 2025, while giving local jurisdictions until April 1, 2026, to adopt it and until July 1, 2026, to enforce it.

Staff said the town plans to adopt the 2021 energy code (as a minimum) and is tracking the 2026 National Electrical Code and model electrical/solar-ready provisions. "We're kinda looking to adopt a 2021 energy code with the 2024 building code," the town staff member said, adding that jurisdictions must adopt the energy-ready and solar-ready provisions by June 30, 2026. When asked, Board Member Akaya said, "Have we done any kind of, cost quantification to see, you know, what the cost increase would be to new homes that are being adopted?" The staff member replied, "Not at the moment yet. That's something we usually put together when we approach town council with these on our first reading."

Staff said it plans stakeholder meetings late this year into early 2026 and will prepare a cost analysis for the town council's first-reading action. No code adoptions or ordinance readings occurred at the Sept. 8 meeting; the discussion was informational and preparatory.