Reno council directs staff to bring 2024 International Fire Code and Wildland‑Urban Interface rules for adoption

The Reno City Council voted Aug. 27 to direct staff to bring forward an ordinance to adopt the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) and the 2024 International Wildland‑Urban Interface (WUI) Code.

Captain Sean O’Brien and Chief Dave Cochran of the Reno Fire Department presented the proposal, describing code changes that address modern hazards, including energy storage systems such as residential and commercial lithium‑ion battery installations, battery‑recycling facilities and temporary heating/cooking at events.

The department recommended adopting the WUI code to align Reno’s standards with neighboring jurisdictions and to introduce defensible‑space and ignition‑resistant‑construction requirements for new development in mapped hazard zones. Under the proposed approach, the city would accept building plans under either the 2018 or 2024 code through Jan. 1, after which only the 2024 editions would be accepted.

Key technical points presented by fire staff: - New or clarified requirements for indoor and outdoor storage at battery‑recycling and large battery‑storage facilities, and added provisions that address battery‑charging and storage practices. - An update to fire‑lane signage and enforcement language. - New guidance for temporary heating and cooking operations (events and tents). - The WUI code would not impose automatic new sprinkler requirements for existing law constraints; staff proposed not to adopt the WUI section that would automatically require sprinklers across the board because NRS and local practice limit mandatory residential retrofits. - The WUI adoption includes a fire‑hazard‑severity form and vegetation‑management plan requirements for new developments in moderate‑to‑high hazard zones; staff said the map shows most high‑hazard areas are on the city outskirts and many affected parcels are already being developed.

Councilmembers discussed evacuation and access questions, including whether some new developments should be required to have three access roads. Chief Cochran and staff said they had examined precedent and cost: a third‑access requirement may not be feasible on many existing or proposed sites and could render some projects impracticable. Fire staff recommended a holistic approach — combining ignition‑resistant construction, defensible‑space rules and site design — and offered to analyze whether a targeted size/hazard threshold should trigger additional access requirements.

The council voted unanimously to direct staff to prepare ordinance language for introduction.

Ending

Staff will draft ordinance text and return it for council consideration; the department said it will coordinate timing with the building department’s adoption schedule and provide outreach to developers and contractors before the January 1 switchover.