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Commissioners introduce first reading to update Washoe County building codes to 2024 international standards
Summary
Washoe County staff introduced an ordinance (Bill 19-30) to adopt the 2024 international building codes and Northern Nevada amendments, with a six-month grace period and full implementation on Jan. 1; a second reading was set for June 10.
County planning and building officials presented a first reading of an ordinance to update Washoe County Code chapter 100 and adopt the 2024 international building codes with Northern Nevada amendments.
Kelly Mullen, Planning and Building Division director, told commissioners the proposals follow a regional coordination process with cities and other jurisdictions in northern Nevada and that the county typically adopts new editions on a six-year cycle to reduce industry disruption. Her staff proposed adopting the 2024 international codes (previously adopted additions dated to 2018), plus region-specific amendments and relevant appendices. The update would cover the building code, residential code, existing-building code, energy conservation, fuel-gas, mechanical, wildland-urban-interface (WUI), swimming pool and spa codes, as well as mechanical, plumbing and electrical codes and National Fire Protection Association references.
Mullen said the proposal includes a six-month grace period: beginning July 1, applicants could choose either the 2018 or 2024 codes; full implementation would start Jan. 1 of the following year. She described an 18-month collaborative process that included seven subcommittees, a steering committee, contractors, developers and the cities of Reno and Sparks.
Commissioners asked about WUI-related home-hardening requirements and water-supply or defensible-space crossovers with fire districts. Mullen said the county adopts chapter 5 of the WUI code while local fire districts typically adopt other WUI provisions; she said Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District intends to bring additional measures to its board of fire commissioners and that the county and fire districts regularly coordinate on water and defensible-space issues.
The board set a second reading and possible adoption for June 10. Commissioner [motion recorded without individual attribution] moved to introduce the ordinance and set the second reading date; no formal final vote on adoption occurred at the May 27 meeting.
