Timnath staff brief council on proposed 2024 international building-code updates, energy and wildfire rules

Russ Weber, Timnath building official, told the Town Council at a July 22 work session that local jurisdictions in Northern Colorado are proposing to adopt the 2024 International Codes and to make them enforceable beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Weber said the town skipped the 2021 cycle, citing high construction-cost impacts, and pushed for the 2024 cycle instead.

The central change in the 2024 energy provisions is a wall-insulation requirement for wood-framed construction: the code moves many assemblies to an R-20 cavity plus R-5 continuous exterior insulation. Weber said roughly 30–40% of local builders already meet that requirement. Other state-mandated elements he reviewed include “solar ready” and “EV ready” requirements and new electric-ready provisions tied to state law; Weber said municipalities that adopt a new building code after the state deadline must also adopt those state energy and electrical provisions.

Weber outlined practical impacts he expects: duct leakage testing will be required…