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Board asks staff to clarify demolition definition, proposes 75% surface-area threshold and exterior-wall inclusion

Lawrence Building Codes Board · October 28, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Board members debated a draft demolition scope intended to distinguish demolition from remodels, discussed measuring 75% of surface area including exterior walls, and asked staff to return with a concise, easy-to-apply definition modeled after other jurisdictions.

City staff presented draft language to clarify when a project requires a demolition permit versus when it should be treated as a remodel or deconstruction. The proposed approach would make a project a demolition if it removes 75% or more of the structure’s surface area — a calculation that would include vertical exterior wall surface area as well as floor area. The board discussed multiple examples, including projects that remove all interior finishes but…

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