Friendswood approves first reading of 2024 building and fire codes after narrow vote

After a public hearing and extended debate, the Friendswood City Council approved on first reading an ordinance to adopt the 2024 International Building Code, the 2024 International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings, the 2023 National Electrical Code and local amendments. The motion passed on a 4-3 vote.

City staff opened the hearing by describing the need to remain within two code cycles to preserve favorable insurance rating considerations and to update administrative and life-safety provisions. Aubrey, the city's building official, told the council the updates will modernize energy, electrical, plumbing and fire-safety provisions and make the city's regulations more consistent with contemporary construction standards.

Home builder Dave Yellovich urged caution during public comment, especially about the energy provisions in the 2024 code. "They want everyone to go all electric," he said, and recommended councilers "amend the heck out of it" where the code imposes penalties or costly new requirements for homeowners and builders. Yellovich also highlighted several technical items — including energy penalties for very large homes and new GFCI requirements — that he said deserve local amendments.

Several council members sought clearer, changes-marked language. Councilmember Grafon said the 52-page ordinance mixed existing local ordinances with new code text and raised concern that the combined document made it hard to see what staff intended to change. Grafon requested a red-line version showing ‘‘what is new and what is already in the code.'"

Staff told the council they could postpone adoption to provide a changes-marked draft, or approve first reading and deliver marked changes ahead of the second reading. City Manager Murad Kabiri and building staff advised that delaying too long could put Friendswood outside the recommended two-code-cycle window and risk insurance-rating consequences. The effective date staff had been targeting was March 1, 2026, and staff said they have discussed updates with local contractors over the past year.

Rather than postpone, a majority of the council voted to approve the ordinance on first reading with the commitment that staff will supply a changes-marked version before the second reading so members can consider targeted amendments. Councilmembers voting in favor cited the need to provide clarity to builders and to avoid an extended gap that could affect homeowners' insurance ratings; members opposed said they did not have sufficient detail to vote confidently on the full ordinance.

The ordinance now moves to second reading; staff committed to deliver a red-line/changes-marked version and highlight material local amendments for council review prior to that vote.