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Cave Creek council adopts amended building code, adds annual commercial fire inspections
Summary
Council adopted second reading of ordinance 2025‑08 to amend the town building code effective Jan. 1, 2026, rolling back the energy code adoption to the 2018 standard and adding explicit authority for annual commercial fire and life‑safety inspections.
The Town Council voted unanimously to adopt ordinance 2025‑08, which amends the Town of Cave Creek building code effective Jan. 1, 2026. Staff summarized three key changes incorporated after negotiations with local builders: reverting the energy code adoption to the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code to avoid conflicts, removing a residential reference that would have tied parts of the residential section to the 2024 IECC, and inserting explicit language authorizing annual fire and life‑safety inspections of commercial occupancies.
Speaker 13 told council the Home Builders Association initially raised concerns at first reading but later supported the revised draft after staff and builders negotiated the adjustments. The ordinance includes a new fire‑section requirement that the "fire code official shall cause all occupancies and buildings except 1‑ and 2‑family dwellings to be inspected at least once a year for compliance with the provisions of this code and other applicable fire and life safety regulations," with inspection frequency adjustable by hazard classification.
Councilmember 5 moved approval; the motion was seconded and recorded as carried 7–0.
Why it matters: The change balances local building standards with concerns from builders and adds a regular commercial inspection authority that staff said is needed now that the town handles annual inspections rather than relying on an external contractor. Staff will implement the inspection schedule in coordination with fire officials.
