Sevier County to formally adopt state building and fire codes after appeals office requests clarification

Sevier County's Director of Building Inspection, Chris Jenkins, told the county commission on March 17 that the county will move to formally adopt various standard building and fire codes after the board of construction appeals raised questions about how codes were being applied.

Jenkins said the codes in question have largely been enforced on a case-by-case basis for some larger cabins and that recording the applicable standards will help design professionals and permit applicants know what the county expects. He said the building inspection office already follows state building and fire codes in practice, but the intent is to place the standards on formal record.

Jenkins described a public-notice period that includes two meetings (the current meeting counted as the first) and said the county will bring the codes back for formal approval at the June meeting. Commissioners voted to proceed on a motion by G. Cole, seconded by G. Haggard; the motion passed by roll-call vote, 25 yes, 0 no, 0 absent.

What changed: the shift makes county code application transparent and reduces case-by-case advisement, Jenkins said. The transcript shows the county intends to align recorded policy with enforcement practice so that architects and designers will know the codes to follow when preparing plans.

Next steps: Jenkins indicated staff will continue the public-notice period and return the item for final approval in June; the transcript did not include the specific code editions or section numbers under consideration.