Lake County advisory panel signals move to adopt 2024 building and energy codes, sets timeline for public outreach

Lake County staff and an advisory panel reviewed the 2024 International Code package and indicated consensus guidance to pursue adoption of the 2024 building and energy codes, with staff asked to prepare draft ordinance and resolution language for public review.

"The public hearing for the adoption is set on March 30 for the Board of County Commissioners," Anne (staff) told the panel, adding that staff would invite Dan Dailey and Barbara Rice to assist with the presentation. Staff also said the city will hold its hearing on March 17 and that the county aims to have the code administered by July if adopted.

The group’s discussion centered on the practical effects of the 2024 International Residential Code and the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code. Hope (presenter) explained that, under the 2024 energy provisions, single‑family residential projects will generally need to obtain 10 "additional efficiency" credits from a menu of options (about 40 measures were cited as available) and that compliance differs by pathway: prescriptive, performance, or an energy‑rating (ERI) route. "So if you chose to have really high efficient mechanical equipment ... you will have the opportunity to obtain 10 credits," Hope said, summarizing the credit approach for homes.

Panel members also heard that the 2024 commercial energy tables can require far larger credit totals depending on occupancy and size, and that modeling tools commonly used in Colorado include RemRade and Ecotrope (as cited in the briefing) for performance calculations. Staff stressed that some energy tradeoffs impose higher efficiency requirements when gas‑fired appliances remain in a design.

On administration and enforcement, staff told the advisory panel that existing county capacity influenced several choices: the county has not adopted the International Property Maintenance Code, and staff proposed excluding that element because the county lacks the enforcement capacity for rental‑property oversight. The meeting also covered inspection staffing: the county plans to hire a part‑time inspector and a deputy administrator to handle growing inspection and administrative workloads and to keep commercial fire‑system inspections on an appropriate track.

Panel members flagged several implementation details for the draft ordinance: adopting the existing‑building appendix for clearer guidance on remodels and repairs, alignment of accessory dwelling unit (ADU) provisions with zoning rules, clarifying air‑leakage testing near garages, and allowing site‑specific snow‑load calculations (the ASCE hazard tool was discussed). On exempt work, speakers debated whether some window and siding work should remain permit‑exempt given tightening energy‑upgrade rules in chapter 5 of the 2024 code.

Staff presented a proposed schedule to move from consensus to public engagement: a draft resolution and ordinance in mid‑April (staff alternatively suggested a slightly later May draft), public outreach and a town hall in April–May, noticed hearings in April–June, and adoption aiming for a June 16 second reading so the ordinance could be effective before the state’s June 30 code deadline. Cole (consultant) offered to port prior ordinance language forward and provide an updated draft quickly.

The panel’s direction at the meeting constituted guidance to staff rather than a final vote. The next steps are for staff and the consultant to prepare draft ordinance/resolution documents, schedule public outreach and town‑hall events, and return with a formal draft ordinance for the advisory panel and the Board of County Commissioners to consider in noticed hearings.

What’s next: staff will prepare a draft ordinance for review, schedule public engagement, and coordinate timing with the city and county counsel to meet state deadlines.