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Council hears briefing on adopting 2024 building and safety codes, including tiny‑home provisions
Summary
City staff recommended replacing the 2015 codes with the 2024 International Building Code suite; changes highlighted include tornado loads for commercial buildings, updated snow and wind loads, new electrical GFI/surge protections, and zoning provisions for tiny homes and shipping‑container dwellings under specified conditions.
Texarkana City Council received a multi‑item briefing March 9 on a proposed update to the citys building and safety codes, moving from the 2015 edition to the 2024 International Code Council model codes and related local amendments.
Sean (Shawn) Maxi of Building Inspections summarized key changes: tornado load requirements for commercial buildings, updated snow and ice loads, and allowance of laminated lumber in some applications. He said electrical code changes include expanded GFI protection and surge‑protection device requirements that could particularly affect restaurants, and the energy code tightens insulation and air‑leakage rules.
Staff also proposed zoning and code language to regulate shipping‑container homes and tiny homes. Container homes would require underpinning, anchoring, covered mechanicals, porches and a finished exterior; tiny homes would be treated as site‑built single‑family dwellings (not on wheels) and typically be 399 square feet or less.
Council members asked about the practical implications for builders and whether new insulation requirements might force a change to deeper wall assemblies; staff said proposed R‑value increases may be handled with products that fit existing framing and that the college's building trades program is already teaching the 2024 codes.
No final action was taken; the items were set for public hearings and later ordinance adoption. Staff noted public workshops with Texana College and outreach to the homebuilders association would continue as the code change moves through the adoption process.
