El Paso County adopts 2021 International Fire Code with amendments for participating fire districts

The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC) with amendments as proposed by 18 county fire districts.

County Attorney Kenny Hodes summarized the adoption process and said the IFC is a model code promulgated by the International Code Council; local fire district boards held public hearings and forwarded versions for county consideration. Hodes told commissioners that adoption would make the 2021 IFC effective only within the fire districts that adopted it and that some districts include local amendments in their submittals.

The resolution and discussion noted specified exemptions that would continue under the resolution language: detached one‑ and two‑family dwellings on unplatted parcels, subdivisions of four or fewer lots, factory‑built units and accessory use structures. County staff and fire service representatives emphasized that the 2021 IFC aligns better with the 2021 International Building Code and may avoid triggering a new energy code if adopted before July 1, 2026.

Representatives of the Housing & Building Association thanked fire professionals and said they reviewed the materials; Court Henderson of Vantage Homes said the committee found nothing in the proposal that would unduly increase homebuilding costs in El Paso County. After public comment and discussion, the board moved, seconded and approved the resolution by a 5-0 roll call.

The resolution makes the 2021 IFC effective in the districts that forwarded the code and preserves the listed exemptions; the wildfire resiliency code remains within fire districts' separate statutory authority and was not adopted or rejected by the board in this action.