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Regional building official outlines state energy-code triggers for Woodland Park
Summary
Pikes Peak Regional Building Department official Roger Lovell briefed council on recent state energy-code changes that will force adoption of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code without local amendments by July 1, 2026, and highlighted multifamily EV-infrastructure triggers.
Roger Lovell, building official with the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, told the Woodland Park City Council on May 21 that recent state legislation has created adoption triggers the city must navigate to remain compliant.
"If a jurisdiction updates a building code, they are required to adopt the current energy code at that time," Lovell said, explaining that the state’s changes mean the city will need to implement the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code without its previous local amendments if those triggers are met. He identified House Bill 22-1362 and House Bill 23-1233 as drivers of that change and noted a specific 07/01/2026 trigger tied to adoption of updated plumbing and electrical codes.
Lovell told council that the state-modified 2024 model — the model low energy and carbon code — is more restrictive than the base 2024 IECC and that the city’s strategy is to remain "one step behind" the state minimums while remaining compliant. He said the code changes include a model electric-ready requirement that, for example, requires a minimum 40-amp circuit in a garage to accommodate future EV charging and a solar-ready provision that only requires identifying a roof area for potential future solar installation rather than prewiring or installing panels.
Council members asked whether requirements apply to attached or detached garages; Lovell said detached garages are less likely to be affected and emphasized staff will seek any allowable exceptions. He also cautioned that the state’s model-electric provisions aim to facilitate electrification by ensuring electrical capacity for future appliance conversions.
Why it matters: the state triggers mean ordinary updates to local building-code chapters can legally require adoption of the statewide minimum energy code. That could remove the city’s local amendments and require builders and homeowners to meet new wiring and EV-infrastructure expectations. Lovell urged careful timing of local code updates so Woodland Park can retain as many local amendments as the law permits while remaining compliant.
The council did not take action; Lovell and staff said they would continue to advise the city on timing and specific language for any future code updates.
