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Bel Aire council tables proposed building-code update to review changes from new state law
Summary
Mayor and staff urged more vetting of a proposed building-code ordinance to ensure compliance with recently enacted SB418; council voted 4–0 to table the ordinance so staff can reconcile the code with references in the state law (including the 2018 IRC).
The Bel Aire City Council voted unanimously on June 2 to table an ordinance that would amend the city’s building code so staff can fully vet the proposal against a newly enacted state law, Senate Bill 418.
Mayor Jim Bina recommended the motion after city staff and legal counsel raised questions about how SB418 interacts with the proposed code changes. The mayor said the bill “took effect and is enforced from and after its publication in the statute book,” and urged additional review before adopting new local rules.
City Attorney Marielle told council that SB418 specifically references the 2018 International Residential Code and flagged a gap: the proposed local code addresses single-family homes and duplexes but does not address family units up to 12 units that SB418 contemplates. She warned that if the city is “silent on an issue” the statute’s 'by‑right' provisions could allow developers to proceed without local controls. Marielle recommended more time for staff to identify how the code should be amended to preserve Bel Aire’s local voice.
Council Member Emily Hamburg asked whether tabling the item carried any legal or operational downside; staff replied that the city’s existing contract with MABC (commercial code services) and other operational needs motivated a desire to move the draft forward, but that legal and technical questions justified extra review.
A motion to table the ordinance was made by Mike Proctor, seconded by Tyler Dean, and passed on a voice vote, 4–0. Council directed staff and legal counsel to return with a vetted ordinance that addresses the SB418 issues before further action.
