 |
ITEM NO. 4d |
TOWN OF PRESCOTT VALLEY
STAFF REPORT
STAFF REPORT
DATE: 08/06/2026
TO: Mayor & Town Council
THROUGH: Gilbert Davidson, Town Manager
FROM: Stacey Bristow, Development Services Director
DEPARTMENT: Development Services
AGENDA TYPE: New Business
SUBJECT: Ordinance No. 2026-980, ICC & Related Codes Update/Town Code Chapter 7 Amendments - Consideration & Possible Action (1st Reading) [Woody Lewis, Chief Building Official, and Russ Harsh, Senior Plan Examiner]
TO: Mayor & Town Council
THROUGH: Gilbert Davidson, Town Manager
FROM: Stacey Bristow, Development Services Director
DEPARTMENT: Development Services
AGENDA TYPE: New Business
SUBJECT: Ordinance No. 2026-980, ICC & Related Codes Update/Town Code Chapter 7 Amendments - Consideration & Possible Action (1st Reading) [Woody Lewis, Chief Building Official, and Russ Harsh, Senior Plan Examiner]
| VISION 2024 FOCUS AREA: Quality of Life - Enhancing the health of neighborhoods by promoting well-being for all through safety, infrastructure, housing, connectivity, recreational space, and community engagement. |
SUMMARY/BACKGROUND:
The International Codes, published by the International Code Council (ICC), are the world's leading model building codes and standards. In addition to developing model codes, the ICC provides building safety solutions through product evaluation, accreditation, technology, training, and certification. The ICC's codes, standards, and services help ensure safe, affordable, and sustainable buildings and communities around the world. Municipalities throughout the United States adopt these (and other) standard codes, then modify them as needed for local circumstances. The Town of Prescott Valley is among them.
The ICC publishes new editions of the International Codes on a three-year cycle. Because adopting new code editions requires a significant investment of staff time, training, and financial resources, the Town has over the years elected to adopt new editions every six years. This approach aligns with other jurisdictions throughout Yavapai County (and helps provide consistency for the development community). Of course, staff continues to monitor interim code updates and, if significant life-safety improvements are identified, may recommend adopting specific provisions before the next full codes adoption cycle.
The Town's history with building codes dates back to July 1, 1979, when it adopted the 1979 Uniform Building Code (the first Town building code). Over the following years, the Town adopted several editions of the Uniform Codes before transitioning to the International Code Council's codes series with adoption of 2003 International Codes on March 1, 2004. The Town subsequently adopted 2006 editions (2008), 2012 editions (2014), and 2018 editions (2019).
In late 2024, Town staff began participating in monthly meetings hosted by Yavapai County to coordinate adoption of 2024 International Codes (as well as related codes that are not ICC codes). Throughout the process, staff worked collaboratively with Yavapai County, the City of Prescott, the Town of Chino Valley, and other jurisdictions to maintain consistency wherever possible. Several local amendments in prior codes adoptions have been carried forward in the proposals being made to the Town Council today. Proposed amendments were presented to the Yavapai County Contractors Association (YCCA) for review and comment, as well as to the Town's Building Board of Appeals.
Ordinance No. 2026-980 has now been prepared for Town Council consideration to adopt the proposed ICC and related codes updates (as amended). If the Council concludes that the codes with their amendments should be adopted, it may vote to read the Ordinance by title only on two separate occasions, then place it on final passage. The Ordinance would then be read by the Town Clerk by title only for the 1st reading. At a subsequent Town Council meeting, Ordinance No. 2026-980 would be read by the Clerk by title only for the second reading, then the Council would vote to determine whether to adopt the same. The codes adopted (with amendments) would become effective thirty days thereafter.
The ICC publishes new editions of the International Codes on a three-year cycle. Because adopting new code editions requires a significant investment of staff time, training, and financial resources, the Town has over the years elected to adopt new editions every six years. This approach aligns with other jurisdictions throughout Yavapai County (and helps provide consistency for the development community). Of course, staff continues to monitor interim code updates and, if significant life-safety improvements are identified, may recommend adopting specific provisions before the next full codes adoption cycle.
The Town's history with building codes dates back to July 1, 1979, when it adopted the 1979 Uniform Building Code (the first Town building code). Over the following years, the Town adopted several editions of the Uniform Codes before transitioning to the International Code Council's codes series with adoption of 2003 International Codes on March 1, 2004. The Town subsequently adopted 2006 editions (2008), 2012 editions (2014), and 2018 editions (2019).
In late 2024, Town staff began participating in monthly meetings hosted by Yavapai County to coordinate adoption of 2024 International Codes (as well as related codes that are not ICC codes). Throughout the process, staff worked collaboratively with Yavapai County, the City of Prescott, the Town of Chino Valley, and other jurisdictions to maintain consistency wherever possible. Several local amendments in prior codes adoptions have been carried forward in the proposals being made to the Town Council today. Proposed amendments were presented to the Yavapai County Contractors Association (YCCA) for review and comment, as well as to the Town's Building Board of Appeals.
Ordinance No. 2026-980 has now been prepared for Town Council consideration to adopt the proposed ICC and related codes updates (as amended). If the Council concludes that the codes with their amendments should be adopted, it may vote to read the Ordinance by title only on two separate occasions, then place it on final passage. The Ordinance would then be read by the Town Clerk by title only for the 1st reading. At a subsequent Town Council meeting, Ordinance No. 2026-980 would be read by the Clerk by title only for the second reading, then the Council would vote to determine whether to adopt the same. The codes adopted (with amendments) would become effective thirty days thereafter.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Motion to read Ordinance No. 2026-980 by title only on two separate occasions (then place for final passage), repealing prior codes (and adopting the following new codes, with amendments) in Chapter 7 of the Prescott Valley Town Code: Prescott Valley Administrative Code; 2024 International Building Code (IBC); 2024 International Residential Code (IRC); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC); 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code; and 2012 International Energy Conservation Code. VOTE.
[if the motion is to read the Ordinance, the Town Clerk shall read Ordinance No. 2026-980 by title only for the 1st reading]
[if the motion is to read the Ordinance, the Town Clerk shall read Ordinance No. 2026-980 by title only for the 1st reading]
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends reading and eventually approving Ordinance No. 2026-980 repealing prior codes (and adopting of the following new codes, with amendments) in Chapter 7 of the Prscott Valley Town Code: Prescott Valley Administrative Code; 2024 International Building Code (IBC); 2024 International Residential Code (IRC); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC); 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code; and 2012 International Energy Conservation Code.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Having up-to-date building codes is a key aspect of providing for public safety and welfare, as well as ensuring economic vitality in a municipality. Repealing current codes and adopting new ICC and related codes for building purposes is expected to help ensure public safety and welfare, as well as help ensure economic vitality in the community.