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The City of Chandler adopts model construction codes, with some local amendments, to govern construction, remodeling, and renovation of structures within the City. These codes provide a base level of safety for the occupants of buildings constructed in Chandler and offer consistency for builders and developers across jurisdictions in Maricopa County.
The model codes are developed and published by the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and are adopted by most jurisdictions in the United States and in some other countries. These codes are developed in a public process that includes the participation of many technical experts, regulators, and affected organizations. The codes are updated through committee and public hearings on a continuous basis to keep abreast of research on building performance and advances in technology. New editions are published on a three-year cycle; the City previously adopted its current version of the ICC and NFPA codes in February 2022, with an effective date of July 2022.
The Chandler Board of Appeals, an appointed citizen advisory commission of the Mayor and City Council, held five meetings this fall during which staff presented the significant changes to each code along with any proposed local amendments and/or changes from past amendments. The City also engaged with construction industry stakeholders in the review process, inviting representatives from the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) and the Arizona Multi-housing Association (AMHA), and had an open discussion about the proposed amendments to the codes. Representatives from the HBACA and AMHA were provided with meeting agendas and copies of proposed amendments. The representatives also attended the Board meetings and introduced proposed amendments on behalf of their organizations, several of which are included in the submitted ordinance.
Proposed Amendments:
The local amendments proposed by staff and supported by the Board of Appeals are minimal in comparison to some jurisdictions, as the model codes are well-vetted through the national hearing processes and few amendments are needed. The amendments that are recommended are primarily to align the codes with state statutes, local zoning regulations, and long-standing local fire sprinkler requirements for consistency. Staff have also proposed minor changes to the energy conservation code to address concerns of the HBACA.
A summary of notable proposed changes is attached to this memorandum. For the purpose of regional comparison, the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Peoria, Surprise, and Goodyear, the Town of Gilbert, and Maricopa County are currently working on adopting the 2024 codes. In addition to ensuring the safety of the built environment, the 2024 codes serve an important secondary purpose of promoting nationally recognized construction and public safety codes and regional consistency for builders who do work in multiple jurisdictions throughout the valley.
A related item for adoption of the 2024 International Fire Code was reviewed by the Board of Appeals concurrently with these proposed codes and also appears on this City Council agenda.
Public Review/Stakeholder Outreach:
The proposed amendments were presented, reviewed, and recommended by the City of Chandler Board of Appeals in public meetings held during August and September 2024. The Board made its recommendation to City Council to adopt the 2024 codes with amendments as proposed by staff during the September 12, 2024, Board of Appeals meeting. Staff met with representatives of the HBACA and the AMA to discuss the code changes and invited their participation in the review process. Several recommendations proposed by the HBACA are incorporated into the recommended code updates. Links to the draft code amendments addressed in the Board of Appeals meeting minutes were posted on the City’s website.
As of the writing of this memo, Development Services staff are not aware of any opposition to the proposal.
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