Title
Consider and take action on an ordinance amending Chapter 22 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of League City entitled, “Building and Building Regulations” to adopt the 2015 International Residential Code, 2015 International Building Code, 2015 International Fuel Gas Code, 2015 International Mechanical Code, 2015 International Plumbing Code, 2015 Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners Law/Rules, 2015 International Energy Conversation Code, the 2015 Property Maintenance Code, and 2014 National Electrical Code (Director of Planning and Development)
Background:
Approval of this item amends Chapter 22 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of League City entitled, “Building and Building Regulations”. Building codes are enacted to protect the public, health, safety, and welfare of citizens. The International Codes (I-codes), are a family of codes developed and maintained by the International Code Council, Inc. which establish minimum standards for conditions and maintenance of buildings, structures, and property to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary, and fit for occupancy and use. The ICC publishes new editions of the I-Codes every three years.
Adoption of the I-Codes benefit the City for flood protection as they share common goals with the National Flood Insurance Program (NIFP) regarding protection of public safety and reduced property damage. Because the flood provisions of the I-Codes meet or exceed minimum NFIP requirements, communities that participate in the NFIP can rely on the I-Codes to form the basis of their floodplain management practices related to buildings and structures. Although there are some differences between the I-codes and the NFIP regulations, I-Codes exceed the NFIP minimum requirements and some code provisions are more specific that the NFIP standards as related to flood resistant design and construction.
The City also participates in the NFIP Community Rating System (CRS) and currently is a Class 6 community. The CRS acknowledges that adopting and enforcing building codes improves the quality of construction. Communities that enforce the I-Codes receive CRS credit depending on which editions of the codes are adopted. Adopting more current I-Codes will increase the total points awarded toward CRS credit. Additionally, to obtain and maintain a CRS Class 6 or better, communities must enforce building codes and have Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) classifications of 5 for residential/personal and 5 for non-residential codes. BCEGS assesses the building codes in effect in a community and how a community enforces them, with special emphasis on mitigation of losses from natural disasters. Credit for adoption of the more current I-Codes is given for the BCEGS classification
Attachments:
1. Data Sheet
2. Proposed Ordinance
3. Redline of Proposed Changes
FUNDING
{ x } NOT APPLICABLE
{ } Funds are available from Account #___________________________
{ } Requires Budget Amendment to transfer from Account #____________to Account # ___________________