Department of Community Development
Reference: Municipal Code Amendment - Chapter 15, Buildings and Construction
To: Mayor Gregory Mills and Members of City Council
Through: Michael P. Martinez, City Manager
Prepared By: Andrew Ulmer, Chief Building Official
With Input from: Members of the Brighton Fire Rescue District
Date Prepared: July 30, 2025
PURPOSE
To amend Article 15 titled, “Buildings and Construction” of the Municipal Code.
BACKGROUND
The building codes provide requirements for building design, construction methods, safety, and performance.
The proposed code amendment was discussed with the City Council at a study session held on January 28, 2025. The amendment is primarily to correct minor omissions in the currently adopted International Code Council (ICC) model codes that are intended to be filled in by the jurisdiction. The design criteria, which are geographic specific engineering parameters that impact building design, also need to be revised. Duplicative language is removed where possible, and the administrative sections of code are primarily restored as written and intended by the ICC to avoid conflict and confusion with our primarily national customers.
The Fire Marshal for the Brighton Fire Rescue District has been involved in the review of these proposed amendments. Language amending the International Fire Code (IFC) has been made in keeping with Brighton Fire’s determinations.
Other considerations that were also discussed at the study session in January, such as the adoption of single-family unit sprinklers are not a part of these updates. Those issues, which will require more in-depth discussion and consideration, will be brought before the City Council for review and direction at future study session meetings and are expected to be adopted with the 2024 ICC model codes (see the section titled, “Additional Information” below for further detail).
Processing Requirements:
Although all proposed amendments are minor in nature, any impacted future submittals can be accepted with a 90-day grace period if desired by the builder; however, staff believes this will be a moot point. Existing approved master plans (plans for a particular model home to be built repeatedly) and other proposed plans will continue under their current design criteria until the next code cycle which is anticipated to be done with the mandated 2026 NEC. To be clear, this proposed action will not require resubmittal on the part of our contractors. The path forward is actually to the advantage of our builders and would theoretically have positive impacts on affordability.
Additional Information:
When the 2024 ICC model codes are proposed for adoption next year, there will be state mandated energy conservation measures that must be adopted with those codes. Staff will brief council on those measures and the impacts at a future study session.
The 2026 Electrical Code and the 2024 ICC model codes will be brought to council for adoption together once available, likely in the fall of 2026 to keep the City of Brighton current and compliant with state law. Thereafter, the intention will be to adopt updated ICC building codes every three years.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
The proposed amendments to Chapter 15. Buildings and Construction of the city’s Municipal Code, generally include the following:
1) Specific model code “blanks” should be filled in as planned by the authors of code.
2) The design criteria should be adjusted.
3) The administrative sections should match the well tested standard code without conflict.
4) Other minor amendments based on practical considerations.
Note: If the code amendments should be approved at a first reading and then at a second reading, in accordance with the revised section of the code pertaining to the Appeals Officer (see Section 6 of the draft ordinance), city staff will bring a resolution forward requesting an appointment of an Appeals Officer for the city.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
City staff is recommending approval of the proposed code amendments to provide the public with a clear and consistent Municipal Code in regard to buildings and construction within our community.
OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
1. Approve the ordinance at first reading;
2. Modify the ordinance at first reading;
3. Not approve the ordinance; and
4. Continue the item to a date certain.
ATTACHMENTS
• Draft City Council Ordinance
• City Staff’s Draft Presentation via PowerPoint