County Inches Closer to Approval of New Building Code

The Jefferson County Council is closer to adopting 
a new building code and an on-site sewage treatment code.

Council members heard the first reading of a bill to establish the codes on July 25.

County Services Director Kristi Bales said the revised code establishes minimum requirements regarding the design, construction, alteration, enlargement, repair, demolition, removal, maintenance and use of all buildings in Jefferson County’s unincorporated area.

The ordinances also provide the requirements for
 permits, collection of fees, inspections and penalties for violations.

Further, the new codes have two major changes to the current county codes, Bales said.

First, the county will now license mechanical contractors.

Second, the county is adopting the International Existing Building Code, which allows the county to review only the proposed changes to 
existing buildings instead of inspecting the entire building.

“We didn’t have that Existing Building Code on the books in 
the past, so when a residential remodel came in, we would have to look at the whole building not just the section that they were working on,” Bales said. “In the past, if you started working on something, you had to bring it all in conformance with today’s standards.”

Bales said the change could reduce the costs of residential remodeling projects and should make it easier for new businesses to move into existing buildings in the county.

The second and third readings of the codes and a vote to approve or reject the codes will take place at 6:30 pm Aug. 8 at the county council chambers in Hillsboro. 

If approved, the new codes will go into effect on Jan. 1.