Council committee advances broad building‑code revisions to adjust fees, inspections, contractor rules and abandoned‑project handling
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Summary
City staff presented sweeping updates to the building ordinance — raising some minimum fees, clarifying inspection and citation protocols, formalizing stop‑work procedures, codifying handling of abandoned construction and adding state‑required private‑provider language — and the committee recommended the changes to the Committee of the Whole.
City attorneys and building officials presented a comprehensive set of amendments to the city’s building ordinance intended to modernize fee structures, clarify inspection authority and streamline enforcement for abandoned or unsafe construction.
Jenna Throe, city attorney, summarized the package of changes grouped by topic: adjustments to permit fees and a raised minimum fee (from $40 to $60) to reflect inflation and ensure fee recovery; updated definition cross‑references to state terms for consistency; clarified inspection protocols and partnership roles for building and fire departments; a citation process aligned with the zoning ordinance and a reinspection cadence; clarified stop‑work and cease‑and‑desist procedures; new procedures for identifying abandoned construction and moving those sites to unsafe‑building enforcement; expanded inspection authority so building activity can be inspected even without a permit; revised demolition requirements including right‑of‑way access and site‑leave standards; contractor registration updates (including suspension/revocation rules tied to criminal convictions consistent with state law); and updates for mechanical, electrical and plumbing sections and fee schedule alignment.
The ordinance includes a delayed effective date for portions responding to state law (HEA 101/2005) that permit private providers to perform plan review and inspections on certain Class 2 structures; those provisions will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2026, to align with the statute’s start date.
Building Commissioner Randy James said many changes codify existing practices and that fee increases were calibrated to cover inspection costs without unduly burdening applicants. Committee members pressed staff about abandoned construction: James said the ordinance would allow referral to neighborhood enforcement where a project shows no work for two years and lacks a certificate of occupancy, creating a clearer and faster pathway to address long‑standing half‑built sites.
Formal action: The Public Works & Property Vacation Committee voted to send Bill 38‑25 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; roll call recorded unanimous support in committee.
Next steps: The ordinance will go to the full council for further consideration; staff said they will present fuller detail at the Council presentation and accept questions about specific sections and implementation timelines.