City of Fargo inspections staff reviewed proposed 2024 International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) changes and recommended a package of local amendments and deletions at a departmental meeting; staff made recommendations but the department did not vote to adopt the revised codes during the session.

The review, led by Sean Radnick, building official for the City of Fargo, covered a wide set of changes and local amendments across IBC Section 1809.5 and IRC chapters 1–24. Staff recommended modifying IBC 1809.5’s frost-protection exception to explicitly exempt certain freestanding, unheated storage buildings used for private or pleasure motor vehicle storage when they meet specified conditions — including an eave height threshold and that “the building is not normally occupied.” Radnick said these structures often receive only electrical service and do not require frost protection: “if they're not gonna be bringing in, water and they're just bringing in power, why we would need the frost protection for these buildings.”

Staff emphasized that many 2024 changes are editorial or organizational (restructured sections, clarified wording) rather than substantive. Still, they proposed several specific local actions: add a definition of “landing” to require a constructed platform at stair tops or bottoms (not soil, gravel or sand); delete several previously adopted flood-hazard amendments in multiple IRC sections; retain local rules allowing the department to set final valuation for permitting; and keep existing local deck guidance rather than adopt the newer national deck tables.

The department also reviewed technical updates affecting construction practice in Fargo. Highlights included:
- Landing and stair clarifications: staff proposed a local definition for landing to address recurring field problems with stairways resting directly on soil or turf; Radnick noted, “We're starting to see those sink.”
- Header and portal framing: new IRC language and figures limit when a header may span more than one opening; staff explained the change is intended to prevent long-span headers from bowing and recommended further structural review by engineers and the inspections group.
- Envelope and siding details: Chapter 7 changes add new figures and manufacturer-focused requirements (starter strips, utility trim, siding clearances) and require listing for some building-integrated photovoltaic systems; staff recommended inspectors produce a one-page “cheat sheet” of field items to watch.
- Radon controls: staff recommended retaining the radon guidance by moving it to Appendix B (radon control methods) and leaving previous local requirements unchanged; Radnick clarified active-system provisions need not require attic access if the home provides accessible routing elsewhere (for example, the basement).
- Mechanical and refrigerant rules: new IRC/Mechanical Code sections add requirements for A2L refrigerants and associated labeling, testing and charge limits (staff noted an individual refrigeration-system charge limit of 34.5 [units recorded in packet] / 15.7 kilograms and labeled equipment/listing requirements).
- Roofing and cladding: Chapter 9 adds wind-resistance sections for multiple roof coverings and new fastening tables for cladding over foam sheathing; staff observed many of these are national testing references that will rarely change local practice but warrant inspector attention.

Staff repeatedly noted that several items are “previous amendments” Fargo adopted earlier and that their recommendation in most cases was to retain existing local amendments, except where they recommended deletion (notably multiple flood-hazard local amendments). Joseph Gardner and Dylan Grama presented detailed chapter-by-chapter notes for chapters 4–7 and chapter 10 respectively; Bill Thompson covered roofing chapters; John Woltman summarized mechanical chapters 12–24 and listed proposed deletions of flood-related local amendments.

No formal vote to adopt the 2024 IBC/IRC or to enact the staff-recommended local amendments was recorded in the transcript. The meeting did record routine procedural votes: approval of Nov. 7 minutes and the motion to adjourn.

Next steps identified by staff included circulating a consolidated list of the proposed local amendments and deletions, producing inspector handouts for commonly missed items (headers across double openings, siding and starter-strip details, and poly/vapor-retarder guidance), and seeking engineering input on header-span alternatives. Staff said they will bring recommended language back for formal consideration at a future meeting.

Ending: The department closed the meeting after routine business; staff will prepare a formal package of proposed local amendments and clarifying handouts to support inspectors and builders ahead of any adoption decision.