The Building Code Council wildfire response committee finalized a draft report for the governor identifying targeted waivers and council-led rulemaking to speed post-fire rebuilding while preserving life-safety rules; the committee recommended surgical changes (credit waivers, emergency rule windows, and preapproved plans) rather than blanket suspensions.

Council member Roger Haringa presented a late amendment to allow building officials to approve alternate or updated embodied‑carbon table values (e.g., geographic averages or updated CLF reports); the body could not vote before losing quorum, and members suggested revised wording for next week.

City and SPG Cooper City agreed a global stipulation to resolve multiple code- and building-code cases, including steep reductions and an overall reduced-amount payment schedule; Magistrate Rosenberg approved the agreement on Sept. 2, 2026.

Building Official Dennis Pedler presented Resolution 3111 to adopt local findings for updating to the 2025 California Building Standards Code and introduced Ordinances 783 and 784, the latter adding Chapter 9.48 to regulate sleeping in public places; council voted to adopt the resolution and introduce both ordinances.

Councilmembers reviewed a proposed IRC amendment to allow solar equipment to satisfy EV-ready outlet requirements and to specify breaker location on panels; electrical-code overlap and locational clarity were key concerns prompting a request for more detailed drawings and time for review.

Planning director Scott Chazy urged the county to replicate its 2023 approach allowing homeowners to rebuild on the same footprint without triggering shoreline or critical-area rules, and recommended a two‑year vesting window and use of the 2015 energy code to reduce permitting bottlenecks.

Parks Director Jason Gerwin updated council on the Civic Plaza proof-of-concept, saying the planned temporary 'indoor' structure may trigger code requirements that would limit its temporary use to roughly 45 days; staff reported HUD and CDBG funding and asked council for direction on spending and alternatives.

Torrington27s ordinance subcommittee voted to send amendments on building-code appeals, peddling/soliciting rules and criteria for elderly property-tax relief extensions to public hearing, asking staff to coordinate enforcement language with the police chief and include a reversion clause for fee changes if state law alters publication requirements.

The Kimball Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Feb. 1, 2018 adopted Ordinance No. 252 (FY2017–18 budget amendment), approved Ordinance No. 253 on first reading to adopt 2012 building codes with exceptions, approved a $4,000 Jere Davis scholarship, waived a church permit fee (one abstention), and extended Airmed Care benefits to volunteer firemen.

AB 306 would let the California Building Standards Commission hear appeals and issue official code interpretations to reduce inconsistent local interpretations across 540 jurisdictions; sponsors said the change preserves local control while improving certainty and encouraging innovation.

FutureWise testified in support of code language clarifications to permit taller single‑stair residential buildings, stacked flats and related flexibility in the IRC/IBC, while flagging cost concerns about sprinkler requirements; written comments with technical details were submitted.

SBCC heard dueling views on proposed embodied carbon provisions: architects and carbon‑leadership advocates supported optional materials and pathway approaches; the Washington Aggregate & Concrete Association urged rejecting or tabling proposals, arguing SBCC lacks authority to regulate embodied carbon as a health/safety standard.

Advocates including Futurewise supported allowing taller, single-stair residential buildings to expand housing options; planners and some witnesses urged the Council to study cost-benefit impacts (sprinklers, types, affordability) before finalizing amendments.

State and regional officials, architects and nonprofit groups urged the State Building Code Council to adopt a voluntary embodied‑carbon appendix (Options 1 or 2) to the 2024 International Building Code to help jurisdictions measure and reduce materials‑related emissions in larger projects.

Alachua County planning staff outlined several 2026 state bills that will require code changes or policy responses including SB 182 (private‑school preemption in commercial/mixed‑use zones), HB 399 (expanded allowances for manufactured homes), HB 803 (private providers and glazing limits), new timelines for local review and a data‑center planning framework; commissioners asked staff to expedite local rules for data centers and review glazing and inspection impacts.

A local building advisory board reviewed proposed local amendments to the 2024 International Building Code, 2023 National Electrical Code and the 2012 energy code, debated permit exemptions for decks and temporary structures, raised concerns about vapor retarders beneath slabs, and voted to continue the meeting to April 30 for further review.

A county task force laid out draft recommendations for ADUs including size caps (attached 850 sq ft, detached 75%/1,200 sq ft), a 22-foot height cap proposal, sprinkler exemptions and streamlined permitting; questions remain on parking, baseline definitions for conversions and owner-occupancy.

The State Building Code Council reviewed a proposed statewide ‘single‑exit’ appendix allowing single‑egress apartment buildings under strict safety upgrades and voted to ask the technical advisory group (TAG) to consider whether Type 3A construction should be allowed up to six stories under additional requirements. The TAG will report back to BFRW by March 13.

ESSB 5156 would permit smaller elevator cars for buildings up to six stories/24 units, direct the State Building Code Council to adopt standards, and create a technical advisory group; proponents say it reduces costs and increases accessibility while manufacturers warned vague harmonization language risks safety and litigation.

A Fortson resident told the Harris County commission her home built in a flagged wetland has structural damage and failing septic infrastructure she says threatens public health; she demanded emergency remediation, independent investigation, a permit moratorium and disclosure of withheld engineering reports.

City staff outlined proposed code clarifications and selective changes after inviting roughly 500 contractors to submit concerns; recommendations include an optional manual dimmer mandate, clearer guidance on sprinklers vs. firewalls for small multiunit buildings, requiring smoke alarms in rooms that could become bedrooms, and a local energy‑table option to ease prescriptive R‑value requirements.

The Division of Fire Safety told the House committee it opposes a statutory deadline to adopt the International Residential Code (IRC) by Jan. 1, 2028, citing technical conflicts with existing state standards, sprinkler and design-professional requirements, and implementation burdens for trade licensing and records systems.

The Urban Affairs Committee heard hours of testimony for and against LB726, which would adopt the 2026 NFPA electrical code with several amendments. Proponents cited firefighter safety and nuisance‑trip reductions; builders and realtors warned added requirements (basement GFCIs, whole‑house surge protectors) raise costs and could squeeze affordable housing.

League legal director Jared Tingay told the Legislative Policy Committee that HB41 would adopt the 2024 WUI standard and require municipal WUI maps; HB215 would limit local vegetation ordinances but include a defensible-space carve-out. Cities raised concerns about fee exposure, appeals and structural hazards.

The State Building Code Council told the Local Government Committee the council will file prescriptive solutions for single‑exit stairs (up to six stories) and sixplexes into the CR‑102 public rulemaking package, with adoption anticipated in late spring; SBCC staff said TAGs, firefighters and other experts informed safety provisions such as emergency escape and rescue openings.