Updates Expected to the City’s Building Codes on March 15, 2024

City Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 3315 related to adopting the 2021 Version of the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fire Code, International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, Uniform Plumbing Code, Washington State Energy Code (Commercial), Washington State Energy Code (Residential), and Washington State Existing Building Code and Amending Chapter 16.04 of the Port Townsend Municipal Code.

The State Building Code Council voted on May 24, 2023, to delay the effective date of the 2021 codes for 120 days, which changed the effective date from July 1, 2023 to October 29, 2023. On September 15, 2023, the State Building Code Council agreed on another delay. The new effective date for all building codes is March 15, 2024. All complete building permit applications submitted prior to March 15, 2024 vest to the 2018 codes.