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[Ord. 2008-813; Ord. No. 2019-165, 1-6-2020]
Pursuant to Title 31, Article 16, Part 2, C.R.S., the International Residential Code, 2018 Edition as published by the International Code Council, 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478, Chapters 1 through 43 inclusive and Appendix Chapters F and H ("IRC") is hereby adopted by reference as the Town of Johnstown Residential Building Code to have the same force and effect as if fully set forth herein.
[Ord. 2008-813]
Where, in any specific case, different sections of this Code, the zoning code or other ordinances of the Town specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern.
[Ord. 2008-813; Ord. No. 2019-165, 1-6-2020; Ord. No. 2023-253, 6-19-2023]
The International Residential Code, 2018 Edition, adopted herein is hereby modified with the following additions, deletions, insertions and changes as follows:
(1) 
IRC Section R101.1 (Title) is amended by the addition of the term "Town of Johnstown" where indicated.
(2) 
IRC Section R105.1 (Required) is amended by replacing the words "building official" with "Town."
(3) 
IRC Section R105.2 (Work Exempt from Permit) is amended by:
Building Exception #1 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with "One-Story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and the roof height does not exceed 10 feet above grade measured from a point directly outside the exterior walls of the structure."
Building Exception #10 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with: "Shingle repair or replacement work not exceeding one square (100 square feet in area) of covering per building."
(4) 
IRC Section 105.5 (Expiration) is amended by the deletion of this section in its entirety and replaced with the following:
"Every permit issued by the building official under the provisions of this code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the building or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 180 days from the date of such permit, or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of 180 days. Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be first obtained to do so, and the fee therefor shall be one half the amount required for a new permit for such work, provided no changes have been made or will be made in the original plans and specifications for such work, and provided further that such suspension or abandonment has not exceeded one year. In order to renew action on a permit after expiration, the permittee shall pay a new full permit fee."
(5) 
IRC Section R108.5 (Refunds) is amended by the deletion of this section in its entirety and replaced with the following:
"The Town may authorize refunding of any fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected. The Town may authorize refunding of not more than 80 percent (80%) of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this code. The Town may authorize refunding of not more than 80 percent (80%) of the plan review fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan review fee has been paid is withdrawn or cancelled before any plan reviewing is done. The Town shall not authorize refunding of any fee paid except on written application filed by the original permittee not later than 180 days after the date of fee payment."
(6) 
IRC Section R108.6 (Work commencing before permit issuance) is amended by the deletion of this section in its entirety and replaced with the following:
"Any person who commences any work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system before obtaining the necessary permits may be subject to an investigation fee established by the Town. The amount of the investigation fee may be in the amount up to the amount of the permit fee that would normally be accessed for the specific type of construction activity, with any such investigation fee being in addition to all other required permit fees. The investigation fee shall be collected whether or not a permit is then subsequently issued."
(7) 
IRC Section R109.1.5 (Other inspections) is amended by the addition of a new subsection as follows:
"R109.1.5.2 Insulation Inspection of the structure shall be made following installation of the wall, ceiling and floor insulation and exterior windows and before wall coverings are installed."
(8) 
IRC Section R110.4 (Temporary occupancy) is amended by the deletion of the words "building official" in the first and second sentence and replaced with "Town."
(9) 
IRC Section R112.1 (General) is amended by the deletion of the last three sentences and replaced with the following:
"The members of the Council of Appeals shall be comprised of the members of the Town Council."
(10) 
IRC Section R112.3 (Qualifications) is amended by the deletion of this section in its entirety.
(11) 
IRC Section R113.2 (Notice of Violation) is amended by the addition of "Notice of Violations shall be delivered in accordance with section 107 of the IPMC" after the last paragraph.
(12) 
IRC Section R202 (Definitions) is amended by addition of the following:
"Sleeping Room" (Bedroom) is any enclosed habitable space within a dwelling unit, which complies with the minimum room dimension requirements of IRC Sections R304 and R305 and contains a closet, an area that is useable as a closet, or an area that is readily convertible for use as a closet. Living rooms, family rooms and other similar habitable areas that are so situated and designed so as to clearly indicate these intended uses, shall not be interpreted as sleeping rooms."
(13) 
IRC Table R301.2 (1) is filled to provide the following:
Table R301.2(1) Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria
Ground Snow Load
Wind Design
Seismic Design Category
Subject to Damage From
Winter Design Temp Deg. F
Ice barrier Underlayment Required
Flood Hazard
Air Freezing Index
Mean Annual Temp
Speed (V)
Topographic effects
Weathering
Frost Line
Termite
30 psf
115
No
B
Severe
30 in.
Slight to Moderate
1
YES
26713
1000
43F
(14) 
IRC Section R303.4 (Mechanical Ventilation) is amended by replacing "5 air changes per hour" with "7 air changes per hour" and replacing the words "in accordance with section N1102.4.1.2" with "in accordance with section 402.4.1.2 of the International Energy Conservation Code 2018 Edition."
(15) 
IRC Section R309.5 (Fire sprinklers) is amended by the deletion of this section in its entirety.
(16) 
IRC Section R310.1 (Emergency escape and rescue opening required) is amended by adding the following after the first paragraph:
"All windows located in basements, habitable attics and sleeping rooms shall meet all the requirements of section R310.1 through R310.2.5."
The section is further amended by deletion of Exception #2 and its conditions.
(17) 
IRC Section R310.2.3 (Window wells) is amended by the addition of the following:
"All windows in basements shall be an escape and rescue window, if requiring a window well pursuant to the International Residential Code shall comply with the dimension requirements set forth in this section."
(18) 
IRC Section R310.2.3.1 (Ladder and steps) is amended by the addition of the following exception to read as follows:
"Exception: Only one window well ladder shall be required in an unfinished basement."
(19) 
IRC Section R312.1 (Guards required) is amended by the addition of a third paragraph as follows:
"All area wells, stair wells, window wells and light wells attached to any building that are located less than 36 inches (914 mm) from the nearest intended walking surface and deeper than 30 inches (762 mm) below the surrounding ground level, creating an opening greater than 24 inches (610 mm) measured perpendicular from the building, shall be protected with guardrails conforming to this section around the entire opening, or be provided with an equivalent barrier.
Exceptions:
(a) 
The access side of stairways need not be protected.
(b) 
Area and window wells provided for emergency escape and rescue windows may be protected with approved grates or covers that comply with Section R310.4 of this code.
(c) 
Covers and grates may be used over stairways and other openings used exclusively for service access or for admitting light or ventilation."
(20) 
IRC Section R313 (Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems) is amended by the deletion of this section in its entirety.
(21) 
IRC Section 315.3 (Location) is amended by deleting the first sentence and replacing it with the following:
"Carbon monoxide detection shall be installed in dwelling units within 15 feet of each separate sleeping area and on each level."
(22) 
IRC Section R401.2 (Requirements) is amended by the addition of the following after the first paragraph:
"Foundations shall be designed, and the construction drawings stamped by a Colorado registered design professional. The foundation design must be based on an engineer's soils report. The drawings must be noted with the engineering firm name, specific location for design and soils report number. A site certification prepared by State of Colorado registered design professional is required for setback verification on all new Group R Division 3 occupancies."
(23) 
IRC Section R405.1 (Concrete or masonry foundations) is amended with the addition of the following after the first sentence:
"All foundation drains shall be designed and inspected by a State of Colorado registered design professional."
(24) 
IRC Chapter 11 IRC Chapter 11 (Energy Efficiency) is amended by the deletion of this chapter in its entirety and replaced with the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code.
(25) 
IRC Section G2415.12 IRC Section G2415.12 (Minimum burial depth) is amended by the addition of the following: "All plastic fuel gas piping shall be installed a minimum of 18 inches (457 mm) below grade."
(26) 
IRC Section G2415.12.1 IRC Section G2415.12.1 (Individual outdoor appliances) is amended by the deletion of this section in its entirety.
(27) 
IRC Section G2417.4.1 IRC Section G2417.4.1 (Test pressure) is amended by replacing 3 psig with 10 psig.
(28) 
IRC Section P2503.5.1 IRC Section P2503.5.1 (Rough plumbing) is amended by the deletion of the first sentence and replaced with the following:
"DWV systems shall be tested on completion of the rough piping installation by water or air without evidence of leakage."
(29) 
IRC Section P2603.5.1 IRC Section P2603.5.1 (Sewer depth) is amended by filling in both areas where indicated to read "12 inches (305 mm)."
(30) 
IRC Section P3103.1.1 IRC Section P3103.1.1 (Roof extension) is amended by replacing "6 inches" with "12 inches."