Council Holds First Readings on Building and Fire Code Updates
- Steve Jurrens
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council on Monday conducted first readings for two ordinance updates—Ordinance 26‑19 and Ordinance 26‑20—each aligning city regulations with the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) and 2024 International Fire Code (IFC). Both updates are part of a broader effort to keep local standards current with state law and Insurance Services Office (ISO) requirements.
City Manager Alan Stager introduced the items under Ordinance First Readings.
Ordinance 26‑19: International Building Code Update
Community Development Manager Brandi Hanten told the council that changes to the IBC are minimal and largely administrative.
“There were not significant changes whatsoever with the building code… everything else was really just bringing it up, making just a cleanup between potential different section numbers from the 2018 to 2024,” Hanten said.
Key Change: Multi‑Story Building Accessibility
The most notable update is an exemption allowing certain multi‑story buildings to avoid installing elevators or chairlifts if all amenities offered on the second floor are also available on the first floor.
The attached ordinance states: “An accessible route… is not required in facilities that are less than three stories in height… so long as all amenities are provided on an accessible level.”
Councilman Allen asked how this would be communicated to residents who may assume an elevator exists.
“I just wonder about how that gets communicated… people maybe live on a second story and at some point they’re unable to walk up and down stairs,” Allen said.
Hanten noted that property managers typically handle those disclosures and that residential standards may impose additional requirements beyond the city’s building code.
Ordinance 26‑20: International Fire Code Update
The council then reviewed Ordinance 26‑20, updating the city’s fire code from the 2018 to the 2024 edition.
Hanten said the changes are also minimal.
“Once again this is just us updating from 2018 to 2024… no major changes there with this one either,” she said.
Why the Update Is Needed
According to the agenda document, the 2024 IFC addresses modern fire risks and safety needs, including:
· Home battery systems and electric vehicles
· Solar installations
· Modern building materials
· Firefighter radio coverage and access
· Insurance rating requirements
The ordinance also reorganizes sections within Title 10 to consolidate IFC‑related rules in one location.
Examples of Local Modifications
The attached ordinance includes several city‑specific amendments, such as:
· Deleting the section on open burning and recreational fires
· Allowing the fire command center to be removed if not useful
· Requiring riser rooms to be located outside dwelling units
· Adding temperature‑monitoring requirements for rooms with supplemental heating
· Providing sprinkler exceptions for small multi‑unit residential buildings
These changes are not new policy shifts but clarifications and organizational updates.
Next Steps
Both ordinances will return for second reading and possible approval at a future council meeting. No action was taken Monday, as first readings do not require a vote.
Read more local & state news at www.northeastradiosd.com/news
Subscribe to the DAILY newsletter & download the LOCAL online RADIO app - https://zurl.co/FchgS
