Watertown City Council Adopts 2024 Building, Residential, and Fire Codes While Keeping Snow Load Standard at 50 PSF
- Steve Jurrens
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council on Monday approved three zoning text amendments that update the city’s residential, commercial and fire codes from the 2018 editions to the 2024 cycle, aligning local standards with state adoption and insurance industry expectations while avoiding major cost increases for homeowners and builders.
All three ordinances—covering the International Residential Code (IRC), International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC)—passed following brief public hearings with no opposition and only limited council discussion.
Residential code: 2024 IRC adopted, snow load kept at 50 psf
Item 12A was the second reading of Ordinance 26‑18, a zoning text amendment to Chapter 5.0301, “Building Codes Adopted with Modifications,” updating the International Residential Code from the 2018 edition to the 2024 edition.
Community Development Manager Brandi Hanten told the council the change follows the state’s adoption of the 2024 IRC, which took effect July 1, 2026.
“We typically adopt every other code cycle. So now that the state has adopted the 2024 edition, and that has become effective now after July 1st, so that is why it's before you all to adopt,” Hanten said, noting staff is “aware that it is 2026 and we are adopting the 2024 code,” but that the update “does not include substantial changes.”
The one major policy decision involved ground snow load. The 2024 IRC increases Watertown’s required ground snow load from 50 pounds per square foot to 64.4 psf, which would drive up construction costs. Staff recommended keeping the local standard at 50 psf, and the ordinance explicitly amends the climatic and geographic design criteria table to retain that value.
“The major change was with the snow load… it was showing to go from pounds per square foot to 64.4 pounds per square foot. And we did not want to add substantial increases to building costs. And so at this time, we have modified it, which we do have the ability to do, to stay at 50,” Hanten said.
Councilman Heuer moved to approve the ordinance, seconded by Councilman Allen. Before the voice vote, Councilman Moran praised the decision to hold the line on snow load.
“I appreciate the fact that we're keeping it at 50 pounds per square foot instead of going up with 64. I don't think any developers or homeowners or people that are building homes need any more expense added to their house than what they already have. And since we are not seeing roofs collapsing under snow load, there's definitely no reason to increase it,” Moran said.
The motion to approve Ordinance 26‑18 carried on a voice vote after a public hearing drew no comments.
In addition to the snow load decision, the residential code update incorporates long‑standing local practices and recent state law. The agenda document notes that Watertown is adopting the 2024 IRC “to bring in alignment with the code cycle that is adopted at the state level” and to support the city’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) audit, which “affects the City's ability for insurances.”
The ordinance also removes permit requirements for replacement of doors and windows of the same size in owner‑occupied single‑family dwellings, reflecting changes in South Dakota Codified Law that no longer allow municipalities to require permits in those cases.
Building code: commercial standards brought up to 2024 IBC
Item 12B was the second reading of Ordinance 26‑19, updating the International Building Code from the 2018 edition to the 2024 edition for non‑residential and commercial construction. The amendment also lives in Chapter 5.0301, “Building Codes Adopted with Modifications.”
“Again, this is the International Building Code. This is what oversees the non‑residential or commercial type construction. And again, just adopting a more updated code,” Hanten said, standing by for questions.
The background materials explain that Watertown is adopting the 2024 IBC
“largely in part to meet the requirements from our Insurance Services Office/ Verisk Analytics survey (ISO). Staying current with ISO standards is important because without it the community could face higher insurance costs, premium penalties, and in extreme cases loss of insurance coverage.”
The ordinance keeps Watertown’s existing structure of local modifications while updating references to the 2024 edition. Among the changes highlighted in the illustration:
· Section 5.0301.3 is updated to reference the 2024 IBC code cycle, aligning with the state and ISO expectations.
· A new exemption in Section 1104.4 allows multistory buildings to avoid installing an elevator or chair lift if all amenities provided on the second floor are also available on the first floor, for buildings only two stories in height.
· Local amendments clarify that small apartment buildings with four dwelling units or fewer and two levels or less in height may be constructed without automatic sprinkler systems, a change reflected in the city’s modification to IBC Section 903.2.8 for Group R occupancies.
After a public hearing with no speakers, Councilman Schutte moved approval, seconded by Councilman Peters. Schutte jokingly asked to hear from Building Official Reid Peterson “what he thinks of this” before immediately adding, “No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. We're good.” The motion carried on a voice vote.
Fire code: IFC updated to 2024 with local tweaks
Item 12C completed the trio of code updates with Ordinance 26‑20, amending Chapter 10.02, “Fire Code and Prevention,” to update the International Fire Code from the 2018 edition to the 2024 edition.
“This is the International Fire Code going from the 2018 to the 2024. No significant changes,” Hanten said, noting for the record that Building Official Reid Peterson and Fire Marshal Adam Bloom were present in the audience “if there were more in‑depth questions” and calling them “the masters of this code.”
The agenda document states that Watertown plans to adopt the 2024 IFC
“to keep public safety rules up to date with new technology, building materials, and safety challenges,” and that “minimal modifications were required.”
Key reasons listed for the update include:
“Addressing new fire risks from things like home battery systems, electric vehicles, and solar panels… Improving firefighter safety with better radio coverage and access roads… Meeting insurance standards to help keep community insurance ratings strong.”
The ordinance reorganizes Title 10 to consolidate IFC‑related provisions and makes targeted local amendments, such as:
· Adopting the 2024 IFC and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code while specifying which appendices are enforceable and which are reference guidelines.
· Deleting IFC Section 307 on open burning and Section 505.1 on address identification, in favor of existing city ordinances that already regulate open burning and premises identification.
· Clarifying sprinkler requirements for small Group R‑2 apartment buildings and aligning audible alarm signal requirements in living rooms with existing local mandates for smoke alarms in those spaces.
After another public hearing with no comments, Councilman Heuer moved approval, seconded by Councilman Moorman. The amendment passed on a voice vote.
Code alignment, cost control and insurance
Taken together, the three ordinances bring Watertown’s core building, residential and fire codes into the 2024 cycle while preserving local discretion where state law and experience support it.
For residential construction, the council’s decision to hold snow load at 50 psf reflects a deliberate effort to avoid unnecessary cost increases in a high‑inflation housing market, backed by the city’s observation that
“Watertown has not experienced roof failures under the current 50 psf standard.”
On the commercial and fire side, the updates are tightly linked to ISO and insurance considerations. Both the IBC and IFC agenda items emphasize that staying current with national codes and tailoring them through local amendments helps protect Watertown’s community insurance ratings and avoid premium penalties or coverage issues.
With the second readings complete and all three motions approved, the 2024 code cycle will now govern new construction and fire safety standards in Watertown, subject to the local modifications spelled out in Chapters 5.0301 and 10.02 of the revised ordinances.
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