PHOENIX — The Phoenix City Council voted to update its building code to keep construction projects safe, innovative and sustainable, according to a Wednesday press release.
Beginning Aug. 1 — due to a built-in “grace period” for current projects — the 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code will be in effect.
Any “standard plans” have up to one year to comply with the new code, the release said.
“Updating the building code is one of the most impactful ways we can promote safety, sustainability and long-term value for our residents and development community,” Phoenix’s Planning and Development Department Director Joshua Bednarek said in the release. “These changes reflect the hard work of city staff, stakeholders and technical experts, who reviewed every code and amendment to ensure this update meets the needs of our growing city, now and in the future.”
New Phoenix building code highlights
The following pieces of the new city building code were included in the release:
- EV charging requirements for easier access at one- and two-family homes based on Phoenix’s Transportation Electrification Action Plan.
- Improved water conservation by “lower maximum flow rates for faucets, showers and toilets.”
- Permits for “storage shipping containers” and “residential fence replacements” are no longer required.
- Buildings of up to 18 stories high can utilize “sustainable engineered wood” called mass timber.
- Multifamily developments have less space restrictions for “mechanical systems” to allow for maximizing square footage.
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