Jefferson County adopts 2018 International Fire Code, including Appendix D

Jefferson County commissioners voted to adopt the 2018 edition of the International Fire Code, including Appendix D, updating the county's local fire-code reference and aligning the county with the state's more recent standard. Planning staff told the board the change modernizes the county's fire code from the 2012 edition and provides a consistent reference point for later private-road regulations.

Milton, who presented the ordinance at the public hearing, said the county's existing code referenced the 2012 edition and that adopting the 2018 code "sets the foundation" for related work, including criteria for private-road apparatus access. He explained that Appendix D is being adopted "by reference" so it becomes part of the county code for purposes such as emergency-vehicle access and turnarounds.

The public hearing drew no registered neutral speakers on the fire-code adoption; staff summarized the ordinance's effect and the board entered deliberations before taking a roll-call vote. County officials noted that adoption will take effect on publication in the county newspaper per statute and that the move is intended to reduce confusion between county and state building standards.

The ordinance text summarizes the change as an amendment to Jefferson County Fire Code Chapter 81 to adopt the 2018 International Fire Code and Appendix D; staff said the ordinance will take effect upon publication in the Jefferson Star. The board directed staff to finalize non-substantive wording clarifications raised during the hearing before publishing the ordinance.