Developers seeking to construct commercial sites and residential communities in Lakeway will be required to conform to the 2015 International Building Code and the 2014 National Electric Code.

The IBC is developed by the International Code Council, or ICC, which provides code enforcement training to city staff, said Ray Miller, Lakeway Building and Development Services director. The ICC was established in 1994 to bring various types of building codes together to form the IBC, he said.

Lakeway City Council unanimously approved the policy change Aug. 15, but the ordinance amendment adopting the new codes will not become effective until Jan. 1, allowing staff time to educate local builders and update city forms and publications.

The 2008 edition of the NEC and the 2009 edition of the IBC is currently in effect—with a few exceptions—in Lakeway and will remain as city policy until Dec. 31.

“Adopting the more current version of the IBC allows ... for the building codes to be more consistent with newer [building] standards,” Miller said.

The policy change may also affect the codes applicable to constructing additions onto existing structures, he said. However, the code adoption should not lengthen the city’s development permit process and will not affect local building codes, which take precedence over the IBC and NEC, he said.

Why owners should care about building codes

Although City Council adopted recent versions of the International Building Code and National Electric Code, Lakeway’s Aug. 15 action affected more than just local builders.

By incorporating newer codes into its building and development services, Lakeway is likely able to have a more favorable rating by the Insurance Service Office, said Ray Miller, Building and Development Services director.

“This is a benefit to local taxpayers, or property owners, with regards to their insurance coverages,” he said. “[A homeowner’s coverage] is based on what that ISO rating is for your community.”