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Record of Proceedings

Land Use, Public Safety, and Community Development Committee Workshop on Building Code Amendments - September 25, 2025

City Council Committee Meetings — Thursday, September 25, 2025
BodyFrederick, Maryland
SessionCity Council Committee Meetings
DateThursday, September 25, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 36:42

Transcript — Verbatim
5:45

I think we'll go through these each one by one.

5:47

Perfect.

6:17

Good afternoon, Dustin Newsbaum, Chief Building Code official for the City of Frederick.

6:25

So we're going to go over ordinance updates, changes to I believe five different ordinances ordinances.

6:34

We will start with chapter twenty-six, the electrical code.

6:39

And just for some background information, Chapter 26 of the Frederick City Code adopts by reference the National Electric Code.

6:54

And makes local amendments to the primary purpose of the draft ordinance is to adopt a 2023 edition of the code.

7:01

The ordinance also eliminates outdated or unnecessary provisions, including those relating to electrical inspectors, and adds provisions relating to permit requirements, which were transferred from chapter five, the building code.

7:32

How would you all like me to proceed?

7:36

I guess if there's anything that you feel needs highlighting, uh you can bring that up, but I don't not sure what.

7:47

I I agree with with that.

7:49

Um changes in in this section and in others that are essentially clerical updates, or you know, we we've moved this to a different section, so now it's not in this section anymore.

8:04

Those are all fine.

8:18

So we can understand what what those are.

8:20

But just moving around bullets.

8:23

Um we don't need to hear as much about it.

8:26

Okay, understood.

8:28

Uh so yeah, just give me a minute, we'll we'll go through here.

8:31

The the first major update is like I said, that the ordinance originally stated that the electrical code was the 1987 edition.

8:39

We have changed that to state the 2023 National Electric Code.

8:45

Um, so that is the primary change to this ordinance.

8:49

Um it just makes it clear for all contractors, residents when applying for a permit, when completing work, the 2023 National Electric Code is the standard.

9:00

Understood.

9:01

Although that is currently the standard in practice here in the city anyway.

9:08

Correct.

9:08

We're just notating it more clearly in this section.

9:12

Correct, yes.

9:13

Now, I I will say that Maryland had just adopted a 2023.

9:18

Uh so that's what we're we're moving to.

9:22

Um and you know, the I believe the website says the twenty twenty, I believe, right now.

9:30

So we will be updating the website to show to reflect that to the public as well.

9:35

Um just gonna try to go through here and scan over any major updates.

10:14

So I think one, if you look at Crate number.

10:22

2620C, uh, which is persons eligible to make applications.

10:29

Um we have modified that to if you look at number two, the owner and principal residence of a residential building um who signs a statement as required by the code official may apply for and receive an electrical permit limited to the installation of fixtures equipment devices, branch circuits, yada yada um the load side of the service disconnect.

10:57

So that means they can do minor wiring inside, but they cannot do the disconnect the the meter install to their to their principal structure.

11:09

Um we kind of we took out that if you if you have rental properties, we're not allowing that person to do work in the rental property.

11:18

The the tenant you mean the the actual no the property owner.

11:24

Okay.

11:24

We we kind of it's more of a like a life safety, we're more concerned for that tenant, and that's why we are requiring a master electrician do that and not just any homeowner that has rental properties.

11:39

Okay, but this change allows for a property owner to request a permit for minor work to be performed on a property that they occupy themselves.

11:57

Yes, sir, correct.

11:58

And that allows them to perform the work.

12:02

Correct.

12:03

Yes, sir.

12:04

Thank you.

12:04

Yep.

12:06

Can you give me a just a real practical example of that?

12:08

Is that like me as a homeowner apply to change out my dining room light fixture and I need a permit to do that, and then I'm allowed to do it myself?

12:17

Now, if if you're just changing a light fixture out, you wouldn't need a permit, like if you're just replacing it with the same type and kind.

12:22

If if you are adding lights, if you're adding wiring outlets, you are now able to, you know, to do that.

12:34

I'm not going to, but thank you.

12:39

Any other questions on that topic?

12:45

Everything else in here is honestly minor changes, kind of clarifies when permits expire.

12:53

Um that how when they extend um just clerical stuff throughout.

13:03

Okay, sounds like we're good on that one.

13:06

All right.

13:06

Let's move on to property maintenance code.

13:11

Yep.

13:11

So the uh discussion for this one is chapter 12.5 article one property maintenance.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Building Codes█████████████████████████████████████████████79%
Procedural███████13%
Fire Protection█████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Land Use, Public Safety, and Community Development Committee Workshop on Building Code Amendments

On September 25, 2025, the Land Use, Public Safety, and Community Development Committee of the City of Frederick held a workshop to discuss six proposed ordinances updating several building codes. Chief Building Code Official Dustin Newsbaum presented each ordinance, which primarily adopt newer editions of national and state codes, eliminate outdated provisions, and clarify permit requirements and local amendments. The committee unanimously voted to recommend all six ordinances to the full City Council for adoption.

Discussion Items

1. Ordinance G-25-17 (Electrical Code – Chapter 26)

  • Updates the adopted electrical code from the 1987 National Electric Code to the 2023 edition, bringing the city into alignment with the state of Maryland.
  • Removes outdated provisions regarding electrical inspectors and consolidates permit requirements from Chapter 5 (Building Code) into this chapter.
  • Modifies eligibility for electrical permits: property owners may apply for and perform minor electrical work (e.g., installation of fixtures, branch circuits) on their own principal residence, but not on rental properties, to ensure tenant safety.
  • Clarifies permit expiration and extension procedures.
  • Committee members expressed support for the clarity and life-safety focus.

2. Ordinance G-25-18 (Property Maintenance Code – Chapter 12.5)

  • Adopts the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), replacing the 2015 edition previously in use.
  • The 2021 IPMC is the version currently adopted by the state of Maryland.
  • Committee members inquired about the implementation timeline. Newsbaum noted that the effective date for new codes will be January 1, 2026, with a grace period allowing use of the updated code before that date. Permits applied for under the old code remain valid and will be inspected under that code.

3. Ordinance G-25-19 (Local Amendments to Property Maintenance Code)

  • Codifies local amendments previously adopted by resolution into the city code as a new section (12.5-1.2), making them easier for the public to find.
  • Increases the maximum fine for violations from $1,000 to $5,000, aligning with a recent state of Maryland change.
  • Updates cross-references to match the new IPMC section numbers.
  • Committee members commended the improved accessibility and transparency.

4. Ordinance G-25-20 (Building Code – Chapter 5)

  • Updates the Maryland Building Performance Standards reference to the latest state-adopted version (2021 International Building Code and 2021 International Energy Conservation Code).
  • Moves permit-related provisions (e.g., references to electrical, plumbing permits) from Chapter 5 into the respective code chapters so that users find all requirements in one place.
  • Adds a table for wind load, snow load, and other design criteria to answer frequent public questions.
  • Incorporates local amendments previously in resolutions into the ordinance.
  • Committee members praised the streamlining effort.

5. Ordinance G-25-21 (Plumbing and Gas – Chapter 16)

  • Adopts the 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as referenced by the Maryland State Plumbing Code, replacing the previous adoption without a specific edition.
  • Eliminates permit requirements for replacing in-kind fixtures (e.g., faucets, lavatories) that do not involve changing pipe size or routing.
  • Committee members noted that this realistic approach matches common homeowner practices and modern DIY-friendly fixtures.

6. Ordinance G-25-22 (Fire Protection – Chapter 9)

  • Adopts the state fire prevention code that incorporates the 2024 editions of NFPA 1 (Fire Code) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), replacing the 2012 editions previously referenced.
  • Transfers permit provisions from Chapter 5 and updates references and language.
  • A committee member asked whether recent state laws regarding piping prone to explosion (which caused a firefighter fatality) were covered. Newsbaum confirmed that those changes are in the gas code and are reflected through state amendments already adopted.

Key Outcomes

  • The committee unanimously (2-0) voted to recommend all six ordinances (G-25-17 through G-25-22) to the full City Council for a public hearing and final adoption.
  • The ordinances are expected to appear on the next regular City Council meeting agenda.
  • If adopted, the updated codes will go into effect immediately upon the Mayor's signature, with an administrative goal of full enforcement starting January 1, 2026.
  • No public comments were made during the meeting.

Meeting Transcript

I think we'll go through these each one by one. Perfect. Good afternoon, Dustin Newsbaum, Chief Building Code official for the City of Frederick. So we're going to go over ordinance updates, changes to I believe five different ordinances ordinances. We will start with chapter twenty-six, the electrical code. And just for some background information, Chapter 26 of the Frederick City Code adopts by reference the National Electric Code. And makes local amendments to the primary purpose of the draft ordinance is to adopt a 2023 edition of the code. The ordinance also eliminates outdated or unnecessary provisions, including those relating to electrical inspectors, and adds provisions relating to permit requirements, which were transferred from chapter five, the building code. How would you all like me to proceed? I guess if there's anything that you feel needs highlighting, uh you can bring that up, but I don't not sure what. I I agree with with that. Um changes in in this section and in others that are essentially clerical updates, or you know, we we've moved this to a different section, so now it's not in this section anymore. Those are all fine. So we can understand what what those are. But just moving around bullets. Um we don't need to hear as much about it. Okay, understood. Uh so yeah, just give me a minute, we'll we'll go through here. The the first major update is like I said, that the ordinance originally stated that the electrical code was the 1987 edition. We have changed that to state the 2023 National Electric Code. Um, so that is the primary change to this ordinance. Um it just makes it clear for all contractors, residents when applying for a permit, when completing work, the 2023 National Electric Code is the standard. Understood. Although that is currently the standard in practice here in the city anyway. Correct. We're just notating it more clearly in this section. Correct, yes. Now, I I will say that Maryland had just adopted a 2023. Uh so that's what we're we're moving to. Um and you know, the I believe the website says the twenty twenty, I believe, right now. So we will be updating the website to show to reflect that to the public as well. Um just gonna try to go through here and scan over any major updates. So I think one, if you look at Crate number. 2620C, uh, which is persons eligible to make applications. Um we have modified that to if you look at number two, the owner and principal residence of a residential building um who signs a statement as required by the code official may apply for and receive an electrical permit limited to the installation of fixtures equipment devices, branch circuits, yada yada um the load side of the service disconnect. So that means they can do minor wiring inside, but they cannot do the disconnect the the meter install to their to their principal structure. Um we kind of we took out that if you if you have rental properties, we're not allowing that person to do work in the rental property. The the tenant you mean the the actual no the property owner. Okay. We we kind of it's more of a like a life safety, we're more concerned for that tenant, and that's why we are requiring a master electrician do that and not just any homeowner that has rental properties. Okay, but this change allows for a property owner to request a permit for minor work to be performed on a property that they occupy themselves. Yes, sir, correct. And that allows them to perform the work. Correct. Yes, sir. Thank you. Yep. Can you give me a just a real practical example of that? Is that like me as a homeowner apply to change out my dining room light fixture and I need a permit to do that, and then I'm allowed to do it myself? Now, if if you're just changing a light fixture out, you wouldn't need a permit, like if you're just replacing it with the same type and kind.

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