cover
TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Joshua Ream, Director of Development Services
DATE: 04/11/2025
SUBJECT:
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 12 of the Aurora Code of Ordinances titled Buildings and Building Regulations to Adopt the 2024 I-Series of Codes and Recommended Amendments.
PURPOSE:
To obtain City Council approval for the adoption of the 2024 I-Series of Codes with associated amendments as agreed to by staff and associated committees. Proposed adoption would incorporate new safety standards for construction and also help address new technologies in this sector to better serve the community.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Aurora presently operates under the 2015 I-Series of codes. While these standards were up to date and germane at the time of adoption, they do not properly reflect the current building environment in terms of material understanding and technology. These outdated items are now going to affect our Verisk-ISO Building Code Effectiveness Grading Score (BCEGS), which is a 2, so that a failure to adopt would harm and negatively affect insurance underwriting for new structures if the City does not move to a newer code series. Along with the aging out component, newer codes allow staff to be more flexible in dealing with construction items and our development sector to be more competitive in attracting new business. Over the past two years staff has been sorting through subsequent code series published by the International Code Council (ICC) to come to a recommendation. These adoptions have been thoroughly reviewed and amendments approved by the Building Code Board of Appeals and the Fire Code of Appeals throughout the 2024 and 2025 calendar year. These commissions and appeals boards are comprised of construction-related industry professionals from a broad spectrum of trades and design professions in order to assist the City to formulate a competitive, safe and fair set of standards for our local construction industry.
DISCUSSION:
Approving this new commercial building code adoption will improve our BCEGS score, increase safety provisions for citizenry and address newer technologies.
By approving the proposed local amendments, we will place Aurora in a more advantageous development posture with regional competitors and we will offer more compliance alternatives than competitors.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Upon approval City Council will position Aurora in a more advantageous relationship with regional competitors using a smarter and more effective set of building codes.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The City Council should approve the building code recommendations from the Building Code Board of Appeals and the Fire Code Board of Appeals.
cc: Building Code Board of Appeals and the Fire Code Board of Appeals
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 12 of the Aurora Code of Ordinances titled Buildings and Building Regulations to Adopt the 2024 I-Series of Codes and Recommended Amendments.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has determined that it is necessary and desirable to amend Chapter 12 Buildings and Building Regulations in order to update and improve said Ordinances; and
Section One: That the amendments to said Ordinances, being the Aurora Building Code Regulations, are hereby adopted as set forth in said Exhibit “A”.
Section Two: That this ordinance shall be in full force and effect, and shall be controlling, 01 July 2025, approval and publication as provided by law.
Section Three: That all ordinances or parts of ordinances there of in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of any such conflict.
Section Four: That any Section or provision of this Ordinance that is construed to be invalid or void shall not affect the remaining sections or provisions which shall remain in full force and effect thereafter.)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: an approval Amending Chapter 12 of the Aurora Code of Ordinances titled Buildings and Building Regulations to Adopt the 2024 I-Series of Codes and Recommended Amendments