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 Westwego
 Code of Ordinances
 Chapter 10. BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS
 Article I. IN GENERAL

§ 10-1. Uniform Construction Code adopted.  

Latest version.

  • (a)

    Pursuant to R.S. 40:1730.21 et seq., there is hereby adopted, for the purpose of regulating the construction, alterations, repair, equipment, use and occupancy and maintenance of every building or structure or any appurtenance connected or attached to such buildings or structures, excluding farm structures and recreational camps, the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code. The Louisiana Sate Uniform Construction Code is incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein and shall be controlling within the corporate limits of the city. The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code shall consist of the following:

    (1)

    International Building Code, 2006 edition, not including Chapter 1, Administration; Chapter 11, Accessibility; Chapter 27, Electrical; and Chapter 29, Plumbing Systems. The applicable standards referenced in that code are included for regulations of construction within the state.

    (2)

    International Existing Building Code, 2006 edition, not including Chapter 1, Administration, and the standards referenced in that code for regulations of construction within the state.

    (3)

    International Residential Code.

    a.

    International Residential Code, 2006 edition, not including Parts I, Administrative; V, Mechanical; VII, Plumbing; and VIII, Electrical. The applicable standards referenced in that code are included for regulation of construction within the state. The enforcement of such standards shall be mandatory only with respect to new construction, reconstruction, additions to homes previously built to the International Residential Code, and extensive alterations; however, at the city's option, Appendix J, Existing Buildings and Structures, is also being adopted by reference and enforced. For the purposes of this chapter, IRC R301.2.1.1 (Design Criteria) shall be amended as follows and shall only apply to the International Residential Code, 2006 edition:

    1.

    Amendment of R301.2.1.1 (Design Criteria).

    2.

    Item 6, The American Concrete Institute, Guide to Concrete Masonry Residential Construction in High Winds Areas, shall be added.

    3.

    Item 7, Institute for Business and Home Safety, Optional Code-Plus Fortified for Safer Living, shall be added.

    4.

    Item 8, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, Optional Code-Plus Blueprint for Safety, shall be added.

    b.

    For purposes of this subsection (a)(3), the term "extensive alteration" shall mean an alteration when the total area of all the work areas included in the alteration exceeds 50 percent of the area of the dwelling unit.

    c.

    For purposes of this subsection (a)(3), the terms "reconstruction" and "alteration" shall have the same meaning as such terms are defined in Appendix J of the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code. For purposes of this subsection (a)(3), the term "addition" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined in Part II of the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code.

    d.

    No part of the International Residential Code that is excluded by subsection (a)(3)a of this section shall be included in the adoption by reference contained in this section. Further, any rule that adopts or has been adopted to add an excluded part of the code shall be deemed invalid.

    e.

    Part IV, Energy Conservation, of the latest edition of the International Residential Code is hereby amended to require that supply and return ducts be insulated to a minimum of R-6.

    f.

    No part of the International Residential Code or any other code or regulation that requires a fire protection sprinkler system in one- or two-family dwellings is not included in the adoption by reference or enforcement contained in this section. Further, no municipality or parish shall adopt or enforce an ordinance or other regulation requiring a fire protection sprinkler system in one- or two-family dwellings.

    g.

    Factory-built homes shall be inspected in accordance with the codes in effect for the city where the home will be ultimately sited, on the date construction begins in the factory.

    (4)

    International Mechanical Code, 2006 edition, and the standards referenced in that code for regulation of construction within the state.

    (5)

    The Louisiana State Plumbing Code (Part XIV, Plumbing, of the State Sanitary Code), as amended by the state health officer acting through the office of public health of the department of health and hospitals. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed so as to prevent the state health officer for enforcing Part XIV, Plumbing, of the State Sanitary Code, the enforcement of which is his statutory and regulatory responsibility.

    (6)

    International Fuel Gas Code, 2006 edition, and the standards referenced in that code for regulation of construction within the state.

    (7)

    National Electrical Code, 2008 edition, effective January 1, 2010.

    (b)

    For purposes of subsection (a)(3) of this section, the 2006 edition of the International Residential Code is hereby adopted and amended to include section R301.2.1.1 of the 2003 edition of the International Residential Code in lieu of section R301.2.1.1 of the 2006 edition. The code adopted and amended above in this subsection shall remain in effect until the 2009 edition of the International Residential Code is published, at which time such edition of the code shall be adopted by the council as provided in subsection (a)(3)a of this section. Thereafter, the latest edition of the International Residential Code shall be adopted by reference as provided in subsection (a)(3)a of this section.

(Code 1976, § 5:1; Ord. No. 1341, art. 1, 12-11-2006; Ord. No. 1394, 11-9-2009)

State law reference

Authority to adopt technical codes by reference, R.S. 33:1368.