HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 217, 2025
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ORDINANCE NO. 217, 2025
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING CHAPTER 5, ARTICLE IV OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPEALING THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL
MECHANICAL CODE AND ADOPTING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL
CODE, WITH AMENDMENTS
A. Since 1924, the City has reviewed, amended and adopted the latest
nationally recognized building standards available for the times.
B. Upon recommendation of City staff, the City Council has determined that it
is in the best interests of the City to align eleven interconnected basic construction codes
under one publication year.
C. The eleven interconnected basic construction codes are the International
Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code,
International Fuel Gas Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International
Property Maintenance Code, International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, International
Existing Building Code, International Plumbing Code, International Fire Code, and the
International Wildland-Urban Interface Code to the extent adopted by the Colorado
Wildfire Resiliency Code.
D. The City Council has determined that the 2024 publication year of these
interconnected basic construction codes should be adopted and that any counterpart
International codes previously adopted should be repealed, both in order to align the
publication years of the codes and because the 2024 publications contain improvements
in construction code regulation.
E. City staff has conducted a significant public outreach program, working with
the regulated construction industry and building professionals.
F. The adoption of the interconnected basic construction codes has been
presented to community groups and feedback has been received from the Water
Commission, Energy Board, Commission on Disability, Natural Resource Advisory Board,
Poudre Fire Authority Board, Building Review Commission, Affordable Housing Board,
and Air Quality Advisory Board.
G. The City Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the health,
safety and welfare of the City and its residents that the 2024 International Mechanical
Code be adopted, with local amendments as set forth in this Ordinance.
H. Pursuant to the City Charter, Article II, Section 7, City Council may enact
any ordinance which adopts a code by reference in whole or in part provided that before
adoption of such ordinance the Council hold a public hearing thereon and that notice of
the hearing shall be published twice in a newspaper of general circulation published in
the City, with one of such publications occurring at least eight (8) days preceding the
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hearing and the other publication occurring at least fifteen (15) days preceding the
hearing.
I. In compliance with City Charter, Article II, Section 7, the City Clerk
published in the Fort Collins Coloradoan such notice of hearing concerning adoption of
the 2024 International Codes on November 16, 2025, and November 23, 2025.
J. Attached as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference is the Notice of
Public Hearing dated November 16, 2025, that was so published and which the Council
hereby finds meets the requirements of Article II, Section 7 of the City Charter.
In light of the foregoing recitals, which the Council hereby makes and adopts as
determinations and findings, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. The City Council hereby repeals the 2021 International Mechanical
Code (“IMC”) and adopts 2024 IMC as amended by this Ordinance.
Section 2. Section 5-106 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 5-106. Adoption of standards.
Pursuant to the power and authority conferred on the City Council by Colorado Revised
Statutes Section 31-16-202 and Article II, Section 7 of the Charter, the City Council has
adopted the 2024 International Mechanical Code, published by the International Code
Council, second printing (May 2024), as amended by the City, which shall have the same
force and effect as though set forth in full herein. The subject matter of the 2024
International Mechanical Code adopted herein includes comprehensive provisions and
standards regulating and controlling the design, construction, installation, quality of
materials, location, operation and maintenance of heating, ventilating, cooling and
refrigeration systems, incinerators, miscellaneous heat-producing appliances for the
purposes of protecting public health, safety and general welfare. None of the 2024
International Mechanical Code Appendices are adopted.
Section 3. Section 5-107 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby
repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
Sec. 5-107. Amendments and deletions to the 2024 International Mechanical Code.
The 2024 International Mechanical Code adopted in § 5-106 is amended as follows:
1. Section 101.1 Title is amended to read as follows:
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Mechanical Code of the City
of Fort Collins, hereinafter referred to as “this code.”
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2. Section 102.8 Referenced codes and standards is amended to read as follows:
102.8 Referenced codes and standards. The codes and standards referenced
herein shall be those that are listed in Section 101.4 of the adopted International
Building Code, entitled “Referenced Codes”, and shall be considered as part of
the requirements of this code to the prescribed extent of each such reference and
as further regulated in Sections 102.8.1 and 102.8.2.
Exception: Where enforcement of a code provision would violate the
conditions of the listing of the equipment or appliance, the conditions of the
listing and the manufacturer’s installation instructions shall apply.
3. Section 103 CODE COMPLIANCE AGENCY is deleted in its entirety and
replaced with the following:
SECTION 103 CODE ADMINISTRATION
103.1 Entity charged with code administration. The entity charged with code
administration shall be as determined in accordance with Section 103 of the
adopted International Building Code, entitled “CODE ADMINISTRATION.”
4. Section 105.1.1 Annual permit is deleted in its entirety.
5. Section 105.1.2 Annual permit records is deleted in its entirety.
6. SECTION 108 FEES is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
SECTION 108 FEES
108.1 Fees. All items relating to fees shall be as specified in Section 109 of the
adopted International Building Code, entitled “FEES.”
108.2 Work commencing before permit issuance. All items related to work
commencing before permit issuance shall be made pursuant to the applicable
provisions of Section 109.2 of the adopted International Building Code.
7. Section 111.3 Testing is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
111.3 Testing. Installed heating, cooling and ventilation systems shall be
performance-tested by an approved agency and adjusted to operate within design
specifications, in accordance with ANSI/ACCA QI 5 HVAC Quality Installation
Specification. Documentation of results shall be submitted to the building official
prior to approval.
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Exception: Buildings subject to commissioning requirements in Section C408
of the International Energy Conservation Code.
8. SECTION 112 MEANS OF APPEAL is deleted in its entirety and replaced with
the following:
SECTION 112 MEANS OF APPEALS
112.1 General. Appeals of decisions, determinations and interpretations of this
code shall be made pursuant to the applicable provisions of Section 11 3 of the
adopted International Building Code, entitled “MEANS OF APPEALS.”
9. SECTION 113 BOARD OF APPEALS is deleted in its entirety.
10. Section 114.4 Violation Penalties is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the
following:
114.4 Violation penalties. Any person who violates a provision of this code or
fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who alters or repairs a
building or structure in violation of the approved construction documents or
directive of the code official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the
provisions of this code, commits a civil infraction and is subject to the provisions
contained in § 1-15(f) of the City Code. Each day that a violation continues shall
be deemed a separate offense.
11. SECTION 202 GENERAL DEFINITIONS is amended to modify, or add, the
following definitions in alphabetical order:
. . .
CODE OFFICIAL. The officer or other designated authority charged with the
administration and enforcement of this code, or a duly authorized representative.
The term code official is interchangeable with the term building official.
. . .
MULTIFAMILY. Any building housing Group R-1, R-2 or R-4 occupancies.
. . .
WHOLE-DWELLING UNIT MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEM. An exhaust
system, supply system, or combination thereof that is designed to mechanically
exchange indoor air for outdoor air when operating continuously or through a
programmed intermittent schedule to satisfy the whole-dwelling ventilation rate.
. . .
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12. A new Section 309.2 Total Electric Heating is added to read as follows:
309.2 Total Electric Heating. Primary indoor central heating systems utilizing
only electric heat shall utilize a ground source heat pump system(s) or cold climate
heat pump system(s) specifically designed to heat in cold climates and at the
Winter Outdoor, Design Dry-Bulb temp defined in Section C301.5 of the
International Energy Conservation Code. The heat pump system shall not be gas
or propane fuel fired. Electric resistance strip heat shall serve only as emergency
backup heat or supplemental heat at outdoor temperatures below 15 °F as
necessary.
Exceptions:
1. Where the total heating load is less than or equal to 6.0 Btu/h/ft2 at
design temperature, electric resistance heating shall be permitted.
2. Where conduit with pull string sized to accommodate future heating
electrical requirements is installed.
13. Section 403.3.2 Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 occupancies is amended to read as
follows:
403.3.2 Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 occupancies. The design of local exhaust
systems for outdoor air in Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 occupancies shall comply
with Sections 403.3.2.1 through 403.3.2.7.
14. Section 403.3.2.1 Outdoor air for dwelling units is amended to read as follows:
403.3.2.1 Outdoor air for dwelling units. An outdoor air ventilation
system consisting of a mechanical exhaust system, supply system or
combination thereof shall be installed for each dwelling unit. Local exhaust
or supply systems, including outdoor air ducts connected to the return side
of an air handler, are permitted to serve as such system. The outdoor air
ventilation system shall be designed to provide the required rate of outdoor
air continuously during the period that the building is occupied, and the
system design documents shall be submitted, as required by the building
official, at the time of application for a building permit. The minimum
continuous outdoor airflow rate shall be determined in accordance with
Equation 4-9.
Equation 4-9 QOA= 0.01Afloor + 7.5(Nbr + 1)
where:
QOA = outdoor airflow rate, cfm
Afloor = conditioned floor area, ft2
Nbr = number of bedrooms; not to be less than one
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Exceptions:
1. The outdoor air ventilation system is not required to operate
continuously where the system has controls that enable
operation for not less than 1 hour of each 4-hour period. The
average outdoor airflow rate over the 4-hour period shall be not
less than that prescribed by Equation 4-9.
2. The minimum mechanical ventilation rate determined in
accordance with Equation 4-9 shall be reduced by 30 percent
provided that both of the following conditions apply:
2.1. A ducted system supplies ventilation air directly to each
bedroom and to one or more of the following rooms:
2.1.1. Living room.
2.1.2. Dining room.
2.1.3. Kitchen.
2.2. The whole-house ventilation system is a balanced
ventilation system.
15. A new Section 403.3.2.6 Sound ratings for fans is added to read as follows:
403.3.2.6 Sound ratings for fans. Whole-dwelling unit ventilation fans
shall be rated for sound at maximum of 1.5 sones, in accordance with
the procedures of the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI 915, Procedure
for Loudness Rating of Residential Fan Products). Heating, ventilating
and air conditioning air handlers and remote-mounted fans need not
meet sound requirements.
16. A new Section 403.3.2.7 Performance verification is added to read as follows:
403.3.2.7 Performance verification. Performance of installed
mechanical ventilation systems shall be verified in accordance with The
City of Fort Collins Residential New Construction Mechanical Systems
Testing Guide as part of the Multifamily Residential Mechanical
Systems Performance Report provided to the building official.
17. Section 504.1 Installation is amended to read as follows:
504.1 Installation. Clothes dryers shall be exhausted in accordance with the
manufacturer's instructions. Dryer exhaust systems shall be independent of all
other systems and shall convey the moisture and any products of combustion to
the outside of the building. Dryer exhaust duct terminations shall not be located
within 36 inches (914 mm) of exterior openings into conditioned spaces, crawl
spaces, and attic spaces.
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Exception: This section shall not apply to listed and labeled condensing
(ductless) clothes dryers.
18. Section 506.3.11 Grease duct enclosures is amended to delete the exception.
19. Section 511.1 General is amended to read as follows:
511.1 General. Where a subslab soil exhaust system is provided, the duct for
such systems shall conform to the requirements of Appendix BE of the
International Residential Code, entitled “Radon Control Methods.”
20. Section 601.5 Return air openings is amended to read as follows:
601.5 Return air openings. Return air openings for heating, ventilation and air-
conditioning systems shall comply with all of the following:
. . .
9. Return air taken from a closet smaller than 30 square feet (2.8 m 2) shall
require a louvered door or an air transfer grille, each with a net free area
of not less than 30 square inches (19 355 mm2).
. . .
11. Return air for a dwelling shall be taken from inside the dwelling. Dilution of
return air with outdoor air is permitted. A return air path shall be provided
in all habitable rooms by means of ducts or transfer grills.
Exceptions:
. . .
21. Section 602.2.1 Stud cavity and joist space plenums is deleted in its entirety
and replaced with the following:
602.2.1 Stud cavity and joist space plenums. Building framing cavities shall
not be used as ducts or plenums.
22. A new Section 603.19 Construction debris and contamination is added to read
as follows:
603.19 Construction debris and contamination. Mechanical air-handling
systems and their related ducts shall be protected from the entrance of dirt, debris,
and dust during the construction and installation process. Prior to passing final
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inspection or issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, such systems shall be
substantially free of construction-related contaminants.
23. Section 801.19 Multistory prohibited is amended to read as follows:
801.19 Multistory prohibited. Common venting systems for appliances located
on more than one floor level shall be prohibited, except engineered systems
where all of the appliances served by the common vent are located in rooms or
spaces that are accessed only from the outdoors. The appliance enclosures shall
not communicate with the occupiable areas of the building.
24. A new Section 903.1.1 Solid fuel fireplaces and appliances is added to read
as follows:
903.1.1 Solid fuel fireplaces and appliances. Solid fuel fireplaces, fireplace
stoves and solid-fuel-type room heaters shall comply with § 5-110 of the City
Code.
25. Section 903.3 Unvented gas logs heaters is deleted in its entirety.
26. SECTION 929 UNVENTED ALCOHOL FUEL-BURNING DECORATIVE
APPLIANCES is deleted in its entirety.
27. Section 1109.2.5 Refrigerant pipe shafts is amended to read as follows:
1109.2.5 Refrigerant pipe shafts. Refrigerant piping that penetrates two or
more floor/ceiling assemblies shall be enclosed in a fire -resistance-rated shaft
enclosure. The fire-resistance-rated shaft enclosure shall comply with Section
713 of the International Building Code.
Exceptions:
1. Refrigeration systems using R-718 refrigerant (water).
2. Piping in a direct refrigeration system where the refrigerant quantity
does not exceed the limits of Table 1103.1 or the limits in ASHRAE
standards 15 and 34 for the smallest occupied space through which
the piping passes.
3. Piping located on the exterior of the building where vented to the
outdoors.
Section 4. The codifier of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby directed
to amend all existing cross references in the City Code and the Land Use Code in
accordance with the provisions of this ordinance.
Section 5. The City Attorney and the City Clerk are hereby authorized to modify
the formatting and to make such other amendments to this Ordinance as necessary to
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facilitate publication in the Fort Collins City Code; provided, however, that such
modifications and amendments shall not change the substance of the Code provisions.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading on December 2, 2025, and
approved on second reading for final passage on December 16, 2025.
_________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
City Clerk
Effective Date: December 26, 2025
Approving Attorney: Madelene Shehan
Exhibit: Exhibit A – Notice of Publication
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE is hereby given of a public hearing to be held before the Council of the City of
Fort Collins,Colorado,on the 2nd day of December,2025,at 6:00 p.m.,or as soon thereafter as
the matter may come on for hearing,in the Council Chambers at the City Hall,300 LaPorte
Avenue, Fort Collins,Colorado for the purpose of considering the adoption of ordinances that adopt
by reference the 2024 International Building Code,2024 International Residential Code,2024
International Energy Conservation Code,2024 International Mechanical Code,2024
International Fuel Gas Code,2024 International Existing Building Code,2024 International
Swimming Pool and Spa Code,2024 International Property Maintenance Code,and the 2024
International Plumbing Code,each promulgated by the International Code Council,the 2023
National Electrical Code and the 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code,together with local
amendments.
Not less than one (I)copy of said Codes has been,and now is on file in the Office of the
City Clerk of the City of Fort Collins and is available for public inspection.
The purpose of adopting the International Building Code,International Residential Code,
International Energy Conservation Code,International Mechanical Code,International Fuel Gas
Code,International Existing Building Code,International Swimming Pool and Spa Code,
International Property Maintenance Code,International Plumbing Code,National Electrical Code, and
the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code,with local amendments by said ordinances is to provide for
protection of public health,safety and welfare of the City and its residents.
Individuals who wish to address Council via remote public participation can do so through
Zoom at https://zoom.us/i/98241416497.(The link and instructions are also posted
www.fc ov.com/councilcomments.Individuals participating in the Zoom session should watch
the meeting through that site,and not via FCTV,due to the streaming delay and possible audio
interference.
The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services,
programs and activities,and will make special communication arrangements for persons with
disabilities.Please call (970)221-6515 (V/TDD:Dial 711 for Relay Colorado)for assistance.
This notice is given and published by order of the City of Fort Collins,Colorado.
Dated this /4 day of __________2025.
~
City ~rk
Upon request,the City of Fort Collins will provide language access services for individuals who have
limited English proficiency,or auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities,to access
City services,programs and activities.Contact (970) 221-65 15 (VITDD:Dial 711 for Relay
Colorado)for assistance.Please provide 48 hours advance notice when possible.
A peticiOn,Ia Ciudad de Fort Collins proporcionará servicios de acceso a idiomas para personas que
no dominan el idioma inglés,o ayudas y servicios auxiliares para personas con discapacidad,para
que puedan acceder a los servicios,programas y actividades de Ia Ciudad.Para asistencia,llame al
970.221.6515 (V/TDD:Marque 711 para Relay Colorado).Por favor proporcione 48 horas de aviso
previo cuando sea posible.
EXHIBIT A TO ORDINANCE NO. 217, 2025