News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Cookeville Codes Department will be using new building regulations starting January 1st.
The city currently uses codes that came out in 2012. Director Jeff Littrell said keeping the rules within seven years of the most recent codes is a state law.
“We were looking at the different codes to go to,” Littrell said. “The state of Tennessee has adopted the 2018 building related codes with amendments and we have amendments as well. We are doing this to stay in line. People across the state will be using the same type of code.”
Littrell said the city has made amendments to major changes that would affect home builders. Some energy codes will refer back to past regulations to make prices more favorable.
“A lot of major changes that could impact a lot of home builders we have made amendments to,” Littrell said. “So instead of doing the 2018 International Energy Code, we are following that, but we have some amendments that refer back to the 2015 and actually the 2009 energy code to make the price more conducive in our area.”
Littrell said local codes on sprinkler system spacing will also remain the same.
“The code calls for all single family homes to have a fire sprinkler system in,” Littrell said. “We kept the same amendment that we had in 2012. If you build one house on one lot, you have your separation you don’t have to sprinkler that. But if you do a town home or a zero lot line or something that the homes are closer together. Then of course you have to have a fire sprinkler system. It is nothing new.”
Littrell said new codes come out every three years. Littrell said the city decided with the 2018 codes instead of 2021’s, because it has had more time to be corrected. Current permits issued prior to January 1, 2021 will fall under the 2012 International Building Code.
