[Amended 7-2-2015 by Ord. No. 673; 11-7-2019 by Ord. No. 703; 2-3-2022 by Ord. No. 727]
Effective June 1, 2022, the 2021 Edition of the International Residential Code of One- and Two-Family Dwellings, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., are hereby adopted as the Town of Denton Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Residential Building Code"), which shall regulate the design, construction, quality of materials, erection, installation, alteration, repair, location, relocation, replacement, addition to, use or maintenance of one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories in height in the Town of Denton, and which shall provide for the issuance of permits and collection of fees. The Town hereby adopts Appendices C, G, H, K, and O to the 2021 International Residential Code, but does not adopt any other appendices. All of the regulations, provisions, terms and conditions of the 2021 International Residential Code (with the exception of the appendices excluded) are hereby adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this Ordinance, with the amendments, insertions, and deletions, set forth below.
[Amended 7-2-2015 by Ord. No. 673; 11-7-2019 by Ord. No. 703]
The following sections of the International Residential Code, 2018 Edition as adopted by the State of Maryland in the Maryland Building Performance Standards (COMAR 09.12.51) are hereby amended as follows:
A. 
Section R101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Town of Denton Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings."
B. 
Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems. Interior fire sprinkler systems shall be based on the provisions of § 38-8 Interior automatic sprinklers in new one- and two-family residential construction.
C. 
Table R301.2(1) Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria. Table R301.2(1) is amended as follows:
[Amended 2-3-2022 by Ord. No. 727]
CLIMATIC AND GEOGRAPHIC DESIGN CRITERIA
Table R301.2(1)
Ground Snow Load (GSL)
30 pounds per square foot (psf)
Wind Design
(basic wind speed / 3-second gusts)
100 mph basic wind speed / 120 mph 3-second gusts
Wind Design
(Topographic Effects)
NO
Seismic design category
A
Weathering
(Subject to Damage from)
Severe
Frostline Depth
24 inches measured from finish grade line to bottom of footing or footer
Termite
(Subject to Damage from)
Moderate to Heavy
Winter Design Temperature
20° F.
Ice Barrier Underlayment Required
Yes
Flood Hazards
FIRM for the Town of Denton dated January 16, 2015, as amended or revised by FIRM and FEMA
Air Freezing Index
Less than 1,500
Mean Annual Temperature
55° F.
[Amended 7-2-2015 by Ord. No. 673]
The following chapters are hereby omitted from this Ordinance and replaced with the codes referenced in § 38-2 for the applicable section.
Chapter 25, Plumbing Administration
Chapter 26, General Plumbing Requirements
Chapter 27, Plumbing Fixtures
Chapter 34, General Requirements
Chapter 35, Electrical Definitions
Chapter 36, Services
Chapter 37, Branch Circuit and Feeder Requirements
Chapter 38, Wiring Methods
A. 
In addition to the provisions of the International Residential Building Code, all new one- and two-family dwellings shall be equipped with an interior automatic sprinkler system.
B. 
The requirement for interior automatic fire sprinkler systems shall apply to all new one- and two-family dwellings (including modular homes) for any existing lot for which a building permit has not been issued and to any new subdivision which has not received final plat approval as of the effective date hereof.
C. 
The requirements herein shall not apply to the following:
(1) 
To the rebuilding, refurbishment, renovation, or alteration of a residence in existence as of the effective date of this section unless such existing structure is razed and replaced by a new principal structure or is renovated to such extent that the renovations exceed 50% of the assessed value of the dwelling at the time of permit application.
[Amended 2-3-2022 by Ord. No. 727]
(2) 
To accessory or uninhabitable structures (e.g., detached carports, detached garages with no habitable space, greenhouses, and sheds).
(3) 
To cottages or recreational structures that do not exceed 780 square feet, which are limited to seasonal uses and not intended for permanent occupancy.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(3), which stated that the requirements were not applicable to a property that had public water improvement plans approved on or before April 3, 2007, expired April 8, 2008, and was specifically removed from the Code 2-3-2022 by Ord. No. 727. Ordinance No. 727 also redesignated former Subsection C(4) as Subsection C(3).
D. 
Automatic fire sprinkler systems required under this section may be connected to the municipal water supply serving the residence, provided the water supply is of adequate pressure, capacity, and sizing for the combined domestic and sprinkler system requirements, and property back flow valves are installed.
E. 
Interior automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained in all new one- and two-family dwellings in accordance with the most recent version of Standard 13D, "Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes," as promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and as modified and adopted by the Maryland State Fire Prevention Code, Maryland Code Annotated, Public Safety Article, Title 9, as amended from time to time.