The International Residential Code, 2021 edition, a copy of which is on file in the office of the city secretary, is hereby adopted as the building [residential] code of the city, said adoption being inclusive of appendices listed in subsections (1) through (15):
(1) 
Appendix AA, Sizing and Capacities of Gas Piping.
(2) 
Appendix AB, Sizing of Venting Systems Serving Appliances Equipped with Draft Hoods, Category I Appliances, and Appliances listed for use with Type B Vents.
(3) 
Appendix AC, Exit Terminals of Mechanical Draft and Direct-Vent Venting Systems.
(4) 
Appendix AE, Manufactured Housing Used as Dwellings.
(5) 
Appendix AG, Piping Standards for Various Applications.
(6) 
Appendix AH, Patio Covers.
(7) 
Appendix AI, Private Sewage Disposal.
(8) 
Appendix AJ, Existing Buildings and Structures.
(9) 
Appendix AK, Sound Transmission.
(10) 
Appendix AM, Home Day Care - R-3 Occupancy.
(11) 
Appendix AN, Venting Methods.
(12) 
Appendix AP, Sizing of Water Piping System.
(13) 
Appendix AQ, Tiny Houses.
(14) 
Appendix AT, [RE] Solar-Ready Provisions - Detached One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Townhouses.
(15) 
Appendix AW, 3D-Printed Building Construction.
(Ordinance 2022-O-05.25-02 adopted 5/25/2022; Ordinance 2024-O-023 adopted 9/25/2024)
The International Residential Code, 2021 edition, is amended to read as follows:
(1) 
Section R101.1 Insert: City of Liberty Hill, Texas.
(2) 
Section R105.2 Work exempt from permit.
(1) 
One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, provided the structure is without electric or plumbing and a floor area of 200 square feet or less.
(3) 
Section R108.2 Schedule of permit fees: Where work requires a permit the fees for work shall be as indicated per City fee schedule.
(4) 
Section R108.5 Refunds. The code official shall authorize the refunding of fees as follows:
(1) 
The full amount of any fee paid hereunder that was erroneously paid or collected.
(2) 
Zero percent (0%) of the permit fee paid where work has not been done under a permit issued in accordance with this code.
(3) 
Zero percent (0%) of the plan review fee paid where an application for a permit for which a plan review fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any plan review efforts have been expended.
(5) 
Subsection R112 is hereby deleted.
(6) 
Subsection R113.2, R113.3, and R113.4 are hereby deleted.
(7) 
Section R114.4 Failure to comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to fines not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00). Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been given shall be deemed a separate offense.
(8) 
Section 301.1.1 Alternative provisions.
(1) 
No aluminum wire shall be allowed on the load side of an electric meter. All subpanels shall be wired with copper wire of the appropriate size for load conditions. Wiring from meter base to main panel shall be of copper wire.
(2) 
Thermal expansion tanks shall be installed on the cold-water side of a water heater. Water closet thermal ballcocks are not allowed.
(3) 
Plumbing for a future water softener installation shall have the P-trap installed at plumbing set out on new construction. The drain riser shall be a minimum of twelve (12) inches tall and capped.
(4) 
All plumbing clean-outs, except those located within the right-of-way, shall be cut down to within three (3) inches of finished grade.
(5) 
Double check valve assemblies are allowed on lawn irrigation systems.
(6) 
The City of Liberty Hill will recognize and enforce the Recommended Practice for the Design of Residential Foundations Version 1 (2002 edition) by the Texas Section American Society of Civil Engineers. All load bearing slab-based foundations on grade will be required to be designed by a Texas State certified Professional Engineer.
(9) 
Table R301.2(1) Insert Design Criteria
Ground Snow Load: 5
Wind Speed (mph): 115
Seismic Design Category: A
Weathering: Negligible
Frost Line Depth: 12
Termite: Moderate to Heavy
Winter Design Temp: 28
Ice Barrier Underlayment Required: No
Flood Hazards: 1/3/1997
Air Freezing Index: 30
Mean Annual Temp: 69.4 68.1
(10) 
New subsection R312.2.1 hereby added:
R312.2.1 Window sills. In dwelling units, where the opening of an operable window is located more than 72 inches (1829 mm) above the finished grade or surface below, the interior sill shall be a minimum of 24 inches (610 mm) above finished floor, or the fixed adjacent surface of the room in which the window is located, or shall comply with one of the following:
1. 
Operable windows with opening that will not allow a 4-inch-diameter (102 mm) sphere to pass through the opening where the opening is in its largest opened position.
2. 
Operable windows that are provided with window fall prevention devices that comply with ASTM F 2090.
3. 
Operable windows that are provided with window opening control devices that comply with Section R312.2.2.
(11) 
New subsection R1004.6 hereby added:
R1004.6 Factory-built fireplace air spaces and chases. No electrical, mechanical, or plumbing, except for the combustion air vent and gas line feed associated with the firebox, shall intrude into the airspace enclosing the firebox or any chase for chimney components associated with the fireplace.
(12) 
Section P2603.5.1 Insert twelve (12) inches/twelve (12) inches.
(13) 
New subsection P2804.6.1 hereby added:
P2804.6.1 Requirements for discharge pipe. The discharge piping serving a pressure-relief valve, temperature-relief valve or combination valve shall:
(1) 
Not be directly connected to the drainage system.
(2) 
Not be smaller than the diameter of the outlet of the valve served and shall discharged full size to the air gap.
(3) 
Serve a single relief device and shall not connect to piping serving any other relief device or equipment.
(4) 
Discharge to the outdoors.
(5) 
Discharge in a manner that does not cause personal injury or structural damage.
(6) 
Discharge to a termination point that is readily observable by the building occupants.
(7) 
Not be trapped.
(8) 
Be installed to flow by gravity.
(9) 
Terminate not more than 6 inches (152 mm) and not less than two times the discharge pipe diameter above finished grade.
(10) 
Not have a threaded connection at the end of the piping.
(11) 
Not have valves or tee fittings.
(12) 
Be constructed of those materials indicated in Section P2906.5 or materials tested, rated and approved for such use in accordance with ASME A112.4.1
(13) 
Be one nominal size larger than the size of the relief-valve outlet, where the relief-valve discharge piping is installed with insert fittings. The outlet end of such tubing shall be fastened in place.
(14) 
Subsection P2903.10 is hereby deleted.
(15) 
Subsection P2904.1.1 is hereby deleted and replaced with the following:
P2904.1.1 Sprinklers not required. Fire sprinklers are not required in Group R-3, One- and Two-Family Dwellings. When sprinklers are installed in Group R-3 dwellings, they shall be installed in accordance with IRC Section P2904 and all applicable referenced standards.
(16) 
A clear, direct, and accessible path not impeded by construction debris or equipment shall be provided on all jobsites for the duration of the permitting and construction process.
(17) 
Construction debris on all building and construction jobsites within the corporate limits of the city shall be contained with either dumpsters, roll-off containers or a wire mesh fenced area with a mesh that a four-inch sphere cannot pass through. A temporary dumpster sturdily constructed of one-half inch-oriented strand board (OSB) or equivalent material may also be used. The owner, contractor and all other persons on the building or construction jobsite shall take all reasonable measures to prevent trash or construction debris from being blown out of a dumpster, container, or other confined area.
(18) 
Erosion controls will be present and in operating condition at the construction site for the duration of the permit process.
(19) 
Fall protection will be provided on site for the duration of the permitting and inspection process that conforms to the requirements outlined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) § 1956.501(a) through § 1956.501(c)(2), as amended.
(20) 
Construction restroom facilities will be provided as per the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) § 1926.51(c) through § 1926.51(c)(3)(iv), as amended.
(Ordinance 2022-O-05.25-02 adopted 5/25/2022; Ordinance 2024-O-023 adopted 9/25/2024)