The following codes as adopted and amended by the Washington State Building Code Council pursuant to RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.040 are hereby adopted by reference, together with all amendments, deletions, and additions as provided in this chapter. These codes establish minimum standards for the construction, alteration, repair, demolition, use, occupancy, and maintenance of buildings and structures within the City of Connell.
(1) 
International Building Code (IBC) – 2021 Edition of the International Building Code, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted, together with Washington State amendments as set forth in Chapter 51-50 WAC. The following appendices are adopted: C, D, E, H, I, and J. Where conflicts occur between Appendix H (Signs) and Connell Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning), the zoning code shall govern.
(2) 
International Residential Code (IRC) – 2021 Edition of the International Residential Building Code, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted, together with Washington State amendments in Chapter 51-51 WAC. The following modifications apply: Chapters 11 and 25 through 43 are not adopted. The following appendices F, G, H, J, and T are adopted.
(3) 
International Mechanical Code (IMC) – 2021 Edition of the International Mechanical Code, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted, together with Washington State amendments in Chapter 51-52 WAC.
(4) 
Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) – 2021 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code, as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, is hereby adopted, together with Washington State amendments in Chapter 51-56 WAC. The following appendices are adopted: A, B, E, and I are adopted. The following are not adopted: Table T-104.5 and Chapters 12 and 14. Provisions related to venting and combustion air of fuel-fired appliances (Chapter 5) and building sewers.
(5) 
Washington State Energy Code. (WSEC) – 2021 Washington State Energy Code, adopted Chapter 51-11 WAC, is hereby adopted, including: Residential provisions (Chapter 51-11R WAC), Commercial provisions: (Chapter 51-11C WAC).
(6) 
Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings – 1997 Edition of the Uniform Code is adopted by reference.
(7) 
International Fire Code (IFC) – 2021 Edition of the International Fire Code, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted, together with Washington State amendments in Chapter 51-54A WAC. The following appendices are adopted: B, C, and D. Local Amendment – Section 3703.4 (Agricultural Storage). Storage of Agricultural Products. By Administrative Order and pursuant to RCW 19.27.040, the following shall be substituted in its place.
(a)
No person shall store hay, straw or similar agricultural products adjacent to buildings or other combustible material unless a cleared horizontal distance of forty (40) feet is maintained between such storage and combustible materials and buildings.
(b)
Storage shall be limited to 500 tons in each stack. A cleared space of 40 feet shall be maintained between such stacks of 500 tons or less, not more than three such 500-ton stacks or less shall be allowed in one area, without a cleared area of 100 feet between the stacking areas.
(c)
Storage of hay, straw or similar agricultural products within 30 feet of any public easement or right of way boundary is not permitted.
(d)
Dry covered storage of hay, straw or similar agricultural products shall be limited to a storage of 1,000 tons, provided a clear space of 15 feet shall be maintained on sides of such storage.
(e)
Storage of loose, chopped, baled or cubed or pelleted hay may be unlimited if such storage is covered by an approved water system having a continuous flow of 50 gallons per minute with a pressure of 60 pounds and hose size of one and one half inch (1 1/2") diameter not over 150 feet long.
(8) 
International Zoning Code – Chapter 10 (Signs) – 2021 Edition, Chapter 10, is adopted. Where conflicts occur with Connell Municipal Code Title 17, the zoning code shall govern.
(9) 
International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) – 2021 Edition is adopted by reference.
(Ord. 882 § 2 (part), 2010; Ord. 900 § 1 (part), 2011; Ord. 918 § 1 (part), 2012; Ord. 1006 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2020; Ord. 1014 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 1060, 4/15/2026)
Section 105.5 of the International Building Code and of the International Residential Code shall be amended as follows:
(a)
All permits shall expire by limitation and be declared void if:
(1)
Work is not started within one hundred eighty calendar days of permit issuance; or
(2)
Work is abandoned for one hundred eighty calendar days or more after beginning work. Work shall be considered “abandoned” if at least one normal progress inspection, as required by the adopted building code, is not completed and found to be in compliance with applicable code provisions, within any one-hundred-eighty-day period.
(3)
In any case, the permit shall expire by limitation two (2) years from the date of issuance.
(b)
Prior to expiration of the building permit, a final inspection shall be requested from the Connell Building and Planning Department. In the event a building permit expires prior to the final inspection, a revalidation permit at twenty-five percent (25%) of the original permit fee shall be paid prior to any further inspections, approvals, or the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. No more than one revalidation permit shall be issued. A revalidation permit shall be valid for no more than one (1) year.
(c)
A revalidation permit shall be required when the exterior of the structure is uncompleted at the initial 2 year permit expiration. The six (6) month permit extension is authorized with the permit condition that upon completion of the initial six (6) month extension, the exterior of the structure is complete. Failure to meet this condition shall be cause for the original permit to be terminated, and a new permit be issued for all outstanding items.
However, if the exterior of a structure is completed (siding, windows, doors, roof, etc.) prior to the expiration of a permit, a six (6) month permit extension may be issued. Extension Permits may be further extended in six (6) month increments provided that substantial progress is verified, through the passing of an outstanding required inspection, such as framing, plumbing, insulation, etc. “Partial inspections” shall not meet the standard of “passing of an outstanding required inspection”. In no case shall more than four (4) permit extensions be issued. The six (6) month permit extensions will not be charged a permit fee, but rather be charged the Seventy-Five Dollar ($75.00) Special Inspection/Re-Inspection fee for each and every requested site inspection visit by the Building and Planning Department personnel.
(d)
Expired permits that have not been appropriately extended shall be subject to a new application and review and shall be subject to state code updates.
(Ord. 882 § 2 (part), 2010; Ord. 900 § 1 (part), 2011; Ord. 918 § 1 (part), 2012; Ord. 1006 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2020; Ord. 1014 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 1060, 4/15/2026)
All city of Connell fees shall be established by a city of Connell fee resolution.
(Ord. 882 § 2 (part), 2010; Ord. 900 § 1 (part), 2011; Ord. 918 § 1 (part), 2012; Ord. 1006 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2020)
(a) 
Investigation. Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this code has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, a special investigation shall be made to determine if, and to what extent, unpermitted work has occurred, before a permit may be issued for such work.
(b) 
Fee. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit fee required by this code. This fee is an investigation fee and shall not apply towards any city of Connell grading or building permit fee that may subsequently be issued. Payment of the investigative fee does not vest the illegal work with any legitimacy, nor does it establish any right to a city of Connell permit for continued development of that project. If the work done remains illegal for ninety days after service of the stop work order, it shall be considered hazardous and a threat to the public's health, safety and general welfare.
(c) 
The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this code nor from any penalty prescribed by law.
(d) 
Nothing in this provision shall interfere with the city's authority to issue stop work orders or to order the removal of work that is not in compliance with applicable code provisions.
(Ord. 882 § 2 (part), 2010; Ord. 900 § 1 (part), 2011; Ord. 918 § 1 (part), 2012; Ord. 1006 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2020)
(a) 
The building official may authorize the refunding of:
(1) 
One hundred percent of any fee erroneously paid or collected.
(2) 
Up to eighty percent of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this code.
(3) 
Up to eighty percent of the plan review fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan review fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any plan reviewing is done.
(b) 
The building official shall not authorize refunding of any fee paid except on written application filed by the original permittee not later than one hundred eighty days after the date of fee payment.
(Ord. 882 § 2 (part), 2010; Ord. 900 § 1 (part), 2011; Ord. 918 § 1 (part), 2012; Ord. 1006 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2020)
(a) 
2021 International Building Code – Structure Design Standards.
(1) 
Snow Load. Pursuant to Section 1608 of the 2021 Edition of the International Building Code, the minimum roof snow load for Connell is established at 20 pounds per square foot; provided, that in those cases in which the building official determines that such minimum snow load should be increased, the building official may require such minimum snow load as he/she determines to be necessary, based upon analysis of local climate and topography and the current publication of Snow Load Analysis for Washington as published by the Association of Structural Engineers of Washington.
(2) 
Wind Load. Pursuant to Section 1609 of the 2021 Edition of the International Building Code, a basic minimum wind speed for Connell is established as 85 mph with 110 mph ultimate wind speed and exposure ‘C’. See also Sections R301.2.1, R301.2.1.3 and T-R-301.2.1.3 of the 2021 edition of the International Residential Code where applicable.
(3) 
Seismic Design Category. Pursuant to Section 1613 of the 2021 International Building Code and Section R301.2.2.1 of the 2021 International Residential Building Code, the minimum seismic design category shall be a minimum of “C,” unless determined otherwise by a geotechnical engineer or engineering geologist/seismologist licensed in Washington State.
(4) 
Frost Depth. Pursuant to Section 1809 of the 2021 International Building Code, frost depth shall be a minimum of 24 inches below finish grade. Where a greater frost depth is indicated by a foundation investigation or by conditions where ground will be uncovered or compacted, such greater depth shall be used.
(b) 
Architectural/Engineered Drawings. When required, all construction drawings shall be drawn or reviewed by a current Washington-State-registered architect/engineer with current certification and shall be submitted for review to the city of Connell. The drawings shall be referred to as the “original” drawings, and shall be site-specific, showing the job site address, the signature, and original wet stamp of the Washington-State-registered architect/engineer.
(Ord. 882 § 2 (part), 2010; Ord. 900 § 1 (part), 2011; Ord. 918 § 1 (part), 2012; Ord. 1006 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2020; Ord. 1014 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 1060, 4/15/2026)