Attachment A - TIP - Building Code Adoption.pdf

To: 
Alan Stephenson 
Deputy City Manager 
Date: May 9, 2025 
From: 
Joshua Bednarek 
Planning and Development Director 
Subject: ITEM __ ON THE MAY 21, TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND 
PLANNING SUBCOMMITTEE - 2024 PHOENIX BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 
CODE ADOPTION 
The Phoenix Building Construction Code (Code) establishes minimum requirements to 
safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare through building standards for 
construction in Phoenix. The City Council last approved an update to the Code in 2018. 
Periodic reviews and adoptions of new construction codes ensure development 
standards reflect current trends, safety advances, materials and technologies. 
The Planning and Development Department (PDD), in collaboration with the 
Development Advisory Board (DAB), initiated an update of the Code in the summer of 
2024. The update included the formation of a DAB Building Code Subcommittee 
comprised of DAB members and industry representatives. The DAB Building Code 
Subcommittee and PDD staff teams met for several months and eight meetings 
reviewing the 14 codes and developed dozens of Phoenix specific amendments. The 
DAB Building Code Subcommittee recommended approval of the updated set of codes 
and amendments on March 27, 2025. The full DAB recommended approval of the 
subcommittee’s recommendation on April 22, 2025.  
One of the stakeholders participating in the Code update was the Strategic Workgroup 
on Accessibility (Workgroup). The Workgroup was formed by Mayor Gallego to review 
citywide accessibility issues.  They submitted an amendment for inclusive home design 
that was not recommended for approval by the DAB Building Code Subcommittee or the 
full DAB Committee. Initial discussion around the proposal centered around cost, design 
challenges and the absence of any exceptions.  
The Workgroup has proposed a revised amendment for consideration by the 
Transportation, Infrastructure and Planning (TIP) Subcommittee. The revised 
amendment includes exceptions based on impractical site conditions and limits floor 
space requirements to one restroom on the ground floor. PDD staff has drafted the 
revisions to the amendment and has attached them to this memo for review.  A similar 
version of this language was approved by the City of Tucson. 
Staff recommend approval of the 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code and 
associated amendments along with the revised inclusive home design amendment from 
the Strategic Workgroup on Accessibility.  
Approved:  
_________________________________ 
Alan Stephenson, Deputy City Manager 
Enclosure – revised code amendment proposal to International Residential Code 
Section R322 from the Strategic Workgroup on Accessibility 
ATTACHMENT A

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION CODE CHANGE PROPOSAL 
Amendment MODIFICATION to 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) 
Section R322 
 
Submitted by: Strategic Workgroup on Accessibility 
 
Non-provision note: This modification presents the original proposal as base code without 
underlines or strikethroughs. The underlines and strikethroughs shown here are modifications to 
the original proposal. 
 
R322.1 Dwelling units or sleeping units. Where there are four or more dwelling units or 
sleeping units in a single structure, the provisions of Chapter 11 of the International Building 
Code for Group R-3 shall apply. Other dwelling unit and sleeping unit containing structures 
shall comply with Section R322.1.1. 
 
R322.1.1 Dwelling units.  
Dwelling units and sleeping units shall comply with the inclusive home design features of 
Section R322.1.1 
 
Exceptions: The following are not required to comply with Section R322.1.1: 
1. All portions of the dwelling units or sleeping units not on the floor level that contains the 
accessible entrance. 
2. A raised or sunken floor area in a portion of a living, dining, or sleeping room.  
3. Dwelling units or sleeping units covered by Section R322.1.2. 
4. Upon determination by the building official that by virtue of terrain or other unusual 
characteristics of the building site, there are practical difficulties associated with 
compliance of any specific provision of Section R322.1.1 and that the additional cost to 
comply with the applicable provisions of this standard shall exceed three hundred 
dollars, as shown by clear and convincing evidence presented by the applicant.  
R322.1.1.1 Entrance.  
At least one dwelling unit entrance shall be accessible and on an accessible route from the 
street or sidewalk, the dwelling unit’s driveway, or the dwelling unit’s garage or carport in 
compliance with Chapter 4 of ICC A117.1 - 2017, except the clear width need not exceed 36 
inches (815 mm) minimum. The required accessible entrance shall not be to a bedroom. 
R322.1.1.2 Interior circulation paths.  
Interior circulation paths shall have a clear width of 36 inches (815 mm) minimum as 
measured between fixed or built-in elements. Exceptions in ICC A117.1-2017 Section 
1104.4.1 are permitted to be used. 
User passage doors shall have a clear opening width of 32 inches (805 mm) minimum; 
measured on a swinging door between the face of the door open to 90 degrees and the door 
stop. 
Door hardware shall have a shape that is easy to grasp with one hand and does not require 
tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate, except locks used only for security

and not used for normal operation.  Operable parts of hardware shall be 34 inches (865 mm) 
minimum and 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum above the floor. 
R322.1.1.3 Operable parts.  
Lighting controls, electrical switches and receptacle outlets, user controls for thermostats, and 
user controls for security or intercom systems shall be placed 15 inches (380 mm) minimum 
and 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum above the floor. 
Exception: Floor receptacle outlets, controls mounted on ceiling fans, controls mounted 
on appliances, controls mounted on smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. 
R322.1.1.4 Toilet rooms and bathrooms.  
Toilet rooms and bathrooms on the floor level that contains the accessible entrance shall be 
provided with wall reinforcements for future grab bars where walls occur around toilets, 
showers, and bathtubs in compliance with Section 1104.11.1 of ICC A117.1-2017.  
One Toilet rooms or bathrooms on the floor level that contains the accessible entrance shall 
be provided with a bathtub or a shower and shall contain a lavatory and a water closet. This 
bathroom shall be provided with floor clearance space that complies with either Section 304 
or 1104.11.2 and 1104.11.3 of ICC A117.1-2017.