The draft Seattle Residential Code is available for public comment. DPD expects the 2012 Seattle Residential Code to take effect next summer or fall along with the other 2012 technical codes.
The draft contains only the portions of the code for which amendments are being proposed. If you would like the other sections, a free version of the International Residential Code is available online from International Code Council at http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/IC-P-2012-000019.htm.
As you review the draft code, keep in mind that local jurisdictions have limited authority to amend the residential code. In RCW 19.27.060, the State Building Code Act provides “(a) No amendment to a code enumerated in
RCW 19.27.031 as amended and adopted by the state building code council that affects single-family or multifamily residential buildings shall be effective unless the amendment is approved by the building code council under RCW 19.27.074(1)(b).” Multifamily residential building is defined as “common wall residential buildings that consist of four or fewer units, that do not exceed two stories in height, that are less than five thousand square feet in area, and that have a one-hour fire-resistive occupancy separation between units.”
If you would like a copy or have comments, please send them to maureen.traxler@seattle.gov by December 15, 2012.