During a special meeting held by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on Tuesday, June 23, the board unanimously approved Resolution 2026-50, adopting the 2024 International Code Series and repealing Resolution 2026-46.
Resolution 2026-46 was unanimously approved by the BoCC on June 16, adopting the 2024 edition of eight out of nine international building codes. Those included the International Residential Code, International Building Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel and Gas Code, International Existing Building Code, International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and the International Fire Code.
During the June 23 BoCC meeting, Building Official Randy Betts explained that the only change with Resolution 2026-50 is the addition of the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code, noting he’s been asking state representatives for months on clarification of if the county is required to adopt the code in order to avoid a carbon-neutral mandate.
“Historically, we did not have any reason to adopt that section that pertain to electrical,” Betts said, explaining that, unfortunately, the county did not receive direction from the state in regard to the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code until an hour after the June 16 meeting.
He added, “It doesn’t really change anything for us as far as we’re not going to be doing any permitting, and we will not be doing any of the inspections. All this code is simply doing is providing the guidelines and the basic rules to make sure that the structures that are being built meet the standard for future regulation for those topics.”
Commissioner Veronica Medina asked, since the county does not enforce the code, if the reason for the code is to ensure that a home is ready for a future code or upgrade, which Betts confirmed.
In response to another question from Medina, Betts explained that by adopting the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code, homes are built with the option to have things like electric vehicle chargers and solar panels installed.
“I’m not a fan of it, personally,” Betts said of the code, describing it as a “forward-thinking code.”
“And they’ve stated that we have to have it part of our resolution or we will be noncompliant,” he said, explaining that “a large part of this for me is trying to stay away from that carbon-neutral aspect of it.”
In response to a question from Commissioner John Ranson about if the county has to enforce the code, Betts explained that the county would need to confirm that the state inspector “is doing his part.”
“My understanding of it was it really doesn’t change anything other than we’re making sure that there is availability for expansion later,” Betts added.
Betts also explained that he did not “write off” the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code, but that his initial impression from the state was that the county would not be required to adopt it.
“I just think it’s BS from the state,” Ranson said, explaining how what’s been enforced on the Front Range “hasn’t worked” and is causing things to be more expensive. “It’s a burden.”
Betts explained that the past year has been “extremely overwhelming” in trying to find quality answers about what codes the county needed to adopt.
“This is my first time being a part of a major adoption like this,” Betts said, mentioning that the state is continuing to “move the goalpost.”
Betts also commented that by the county being proactive and adopting the codes in this manner, “it’s still allowing us to have some say in our community as to how we move forward.”
He also noted that by adopting the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code now, it will prevent the county from having to do it again until 2033.
Betts then commented that, in his opinion, “maybe call this conspiracy theory, but they continually change the rules on us in hopes that we miss that deadline.”
Betts explained that he’s worked diligently with other jurisdictions and communities to get information and share as much as possible “so that we don’t have stuff that we don’t want forced upon us anymore than it already is.”
County Attorney Cathleen Giovannini noted the county needs to adopt the code by July 1 in order to avoid more mandates from the state.
Ranson mentioned that the county would face a “big penalty” from the state if it does not adopt the code, “but at some point we’re gonna have to say no.”
Betts commented that the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code is not imposing a great deal of additional aspects to builds, and that “it’s making sure that it’s prepared for that later.”
He explained that the state inspector indicated to him that the requirement for an electrical vehicle charger could be as simple as a piece of conduit with a “J Box” to facilitate the ability for the charger and provide space in the home’s electrical panel for it.
“By doing it now, it allows us the ability to hold off that carbon-neutral code, which will force everything to be electric,” Betts said, noting people have a “choice” right now.
“As long as something radical doesn’t change at the state level, we can keep this — as long as we don’t change anything with it — until the next mandated adoption,” Betts said.
Medina commented that she agreed with Ranson, stating, “It’s too much.”
She added, “Its not if the state will move that goal post — they will. It is nonstop, it doesn’t matter what it is.”
“We have options by accepting what we don’t necessarily want to,” Betts said, explaining that by being proactive the county can “make it work for our jurisdiction.”
Commissioner Warren Brown stated that his opinion is that the state wants to take over control of all inspections “and do away with local control.”
Medina then motioned to approve Resolution 2026-50, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
clayton@pagosasun.com
>