HB 23-1085

HB 23-1085, also known as the Rural County and Municipality Energy Efficient Building Codes bill, allows smaller rural counties (with populations under 30,000) and municipalities (with populations under 10,000) in Colorado more time to adopt energy-efficient building codes. Instead of having to update their codes immediately when they make changes to other building regulations, these areas now have until July 2025, 2030, or 2032 to meet the new standards, depending on the specific code and its level of efficiency. This extension gives rural communities more flexibility in implementing energy-efficient practices without immediate financial strain. The bill has been signed into law, meaning these provisions are now active and enforceable.

Official Summary

Counties and municipalities are currently required to adopt and enforce certain energy efficient building codes concurrently with the updating of their existing building codes or, before July 1, 2023 only, concurrently with either the adoption or updating of their building codes. Counties and municipalities must adopt and enforce these specified model energy codes within particular time frames. A rural county, which is defined as a county with a population of less than 30,000 people, is permitted to adopt a less current model code if it has applied for and not been awarded a grant that significantly assists with energy code adoption and enforcement training. Section 1 of the bill extends the compliance periods for adoption and enforcement of the model energy codes by a rural county as follows: An energy code that achieves equivalent or better energy performance than the 2021 international energy conservation code and the model electric ready and solar ready code language developed by the energy board is not required prior to July 1, 2030, instead of being required concurrently with any county code building code update occurring on or after July 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2026; An energy code that achieves equivalent or better energy and carbon emissions performance than the model low energy and carbon code developed by the energy board is not required prior to July 1, 2032, instead of being required concurrently with any county code building code update occurring on or after July 1, 2026; and An energy code that achieves equivalent or better energy performance than one of the 3 most recent editions of the international energy conservation code is not required prior to July 1, 2025, instead of being required concurrently with any county code building code adoption or update occurring before July 1, 2023. Section 2 defines a rural municipality as a municipality with a population of less than 10,000 people and extends the compliance periods for adoption and enforcement of the model energy codes in an identical manner to that outlined above for rural counties. The bill adds language allowing a rural municipality to adopt a less current model code if it has applied for and not been awarded a grant that significantly assists with energy code adoption and enforcement training.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)