As part of the State of California’s process for revising its building code (and other codes) every three years, the 2016 California Building Code will be published July 1, 2016 and will go into effect on January 1, 2017. This 180 day period is statutorily required between the publication date (July 1, 2016) and the […]
The 2015 Washington State Building Code (WSBC) will take effect on July 1st, 2016. The rulemaking for the Washington State adoption, of the 2015 editions of International Building Code (IBC) and other codes, with state amendments has been completed. The adoption and amendments to the building code can be found here. The adoption and amendments to […]
When determining the minimum number of required accessible parking spaces for a new apartment or condominium project, the Building Code and Fair Housing Act (FHA) requirements can vary. Recognizing the differences in their requirements is important. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Accessible Parking When attempting to comply with the Fair Housing Act, the first […]
Over the years, one of the growing trends in new apartment projects has been the inclusion of dog washing or pet washing as an amenity within the apartment complex. The type of dog/pet washing amenity can vary; from a sophisticated, pre-manufactured stainless steel sink assembly to a basic, fully tiled room with a hand activated […]
Seattle News Headlines In an article that appeared here in the Puget Sound Business Journal (as well as in a post from the Office of the Mayor, seen here), it seems that Seattle government will be re-structuring the Department of Planning and Development (DPD). DPD will be downsized and the City will create a new cabinet-level […]
The amendments to the 2013 California Building Code, known as the “2013 Intervening Code Adoption Cycle Supplement” will be in effect on July 1, 2015. The supplement can be found here on the California Building Standards Commission website. A free PDF of the 2013 California Building Code can be found here. The supplement contains a number of notable […]
PART I “My new apartment project isn’t receiving any Federal money, so we’re not required to comply with the Fair Housing Act (FHA).” This is one of the most common things I hear, when I mention to individuals that their new apartment project is subject to FHA requirements regarding accessibility. It represents one of the […]
Clients often ask if there are free copies of the International Building Code (IBC) or other free building code/accessibility resources on the internet. The answer is yes, there are…but you have to know where to look. Where are they available? A significant source of free building codes and accessibility resources is the non-profit corporation of Public.Resource.org and […]
The location and applicability of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for new apartment projects (commonly called multi-family residential) is one of the most common questions I routinely answer. It is also a common source of misunderstanding among many individuals. Recently, as an attendee to a seminar on accessibility requirements, I watched as a […]