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increase energy efficiency by <br />providing and identifying technical <br />assistance, financial assistance, and <br />best practices. <br />SD-26. Construction Codes <br />Issue: The State Building Code (SBC) is the <br />statewide standard for the construction, <br />reconstruction, alteration, and repair of the <br />buildings and other structures of the type <br />governed by the code. A building code <br />provides many benefits, including <br />uniformity of construction standards in the <br />building industry, consistency in code <br />interpretation and enforcement, and life - <br />safety guidance. Beginning in 2018, the state <br />will adopt a new version of the SBC every <br />six years after a rulemaking process that <br />allows for significant public input. The <br />League supports adopting and amending the <br />SBC through the rulemaking process, and <br />opposes legislative changes to the building <br />codes absent unusual or extraordinary <br />circumstances. <br />While all cities must enforce certain codes — <br />such as the accessibility code and the <br />bleacher safety code —enforcement of the <br />SBC remains a local option for cities outside <br />of the seven -county metropolitan area with <br />fewer than 2,500 people that did not adopt <br />the code before Jan. 1, 2008. Requiring <br />enforcement of the SBC by smaller cities in <br />Greater Minnesota is cost -prohibitive for <br />many cities, and would result in an unfunded <br />mandated. <br />While a single set of coordinated codes <br />helps provide consistency in code <br />administration and enforcement, <br />implementation of sustainable building <br />design, construction, and operation does not <br />readily integrate with the existing state <br />building and energy code system. As a <br />result, many cities are interested in adopting <br />more aggressive local standards for <br />sustainable development and conservation. <br />Response: A statewide -enforced building <br />code may have benefits, but requiring it <br />would result in an unfunded mandate. <br />Enforcing the State Building Code should <br />remain a local option for the <br />municipalities that have not already <br />adopted the Code, unless the state fully <br />funds the costs of enforcement and <br />inspection services necessary to enforce a <br />statewide building code. If the Legislature <br />requires all cities to enforce the State <br />Building Code, local governments must <br />have the option to hire or select a building <br />official of their choice and set the <br />appropriate level of service —even if the <br />state fully funds code enforcement <br />activities. <br />The state should collaborate with local <br />governments, construction industry <br />representatives, and other stakeholders to <br />review the building and energy codes and <br />consider modifications to encourage <br />sustainable building design, construction, <br />and operation. <br />Specifically: <br />a) For purposes of federal conformity, <br />the state should adopt the <br />International Energy Conservation <br />Code as part of the State Building <br />Code. <br />b) The state should include an optional <br />sustainable appendix to the State <br />Building Code to allow cities to utilize <br />appropriate parts of guidelines in <br />their communities. <br />e) The Legislature should authorize <br />cities to experiment with more <br />aggressive local standards for <br />sustainable development and <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2018 City Policies Page 17 <br />