OPT-OUT: Know your rules

The “opt-out option” is a central issue for the candidates for Kootenai County commissioner because it is important to county residents whether they know it or not.

There is confusion even among the candidates for county commissioner concerning the “opt-out option” for residential construction in the county. This is a thorny issue and I would have hoped that the candidates would have at least read the code before making public statements about it.

This is not just an exemption from inspection, or even from permitting, inspection and a Certificate of Occupancy. The actual code states that the “opt-out option” exempts the owner from compliance with a laundry list of building codes. This list includes the International Building Code, International Residential Code and the International Energy Conservation Code, and from county enforcement of the International Mechanical Code, International Property Maintenance Code, International Existing Building Code, International Fire Code, International Fuel Gas Code and other building codes that may be adopted in the future.

As pointed out repeatedly, the exemption from building codes will likely depress the selling price of homes, which will depress the comparable sales information, depressing all selling prices in the county. This does not just effect the owner/builder, but all county property owners, which is why all residents should be concerned. Be informed, the ordinance can be found at the Kootenai County website at: https://bit.ly/2PowaXV

Select Building Code Ordinance 522 for ORA18-0002-Signed (PDF). See: 7.1.105.C.3

DEBORAH ROSE

Kootenai County