REGULAR CALLED MEETING BUILDING AND FIRE BOARD OF APPEALS Wednesday September 23, 2026 @ 1:30 PM- In Person/Web Ex PERMITTING DEVELOPMENT CENTER/ 1st FLOOR, CONF RM 1401-1402 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DR AUSTIN, TEXAS Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register, contact rick.arzola@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Oren Mitnzer- Chair; Ben Abzug- Vice Chair; Brasfield, Aubrey; Buys, Ron; Gannon, Chris; McKay, Blair; Juarez, Cecilia Paredes; Rumbo, Jim; Satt, Alison; Schumann, Alan; Wood, William CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- 1. Approve the minutes of the Building and Fire Board of Appeals Regular Called Meeting of July 22, 2026 2. Approve the minutes of the Building and Fire Board of Appeals Regular Called Meeting of August 26, 2026 DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Courtesy Presentation by Austin Code on discussion on the overview of the proposed 2024 International Property Maintenance Code and an amendment to add emergency demolition service. 4. Discussion on single stairs- The allowance to have dwelling unit doors open directly into a stair enclosure versus requiring an interim corridor. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodation no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Rick Arola at Austin Development Services Department, at 512-974-2417 or rick.arzola@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Building and Fire Board of Appeals, please contact Rick Arzola at 512-974-2417 and rick.arzola@austintexas.gov
REGULAR CALLED MEETING BUILDING AND FIRE BOARD OF APPEALS Wednesday September 23, 2026 @ 1:30 PM- In Person/Web Ex PERMITTING DEVELOPMENT CENTER/ 1st FLOOR, CONF RM 1401-1402 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DR AUSTIN, TEXAS Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely by telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation. To register, contact rick.arzola@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Oren Mitnzer- Chair; Ben Abzug- Vice Chair; Brasfield, Aubrey; Buys, Ron; Gannon, Chris; McKay, Blair; Juarez, Cecilia Paredes; Rumbo, Jim; Satt, Alison; Schumann, Alan; Wood, William AGENDA REVISED CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES- 1. Approve the minutes of the Building and Fire Board of Appeals Regular Called Meeting of July 22, 2026 2. Approve the minutes of the Building and Fire Board of Appeals Regular Called Meeting of August 26, 2026 DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Courtesy Presentation by Austin Code on discussion on the overview of the proposed 2024 International Property Maintenance Code and an amendment to add emergency demolition service. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodation no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Rick Arola at Austin Development Services Department, at 512-974-2417 or rick.arzola@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Building and Fire Board of Appeals, please contact Rick Arzola at 512-974-2417 and rick.arzola@austintexas.gov
Emergency Demolition Service Timeline Policy Development Development Services defined criteria, communication requirements, and documentation standards for emergency demolitions. Roles and responsibilities were clarified. Procedures for determining and executing emergency demolitions were outlined. Memo of Understanding (MOU) Collaboration Development Services met with key City of Austin departments involved in emergency demolition operations. An MOU, with signatures from the Chiefs/Directors of all partner departments, was developed. Roles, protocols, and commitments were defined and outlined to ensure timely, safe, and documented responses. Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals Development Services will present a proposed amendment to the 2024 IPMC to the Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals. Conduct a Public Hearing Council will conduct a public hearing during which members of the public will be able to comment on the proposed amendment to the 2024 IPMC. Completed 3/31/2026 Completed 5/12/2026 Completed 8/13/2026 Projected Completion 9/22/2026 Planned for 9/23/2026 Planned for 9/23/2026 Planned for 10/08/2026 Implementation Development Services will train impacted staff on the new emergency demolition policy and service before implementation and after Council approval. Emergency demolition policy will be published in the department’s internal policy repository. Development Services will begin performing emergency demolitions when necessary to protect public life and safety. Projected 12/07/2026 Needs Assessment and Discovery Development Services identified need for faster response to dangerous structures that pose imminent life and safety concern(s) to improve safety and reduce repeat calls. Research was conducted with Texas peer cities with established emergency demolition services. Stakeholder Engagement On 8/20/26, Development Services informed community members about the proposed emergency demolition service and provided opportunities for them to ask questions and share feedback. On 9/22/2026 Development Services will inform community members about proposed amendment to the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). Building and Standards Commission (BSC) The Commission will consider and make a recommendation on an ordinance amending the 2024 IPMC by adopting a local amendment to create an emergency demolition process. Set a Public Hearing Council will vote to set a public hearing to amend the 2024 IPMC by adopting a local amendment to create an emergency demolition process. Adoption Council will vote on whether to adopt a local amendment to the 2024 IPMC to create an emergency demolition process. Planned for10/22/2026 Adoption11/05/2026
2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) Amendment: Emergency Demolition Service Austin Development Services September 22, 2026 Purpose To provide an overview of the proposed 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) amendment for Emergency Demolitions Background The City of Austin adopted the International Code Council (ICC)’s 2024 IPMC with local amendments. Austin Development Services established an internal amendment committee to draft an additional local amendment to the IPMC for an Emergency Demolition Service. The City will be expanding procedures for emergency demolitions involving buildings that sustain catastrophic damage and pose an imminent danger to the community. Primary Goal The proposed amendment aims to protect public life and safety when unsafe structures pose an imminent threat or danger: ▪ Chapter 12 – Emergency Demolition 4 Proposed Change to the 2024 IPMC: The following will be addressed in Chapter 12 - Emergency Demolition • This chapter does not apply to Occupied Structures. • The building official will implement, administer and enforce this chapter. • The process will include placarding and internal review prior to any emergency demolition. • Emergency demolition will begin no later than 96 hours after the order to demolish is issued. 5 6 Questions? Austin Development Services is available to respond to your questions. Email us: codecommunications@austintexas.gov.
