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2024 International Residential Code Amendments

The ICC International Residential Code/2024 with referenced standards and Appendices A, B, C, G, H, and O, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., together with the additions, insertions, deletions, and changes prescribed in this article, is hereby adopted by reference and made a part of this article, the same as if fully set forth herein, as the standards, rules, and regulations for the design, construction, alteration, repair, use and maintenance of buildings and structural appurtenances in the city.
(Ord. No. O-2025-04, § 1, 2-3-25)

All new residential construction shall include passive-resistant radon construction as provided for by the State of Illinois Public Act 97-0953.

Sec. 22-41. - Amendments.

The following sections or subsections of the residential code are amended as indicated:

  1. The additions, insertions, deletions, and changes set out in this section are hereby made to the ICC International Residential Code/2024, as adopted in section 22-40.
  2. Any reference in the residential code to the "building official" shall mean the director of building and code enforcement of the City.
  3. Any reference in the residential code to the "name of jurisdiction" shall mean the City of Wheaton.
  4. Any reference in the residential code to the "chief appointing authority" shall mean the city manager or the city council, as prescribed by ordinance.
  5. Any reference in the residential code to the "Department of Building Safety" shall mean the Department of Building and Code Enforcement of the city.
  6. Any reference in the residential code to the date or time at which the provisions of such code became applicable shall mean the adopted date, which shall be the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived, or as provided by law.
  7. If any provision of the residential code is in conflict with any provision of the city zoning ordinance, and any amendments thereto, the provisions of the latter shall prevail.
  8. The following sections or subsections of the residential code are amended as indicated:

    Section R101.2 Scope. The International Building Code may be referenced for additional information and/or clarifications.

    Section R105.2 Work exempt from permit. The following items, listed under the heading "Building," shall be deleted in their entirety:
    Items # 1, 2, 3,4, 5, 9, and 10.

    Section R105.3.2 Time limitation of application. An application for a permit for any proposed work shall be deemed to have been abandoned 90 days after the date of filing unless such application has been pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued; except that the building official is authorized to grant one or more extensions of time for additional periods not exceeding 90 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.

    Section R105.5 Expiration. Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work authority by such permit is commenced within 90 days after its issuance or after commencement of work if more than 90 days pass between inspections. The building official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 90 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.

    Section R105.7 Placement of permit. The permit shall be visible from the street, accessible, and near the front door.

    Section R105.10 Completion of work. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of every property for which a permit is issued to complete the work in accordance with the plans prior to the expiration of such permit. All exterior work shall be completed no later than one year from the date of permit issuance; however, the building official is authorized to grant an extension of time for a period not to exceed 90 days if an extension is requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.

    Section R106.1 Submittal documents. Submittal documents consisting of construction documents and other data shall be submitted in two or more sets with each application for a permit. The construction documents shall be prepared, signed, and sealed by a registered Illinois Design Professional for all new detached one and two-family dwellings, townhomes not exceeding three stories, residential additions exceeding 500 square feet in total area, and all second-story additions. Where special conditions exist, the building official is authorized to require additional construction documents to be prepared by a registered design professional.

    R108.2 Fees. See Wheaton City Code, Appendix B.

    Section R 112 Board/Means of Appeals. Any references to the board/means of appeal shall comply with Wheaton City Code, section 22-12, means/board of appeals.

    Section R 113.4 Violation; penalties. See Wheaton City Code, section 22-3, violations; penalties.

Table R301.2(1) Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria
Item Regulations
Ground Snow Load 36 psf
Wind Speed (MPH/MPS) 107 (48)
Topographic Effects  No
Special Wind Region  No
Windborne Debris Zone  No
Seismic Design Category A
Weathering Severe
Frost Line Depth 42 inches
Termite Moderate to heavy
Decay Slight to moderate
Winter Design Temperature -4 degrees F
Ice Barrier Underlayment Required Yes
Flood Hazard June 15, 1979
Air Freezing Index 2000
Mean Annual Temperature 49.4 degrees F
Manual J Design Criteria (heating/cooling)
Item Regulations
Elevation 758
Latitude 42
Winter Heating 1
Summer Cooling 88 Degrees
Altitude Correction Factor 0.98
Indoor Design Temperature 72 Degrees F
Design Temperature Cooling 75 Degrees F
Heating Temperature Difference 72
Cooling Temperature Difference 15
Wind Velocity Heating 15
Wind Velocity Cooling 7 1/2
Coincident Wet Bulb 74
Daily Range M
Winter Humidity 40
Summer Humidity 2.25
Table R302.6 Dwelling Unit Garage Fire Separation
Separation Material
From the dwelling unit and attics Not less than 1/2-inch gypsum board or equivalent applied to the garage side
From portions of the dwelling unit above the garage Not less than 5/8-inch Type X gypsum board or equivalent
Structure supporting floor/ceiling assemblies used for separation required by this section Not less than 1/2-inch gypsum board or equivalent
Garages located less than 10 feet from a dwelling on the same lot. Not less than one-half-inch gypsum board or equivalent applied to all walls and ceilings.

Section R304.1 Location required, Item 2. All sills or plates that rest on concrete or masonry exterior walls.

Section R308.1 Address numbers. All address identification shall comply with Wheaton City Code, section 22-10, premises identification.

Section R309 One and two-family dwelling automatic fire systems. Delete in its entirety.

R309.1 Townhouse automatic sprinkler systems. Delete in its entirety.

R309.2 One and two-family dwellings automatic sprinkler systems. Delete in its entirety.

Section R310.1 Emergency escape and rescue required. An emergency egress window is required for any basement addition or replacement of a basement exterior foundation wall when the existing basement does not already have an emergency egress window.

Section R310.6 Alterations or repairs of existing basements. Delete the language in the section inclusive of the exception and change to read: An emergency escape or rescue opening is required where existing basements undergo alterations or repairs in accordance with Section 310.1. Exception: Basements protected by an approved automatic fire sprinkler system.

Section R310.7.5 Heat Detectors. When constructing new detached one or two-family dwellings, or installing a ESS (Energy Storage System), Heat Detectors shall be installed in any integral garage or attached garage. The heat detector shall receive primary power from the building wiring, and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. The heat detector shall be interconnected with the smoke alarm system in such a manner that activation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit.

Section R311.7.1 Width. Stair stringers shall not exceed a maximum spacing of 36 inches on center or part thereof.

Section R313.2 One- and two-family dwelling automatic fire systems.

Section R314.8 Heat Detectors. When constructing new detached one or two-family dwellings, Heat Detectors shall be installed in any integral garage or attached garage. The heat detector shall receive primary power from the building wiring, and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a battery. The heat detector shall be interconnected with the smoke alarm system in such a manner that activation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit.

Section R315.3 Carbon monoxide alarms. In dwelling units, an approved carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed outside and within 15 feet of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms in dwelling units within which fuel-fired appliances are installed and in dwelling units that have attached garages.

Section R317.1 Location required, Item 2. All sills or plates that rest on concrete or masonry exterior walls.

Section R319.1 Address numbers. All address identification shall comply with Wheaton City Code, section 22-10, premises identification.

Section R330.4 Locations. ESS shall be installed only in the following locations:

  1. Detached garages and detached accessory structures.
  2. Attached garages separated from the dwelling unit living space in accordance with Section R302.6.
  3. Outdoors or on the exterior side of exterior walls located not less than 3 feet (914 mm) from doors and windows directly entering the dwelling unit, except where smaller separation distances are permitted by the UL 9540 listing and manufacturer’s installation instructions.

ESS shall not be installed in sleeping rooms, or closets or spaces opening directly into sleeping rooms.

Section R401.1 Application. The provisions of this chapter shall control the design and construction of the foundation and foundation spaces for all buildings. The use of wood footings and wood foundations is not allowed and all references to wood footings and foundations are hereby deleted.

Section R402.1 Wood foundations. Delete in its entirety.

R403.1.1.1 Minimum Thickness. The minimum thickness, T, for concrete foundations shall be 10 inches.

R403.1.1.2 Trench Foundations. Trench foundations shall be allowed for residential additions not exceeding 500 square feet in total area and having an eave height of ten feet or less. The minimum width of the trench foundation shall be 12 inches.

Section R404.1 Concrete and Masonry Foundation Walls. R404.1 Concrete Foundation Walls. Concrete foundation walls shall be selected and constructed in accordance with the provisions of Section R404.1.3.

R404.1.1 Design Required. R404.1.1 Design Required. Concrete foundation walls shall be designed in accordance with the accepted engineering practice where either of the following conditions exists:

  1. Walls are subject to hydrostatic pressure from groundwater.
  2. Walls supporting more than 48 inches of unbalanced backfill that do not have permanent lateral support at the top or bottom.

Section R404.1.2.1 Design of masonry foundation walls. Delete in its entirety.

Section R502.7.1 Bridging. Joists shall be supported laterally by solid blocking, diagonal bridging (wood or metal), or a continuous 1-inch by 3-inch (25 mm by 76 mm) strip nailed across the bottom of joists perpendicular to joists at intervals not exceeding 8 feet (2438 mm). Exception: Trusses, structural composite lumber, structural glued-laminated members and I-joists shall be supported laterally as required by the manufacturer’s recommendations.

R507.1.1 Decks Free-standing decks shall be defined as any deck structure that is structurally independent and does not serve an exterior door of an adjoining structure.

Section R507.4.1, Exception. Delete in its entirety.

R807.2 Attic Access Location. The attic access shall not be located in a closet.

Section E3901.4.2 Island and peninsular countertops and work surfaces. Island and Peninsular Countertop spaces with a long dimension of 600mm (24 inches) or greater and a short dimension of 300mm (12 inches) or greater shall have at least one receptacle outlet.

  1. Receptacles shall be installed in accordance with E3901.4.
  2. On island or peninsular countertops where the work surface is flat across its entire surface (no backsplashes, dividers, etc.), receptacles shall be permitted to be mounted not less than 12” below the countertop or work surface.
  3. Receptacles mounted below a countertop or work surface shall not be located where the countertop or work surface extends more than 150mm (6 inches) beyond its support base.

E4203.8 Underground wiring. Underground wiring shall not be installed under or within the area extending 5 feet horizontally from the inside walls of the pools and outdoor hot tubs and spas except where wiring is installed to supply pools, spa, or hot tub equipment. Underground wiring shall be installed in rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, rigid polyvinyl chloride conduit, reinforced thermosetting resin conduit, or Jacketed Type MC cable that is listed for burial use. The minimum cover depth shall be in accordance with Table E3803.1.

Chapter 11 (RE) Energy Efficiency. Energy Efficiency shall comply with Chapter 22 Article VIII of Wheaton City Code.

Appendix BF Patio Covers, Section BF101.2 Permitted Uses. Patio covers shall be permitted only when attached to the dwelling unit and in compliance with the city zoning ordinance. Patio covers shall be used only for recreational, outdoor living purposes and not as carports, garages, storage rooms or habitable rooms.

Appendix H Patio Covers, Section AH101.2 Permitted Uses. Patio covers shall be permitted only when attached to the dwelling unit and in compliance with the city zoning ordinance. Patio covers shall be used only for recreational, and outdoor living purposes and not as carports, garages, storage rooms, or habitable rooms.

Secs. 22-42—22-49. Reserved.

2/21/2025