Industry Advisory – Exemption from the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code – Las Vegas, NV

The Industry Advisory – Exemption from the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code is a two-page notice from the City of Las Vegas Building & Safety Department, signed by its Director, explaining that certain commercial buildings are exempt from the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) under City of Las Vegas Ordinance No. 6256.

The advisory's background section says the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 6256 on June 19, 2013, and that it became effective on June 23, 2013. The ordinance provides that the conversion of a commercial building originally constructed before 2009, or any addition, alteration, renovation or repair to it, need not comply with the minimum energy conservation standards of the 2009 IECC. The condition is that the original construction and every later addition, alteration, renovation or repair complied with the corresponding standards in effect when the work was done.

To apply the ordinance consistently with its intent, the Department determined that any commercial building, completed or a shell, that received Final Inspection approval on or before December 31, 2008 is exempt, and that the exemption extends to additions, alterations, renovations and repairs to such buildings. The exemption does not apply to residential buildings.

This is a guidance memo, not an application, permit or tax document. It is addressed to Associated General Contractors Las Vegas, NAIOP Southern Nevada Chapter, AIA Nevada, BOMA Nevada and the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association.

The main audience is the commercial building industry in the City of Las Vegas: contractors, developers, architects, building managers and builders who work on commercial buildings that were built before 2009. The advisory is addressed to five industry associations, and anyone planning an addition, alteration, renovation, repair or conversion of such a building can use it to see whether the 2009 IECC applies.

Conditions stated in the advisory:

• A commercial building, either completed or a shell, that received Final Inspection approval on or before December 31, 2008 is exempt from the 2009 IECC, and so is any addition, alteration, renovation or repair to it.
• Buildings under construction on the ordinance's effective date that had not yet received Final Inspection approval must be completed under the 2009 IECC, or under the edition of the IECC in effect at the time of plan review approval as shown on the approved plans.
• The exemption does not apply to residential buildings.

The advisory does not describe any duty to file it or sign it. Questions about the ordinance or its application to a specific permit or building go to the Department.

Nothing is filed with this advisory, and it prints no deadline of its own. It matters whenever work on a commercial building in Las Vegas raises the question of the 2009 IECC. The ordinance it explains became effective on June 23, 2013. The dividing date in the advisory is December 31, 2008: a commercial building that received Final Inspection approval on or before that date is exempt, along with later additions, alterations, renovations and repairs. A building still under construction on the effective date without Final Inspection approval is not covered by the exemption. For a specific permit or building, the advisory directs questions to the Building & Safety Department.

This advisory is informational and is not submitted to the City. If you have questions about Ordinance No. 6256 or how it applies to a specific permit or building, the advisory names these contacts:

• By phone: Plans & Permits Supervisor Rod Clark at (702) 229-6913.
• In person: City of Las Vegas Building & Safety Department, 333 N Rancho Drive (Rancho Drive at 95), Las Vegas, Nevada 89106.

The letterhead also lists these Department lines, as printed: Administration 229-6092, Permits 229-6251, Inspections 229-6914, Off-site Inspections 229-6337, Code Enforcement 229-6615, Land Development 229-6371 and TDD 702-386-9108. The website printed on the letterhead is www.lasvegasnevada.gov. The advisory sets no fee, form or attachment. FillingPDF lets you view and download the PDF; any permit-related contact follows the Department's channels above.