The Phoenix City Council voted Wednesday to adopt the latest construction codes, marking another milestone in making Phoenix a national leader in accessibility, sustainability, and safety standards.

Among the updates are new requirements for inclusive home design that will help residents age in place and improve accessibility for people with disabilities. These code changes, developed with input from the Mayor’s Strategic Workgroup on Accessibility, will ensure that all new homes built in Phoenix include enhanced standards for some entrances, hallways, bathrooms, and household fixtures such as hardware and light switches. 

“These new codes are the latest progress in our commitment to making Phoenix the most accessible city in the world. They are about designing a city that empowers everyone, whether you’re pushing a stroller or navigating life with a disability,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “By incorporating the latest inclusive home design into our building code, we’re helping residents avoid costly retrofits and promoting independence so everyone can be safer at home.”

Councilwoman Debra Stark, who chairs the City Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Subcommittee, said the changes reflect a thoughtful and forward-looking approach to community development. “This is a win for families, for older adults, and for anyone who wants to live safely and comfortably in their own home for years to come,” said Stark, who also leads the Mayor’s Strategic Work Group on Accessibility. “I’d like to particularly thank City staff, who have worked tirelessly to craft these code changes that will make a big impact in the lives of Phoenicians.”

Other key highlights of the updated code include:

  • Electric Vehicle Readiness: New homes, including single-family, two-family, and townhouses, must include infrastructure to support future electric vehicle charging, making it easier and more affordable for residents to charge EVs at home.
  • Sustainable Water and Sewer Connections: New plumbing code provisions streamline how builders connect homes to existing sewer infrastructure. The new code also requires water-efficient fixtures, promoting sustainability and cost-savings.
  • Alternative Building Materials: Phoenix will now allow builders to use a type of sustainable engineered wood, mass timber, which provides more strength, durability and versatility than standard wood while providing the same or higher level of fire protection as steel and concrete. Mass timber can be used in buildings up to 18 stories and allows fast, cost-effective construction that can reduce overall project costs.
  • Living Space Efficiency: By reducing the amount of space required for mechanical systems inside multifamily buildings, Phoenix will allow architects to maximize square footage available for units without compromising safety.
  • Enhanced Fire Safety: New standards will require buildings such as bars, restaurants, and pool decks with rooftop gathering spaces that are inaccessible for fire truck ladders to implement enhanced fire safety standards to ensure people can get off the rooftop in the event of a fire.

Phoenix’s building code is regularly reviewed and updated to align with international standards and local priorities. With this latest adoption, Phoenix is now among the first major cities in the country to implement the 2024 International Code Council codes.

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“As not only a person with multiple disabilities, a community advocate, and as a Phoenix resident, I am extremely excited by today’s passage of the updated building codes by the Phoenix City Council,” Darrel Christenson, disability advocate and member of the Mayor’s Strategic Workgroup on Accessibility said.  “These will add important and much needed accessible features to all new housing throughout the city.”

“The City of Phoenix continues to lead the way in creating a community where residents can both raise a family and enjoy retirement,” Dana Kennedy, State Director for Arizona AARP said. “Our members want to age in place, and by adopting inclusive housing design policies, more people will be able to remain in their homes without the need for costly modifications. This proactive approach to accessibility ensures that future homebuyers can enjoy long-term comfort and independence. It’s just one more reason why Phoenix is a great place to call home.”

Read more on the 2024 Phoenix Building Construction Code here.