Draft chapter 24: Building Inspection Board of Appeals
§ 24.04 Authority
The 2026 draft's § 24.04 beside the current code's § 23.04: removed words are struck through, added words underlined.
Comparison with a draft: not adopted. The archive holds no public hearing, ordinance or vote adopting the recodified Code through the October 20, 2026 meeting packet. Until one is adopted, every page here compares the consolidated code with a draft that can still change: the revised draft with the October 6 changes is not in the archive.
A comparison with the August 2026 draft recodification prepared by Iowa Codification for the City. The draft has not been adopted and can still change; the current code (unofficial compilation) governs until a recodified Code is adopted. Matches between sections are made by machine from the texts and are reviewed where uncertain.
Renumbered or moved
What changed
1. There are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this code. “Practical difficulties” means that: (i) the strict letter of the code is impractical;
(ii) the modification is in conformance with the intent and purpose of this code; and
(iii) the modification does not lessen any fire protection requirements or any degree of structural integrity; or
2. Any material, alternate design, or method of construction, not specifically prescribed by this code, is appropriate. Any material, alternate design, or method of construction is appropriate if: (i) the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the provisions of this code; and (ii) the material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this code in suitability, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, safety, and sanitation or;
3. The Building Official has incorrectly interpreted a provision of the code; or
4. The provisions of the code do not fully apply.
Word-level comparison of the current text with the draft's; spacing and paragraph breaks come from the documents' text. Footnotes are left out.
Current code
§ 23.04 Authority
The Board of Appeals, may, when a quorum of at least three Board members is present, by majority vote, reverse a decision by the Building Official or the Fire Chief based on the Building Code, Plumbing Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, or Fire Code if it finds that:
1. There are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this code. “Practical difficulties” means that: (i) the strict letter of the code is impractical; (ii) the modification is in conformance with the intent and purpose of this code; and (iii) the modification does not lessen any fire protection requirements or any degree of structural integrity; or
2. Any material, alternate design, or method of construction, not specifically prescribed by this code, is appropriate. Any material, alternate design, or method of construction is appropriate if: (i) the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the provisions of this code; and (ii) the material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this code in suitability, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, safety, and sanitation or;
3. The Building Official has incorrectly interpreted a provision of the code; or
4. The provisions of the code do not fully apply.
2026 draft
§ 24.04 Authority
The Board of Appeals, may, when a quorum of at least three Board members is present, by majority vote, reverse a decision by the Building Official or the Fire Chief based on the Building Code, Plumbing Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, or Fire Code if it finds that:
1. There are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this code. “Practical difficulties” means that: (i) the strict letter of the code is impractical;
(ii) the modification is in conformance with the intent and purpose of this code; and
(iii) the modification does not lessen any fire protection requirements or any degree of structural integrity; or
2. Any material, alternate design, or method of construction, not specifically prescribed by this code, is appropriate. Any material, alternate design, or method of construction is appropriate if: (i) the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the provisions of this code; and (ii) the material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this code in suitability, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability, safety, and sanitation or;
3. The Building Official has incorrectly interpreted a provision of the code; or
4. The provisions of the code do not fully apply.
Back to draft chapter 24 · All changes
Data last updated October 23, 2026. Built from the archive's documents; see how the data is built.