Athens City Code

Pursuant to authority granted by T.C.A. §§ 6-54-501 through 6-54-506 and for the purpose of regulating the repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition to, and relocation of existing buildings, the International Existing Building Code, 2021 edition, as prepared and adopted by the International Code Council, is adopted and incorporated by reference as part of this Code and is hereinafter referred to as the existing building code.

When the building code refers to the "chief appointing authority" or the "chief administrator," it shall be deemed to be a reference to the city manager.

1. (1) Remove Chapter 3 Section 306 Accessibility for existing buildings.
2. (2) Replace Section 405.2.3.3 Extent of repair for noncompliant buildings with the following:
   1. (a) If the evaluation does not establish that the building in its pre-damaged condition complies with the provisions of section 405.2.3.1, the the building, including its foundation, shall be retrofitted to comply with the provisions of this section. The wind loads for the repair and retrofit design shall be those required by wind, in which case the wind loads shall be in accordance with the International Building Code. The seismic loads for this retrofit shall be those required by the building code in effect at the time of original construction, but not less than the reduced seismic forces.
3. (3) Replace 405.2.4 Substantial structural damage to gravity load-carrying components, with the following:
   1. (a) Gravity load-carrying components that have sustained substantial structural damage shall be rehabilitated to comply with the applicable provisions for dead, live, and snow loads in the International Building Code. Undamaged gravity load-carrying components, including undamaged foundation components, shall also be rehabilitated if required to comply with the design loads of the rehabilitation design. 
4. (4) The requirements of section 303 Storm Shelters are not required.

Pursuant to the requirements of the T.C.A. § 6-54-502, one copy of the building code has been placed on file in the city manager's office and shall be kept there for the use and inspection of the public.

It is unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with any provision of this chapter or the building code as herein adopted by reference and modified.