AI-generated summary, not yet reviewed by Better Utah staff. Please consult the bill text.

Utah's residential and existing-building construction codes would see numerous technical updates under this bill, with the central change establishing that when someone renovates, adds onto, or repairs an existing home or building, the entire structure does not have to be brought up to current new-construction standards — unless the work itself makes the structure less safe than it was before. Beyond this core rule, the bill makes dozens of other specific adjustments to building code requirements, including updated snow load tables for various Utah cities, revised stair tread and riser dimensions, changes to fire sprinkler and fire-rated wall requirements, new rules for accessory dwelling units sharing walls or floors with a main home, updated egress window and ventilation standards, requirements for signage identifying battery chemistry on home energy storage systems, and technical changes to foundation, anchor bolt, vapor barrier, and drainage specifications. It also updates definitions used in the plumbing and mechanical codes (such as "potable water," "cross connection," and "approved") and revises seismic safety requirements for unreinforced masonry parapets and building alterations that change a structure's occupancy or use. These changes would apply statewide to how new construction, renovations, and building inspections are governed in Utah.