AUSTIN — Austin officials are moving to make it easier and less costly to build housing projects with up to four units after the City Council approved a resolution in July to amend the city’s land development code.
The proposed change would allow “houseplex” projects to follow the International Residential Code (IRC) instead of the International Building Code (IBC), potentially simplifying construction requirements for developers.
Chris Gannon, a principal architect with Shams Gannon Architecture and a member of the Austin Planning Commission, said the IRC generally allows simpler and less expensive construction than the IBC.
The IBC covers a broad range of building projects, including more complex developments that often require more costly construction methods. The IRC focuses on residential structures and sets different construction requirements.
The City Council’s July resolution launched the process for changing the land development code. Officials view the change as a way to reduce barriers to building small-scale, multifamily housing in Austin.
Under the proposed rules, developers could construct houseplexes with as many as four units under the residential building code rather than the more complex commercial-oriented code.
The change comes as Austin officials continue efforts to expand housing options and encourage additional residential development across the city.