New building code kicks in today

Beginning today, new construction in Whitman County will be subject to a new building code.

Commissioners last Monday approved the county’s adoption of the newest version of the International Building Code.

County Building Official Dan Gladwill said there will be few changes from the previous code. He said most of the new code updates definitions and corrects grammar.

“We had a chance to deal with some of the really bad language by amending it out at the state building code council level,” he said.

Major changes in the new code are tighter regulation on construction of decks and a mandate that...