CENTRAL CITY — The Central City Council took a step toward adopting updated building and fire codes during a brief work session Tuesday night, February 3, 2026. The presentation set the stage for the City to align with the County and meet new state requirements related to wildfire safety and construction standards.

Community Planning and Development Director Jeff Noffsinger told council members that the City is required to adopt the 2024 International Code Council building and fire codes, including the Wildland Urban Interface code, within the next few months. The Wildland Urban Interface code must be adopted by April 1, with the full set of building and fire codes due by July 1.

If the City does not act by those deadlines, Noffsinger said Central City would be subject to more restrictive state energy and carbon codes, which could drive construction costs even higher.

“We are being mandated by the state to adopt new codes,” Noffsinger said. He noted that failing to do so would leave the city with options it has already tried to avoid.

Central City currently operates under the 2018 codes. Many municipalities, including Central City, skipped the 2021 update because it was widely viewed as costly and cumbersome.

Noffsinger said the shift from the 2018 codes to the 2024 version is expected to raise construction costs by about 1 to 2 percent overall. While some energy-related requirements could add several thousand dollars to a project, other parts of the update could help offset those increases.

Gilpin County plans to adopt the full 2024 code package at once, and Noffsinger recommended Central City do the same. “It’s easier for contractors to know which codes everybody’s working from,” he said.

Several council members agreed and supported moving the item to a regular meeting agenda rather than breaking the adoption into phases. While some expressed frustration with the state mandates, the general tone reflected an understanding that the City has limited options.

Fire Chief Gary Allen warned that failing to adopt the updated codes could have consequences beyond construction costs. “If we don’t do any of this, insurance coverage could become more restrictive,” Allen said, noting the growing challenges residents already face in securing insurance.

Noffsinger said staff will return with an ordinance requiring two readings, giving council members time to review the details and raise questions before a final decision is made.

The work session also included a staff update. Public Works Director Marc Johns said a planned helicopter operation to move power poles along the parkway was postponed due to high winds. He also reported that exploratory drilling in the Gregory Gulch area is expected to begin next week, with temporary closures and message boards planned to alert the public.

Johns outlined additional activity around the city, including scheduled power outages for repair work and ongoing stormwater and utility projects near Interstate 70 that will require lane closures through February.

The work session adjourned at 6:23 p.m. No formal votes were taken, as work sessions are intended for discussion rather than action.