One Thing About the Code Council: Spotlighting the Code Council’s Codification Services

The One Thing About the Code Council series offers focused insights into our people, services, codes and standards. The series showcases different parts of the International Code Council family of solutions and their activities, from the development of building codes and standards to the dedicated professionals behind them.

Codification refers to the process of organizing and compiling ordinances into a cohesive legal document. This is essential for local governments, as it creates a body of current, enforceable regulations that are easy to use and reference.

Codification services play a vital role in ensuring that municipal building codes are up-to-date, enforceable and easily accessible. By regularly updating and organizing these codes, municipalities provide a reliable resource for constituents, officials, business owners, developers and law enforcement, strengthening compliance and enhancing community safety.

With the assistance of codification experts, municipalities can ensure that when new legislation is passed, their codes are updated to reflect these changes promptly.

This article provides an overview of the Code Council’s codification services and highlights the importance of this service for the building safety industry.

General Code: A Key Player in Codification

As part of the Code Council family of solutions, General Code stands out for its expertise in providing comprehensive codification services and online access to municipal codes and zoning codes for over 4000 jurisdictions. With exclusive online hosting through eCode360, developed by General Code, the focus is on delivering innovative, meticulous and collaborative codification and planning-related solutions. This ensures that codes, including critical planning and zoning regulations, are accurately represented, and the project team remains aligned throughout every stage of the process.

General Code’s innovative tools, including Code Review for legal analyses and MapLink for displaying interactive zoning codes, enhance collaboration, access and engagement among stakeholders in codification, planning, zoning and beyond. eCode360 with Code Review streamlines the management of key project milestones in code development, fostering improved communication and project advancement. This eliminates the need for paper reports and legal memorandums, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing delays.

American Legal Publishing: Expertise in Codification

Another integral member of the Code Council family of solutions is American Legal Publishing (ALP). With codification as its core focus, ALP is a trusted partner for thousands of municipalities across the nation. The organization boasts a team of experienced attorneys, legal editors and highly trained employees who lead the codification process, ensuring that municipal codes are not only current but also compliant with the latest legal standards.

ALP’s expertise allows municipalities to navigate the complexities of local governance, providing reliable support in the development and maintenance of their codes. Their dedication to quality and service further enhances the Code Council’s overall offerings in codification.

“Our online code solutions combined with staff experience and expertise allow municipal governments to provide transparency and access to local laws, meeting minutes and other documents,” says Sarah Bauer, Director of Electronic Publishing, at ALP.

Providing Invaluable Resources to Communities Worldwide

The Code Council’s commitment to enhancing codification services through General Code and ALP underscores the importance of having current and accessible municipal codes.  

By partnering with these organizations, the Code Council not only provides valuable resources to its members but also fosters safer, more compliant communities.  

To learn more about the Code Council family of solutions, click here.