December 10th, 2024
by Allison Rafferty

Every year, the International Code Council recognizes chapters that reflect and promote the organization’s mission and goals. This year, the Code Council honored several outstanding chapters at the Chapter Presidents Meeting on Oct. 21, 2024, during the Code Council’s Annual Conference in Long Beach, California. 

The following awards were given out: 

  • Chapter Merit Awards
  • Regions Spotlight Award
  • Chapter of the Year Award

The Code Council congratulates the following chapters for their accomplishments and contributions.

Chapter Merit Award: Southern Nevada Chapter of the Code Council and the Code Administrators Association of Kentucky

The Code Council’s Chapter Merit Award recognizes chapters that distinguish themselves through activities demonstrating the Code Council’s goals and objectives. This year’s recipients of the 2024 Chapter Merit Award are the Southern Nevada Chapter of the Code Council and the Code Administrators of Kentucky (CAAK).

The Southern Nevada Chapter consistently advocates for, and participates in, local code adoptions and amendments through their involvement with the Southern Nevada Building Officials group.  They are active participants in multiple organizations that focus on regulatory and legislative advocacy. The chapter also established a mentoring program, which continues to nurture and strengthen future building safety professionals.

CAAK is actively involved in the code adoption process by regularly attending Kentucky Department of Housing advisory board meetings. They also regularly engage with state legislators, issuing letters to those authoring and debating bills that impact the adoption and implementation of codes.

Another notable contribution came from a member of CAAK who created a video to empower younger professionals in the field, encouraging the next generation to consider careers in building safety.

Regions Spotlight Award: ICC Midwest Region V

The Regions Spotlight Award is presented to a chapter that has demonstrated strong cooperation among the chapters that make up the region, advancement of professionalism, strong community service and membership growth.

This year’s recipient of the 2024 Regions Spotlight Award is ICC Midwest Region V, comprising 10 Code Council Chapters throughout the region.

ICC Midwest Region V members have been proactive in communicating with state representatives and senators in Ohio about legislation that impacts code regulations. The chapter also plays a vital role in promoting Building Safety Month, including encouraging the signing of proclamations and educating elementary students on the importance of building safety.

The chapter has seen a significant 25 percent increase in Code Council membership, reflecting their strong commitment to growing their community.

Chapter of the Year Award: Women in Code Enforcement and Development of Virginia

The Chapter of the Year Award is the Code Council’s highest award bestowed upon a chapter and recognizes the extraordinary performance by a Code Council chapter in promoting the goals and mission of the organization.

This year’s recipient of the 2024 Chapter of the Year Award is the Women in Code Enforcement and Development of Virginia (WICED).

WICED of Virginia stands out as having the highest number of members with Code Council certifications among all the chapters, and they have one of the highest engagement rates in Code Council campaigns. Last year, they also achieved a remarkable 50 percent increase in Code Council membership.

The chapter has been highly active in its outreach initiatives, consistently seeking ways to give back to the community. Beyond outreach initiatives, WICED of VA also awarded 16 scholarships to attend both the Virginia Building Code Officials Association Annual Conference in September 2023 and the Code Council’s Annual Conference in October 2023, with half of the scholarships going to first-time conference attendees.

Getting Involved Through Code Council Chapters

Code Council chapters are groups of code officials and industry-related professionals run by volunteers who support and promote the mission and goals of the Code Council. Chapters create partnerships with members of the building community and increase public awareness about the value of code officials in our everyday lives.  

The Code Council is supported by over 400 chapters spread throughout the country and around the world. Chapters are designated as regional, state, local, professional, student or global depending on the geographical area they serve and the nature of their membership. Every Code Council chapter is different with many focusing on a particular discipline such as building safety, fire prevention, mechanical and plumbing.  

This year, the Code Council Board of Directors approved the establishment of the Native American Code Officials (NACO) as the first Code Council chapter dedicated specifically to Native code officials. Read about the establishment of the first sovereign chapter of the Code Council here. 

Click here to learn more about Code Council chapters and how to get involved. 

Click here to see all the 2024 award recipients.  

About the Author
Allison Rafferty joined the International Code Council as Communications Coordinator in 2023. Her background is in news reporting and content writing. In her free time, she is an arts and entertainment freelance reporter. She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism and writing.