WESTMINSTER — Carroll County's building code could see several changes this year that would impact current and future homeowners.

The Board of County Commissioners is proposing amendments to the code, Chapter 97, and will host a public hearing Thursday, Feb. 4, at 11 a.m., in Room 311 of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster. Changes include:

* Requiring temporary safety fences around in-ground pools until permanent fences are installed;

* Requiring fire-resistant walls between tenant spaces in commercial buildings that don't have sprinklers;

* Clarifying sprinkler requirements for one- and two-family homes;

* Clarifying electrical requirements for fire and burglar alarm systems;

* Requiring copper conductors in unpaved areas where structural reinforcing steel is not available

* Clarifying the permitting process for farm buildings; and

* Adding specifications for multiple well systems.

The amendments would also adopt the current version of national and international construction codes, and delete provisions for privies and sewage waste haulers because those are now regulated in the Code of Maryland Regulations.

Copies of the proposed amendments are available on the Web site, ccgovernment.carr.org and through the Office of the County Attorney at 410-386-2030.

— Charles Schelle

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