Sec. 233.153.  BUILDING CODE STANDARDS APPLICABLE.  (a)  New residential construction of a single-family house or duplex in the unincorporated area of a county to which this subchapter applies shall conform to the version of the International Residential Code published as of May 1, 2008, or the version of the International Residential Code that is applicable in the county seat of that county.
(b)  Standards required under this subchapter apply only to new residential construction that begins after September 1, 2009.
(c)  If a municipality located within a county to which this subchapter applies has adopted a building code in the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction, the building code adopted by the municipality controls and building code standards under this subchapter have no effect in the municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction.
(d)  This subchapter may not be construed to:
(1)  require prior approval by the county before the beginning of new residential construction;
(2)  authorize the commissioners court of a county to adopt or enforce zoning regulations; or
(3)  affect the application of the provisions of Subchapter B, Chapter 232, to land development.
(e)  In the event of a conflict between this subchapter and Subchapter B, Chapter 232, the provisions of Subchapter B, Chapter 232, control.
(f)  A county may not charge a fee to a person subject to standards under this subchapter to defray the costs of enforcing the standards.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1318 (H.B. 2833), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2009.