(a) The mayor and board of aldermen of a city, the selectboard of a town, or the trustees of an incorporated village, may, in accordance with this chapter, establish codes and regulations for the construction, maintenance, repair, and alteration of buildings and other structures within the municipality. Such codes and regulations may include provisions relating to building materials, structural design, passageways, stairways and exits, heating systems, fire protection procedures, and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of the public, but excluding electrical installations subject to regulation under 26 V.S.A. chapter 15.

(b) Any code or regulation under subsection (a) of this section shall be adopted, amended, or repealed and enforced pursuant to the provisions of chapter 59 of this title.

(c) When any municipality adopts or amends a building code, it shall impose requirements consistent with the current rules and standards adopted by the Commissioner of Public Safety under 20 V.S.A. chapter 173, subchapter 2.

(d) Upon the adoption or amendment of any code or regulation, at least one copy shall be filed in the office of the building inspector, and the office of the municipal clerk.

(e) The General Assembly may incorporate amendments to the code into the ordinance of all municipalities which have adopted the code, or designate allowable exceptions to the code.

(f) On or before January 1, 1984, each municipality which has in effect a building code which is not consistent with the rules and standards adopted by the Commissioner of Labor, shall substitute for such code a code which is consistent. (Amended 1967, No. 295 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 20, 1968; 1969, No. 284 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. date, see note set out below; 1973, No. 196 (Adj. Sess.),§§ 1, 2, eff. April 2, 1974; 1981, No. 121 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. March 3, 1982; 2003, No. 141 (Adj. Sess.), § 10, eff. April 1, 2005; 2005, No. 103 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 5, 2006.)