The Mountain Home City Council has officially retired its 1979 energy standards, voting unanimously Thursday to adopt the 2014 Arkansas Energy Code. The council also began reviewing updates to its electrical code, which would replace conflicting ordinances from 1997 and 2005 with state-aligned standards.
Building Official Clay Strain, who presented the proposals, acknowledged how delayed the city’s standards had become. “Obviously, we’re still in 1979,” he remarked. Strain emphasized the interconnected nature of the energy code, explaining that it affects multiple other building codes, including electrical and mechanical standards. The primary purpose, he said, is to lower energy costs by setting efficiency benchmarks.
The 2014 Arkansas Energy Code requires minimum insulation levels for walls and attics, insulated ductwork, and properly sized heating and cooling systems. It also sets lighting efficiency standards, though changes in consumer lighting products have made some of these requirements less impactful. Strain clarified that the updated energy rules will apply to new construction and renovations, but only to the portions of a property undergoing significant alterations. For example, homeowners would be required to install insulation if walls are opened during remodeling but would not need to meet the new standards for cosmetic changes like painting or replacing flooring.
According to Strain, adopting the 2014 energy code aligns Mountain Home with state requirements and ensures compliance with future updates from the International Code Council. The new energy rules will take effect on November 15, with penalties for violations ranging from $100 to $200 per day.
The council also took up the first reading of a proposed ordinance to update the city’s electrical code by adopting the state-amended 2026 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC). If passed, this rewrite would eliminate outdated provisions and bring local electrical standards in line with current practices. Strain highlighted the significance of the NEC, describing it as “the Bible” for safe electrical installation. Since September 23, Arkansas law has required cities to adopt the 2026 NEC within 90 days.
The proposed ordinance also includes local amendments. For example, while the 2026 national code bans electrical outlets on kitchen islands, Arkansas retained a 2020 provision allowing them. Additionally, Mountain Home plans to add a rule requiring ground fault protection for general outlets in laundry rooms, a safeguard removed by the national code except in rooms with mop sinks. Some older provisions, such as a local rule around wire sizes, would be eliminated to reduce confusion and match national standards. Strain noted that changing wire requirements from 12-gauge to 14-gauge could make wiring homes more cost-effective.
Though future electrical work must comply with the updated code, the ordinance would grandfather existing wiring unless modifications are made. Work such as adding circuits or installing generators must meet the newer standards. Strain added that most professional electricians in the area already follow state requirements, even when the city’s regulations lag behind.
Permit fees for electrical work will remain unchanged. Homeowners can still complete electrical projects themselves on the property they live in, provided they obtain permits and pass inspections.
Strain requested that the council hold off on passing the electrical ordinance before its next meeting, noting that letters mailed to contractors about the proposed changes had only just arrived that morning. A vote on the second and third readings is expected at the council’s next session, ensuring the city can meet the state’s compliance deadline. Like the energy ordinance, the updated electrical code is slated to take effect on November 15.