My app developer is now coming to us saying that the Apple store changes its code requirements every couple years, and that it will require practically a complete rewrite of the original code. Is this true?
Apple Code Change
No, it is absolutely not the case. Have you specific example ? May be your developer is fooling you (asking for extra cost ?).
There are effectively new rules regularly, which may require some adaptation (like asking for user authorisation to do something), requirements to use newer versions of Xcode (but only for updates), API changes (but here also, will only concern new updates, does not obsolete existing app).
So you should ask your developer to explicit the point.
the Apple store changes its code requirements every couple years
true
it will require practically a complete rewrite of the original code
false
In the early years of Swift, the language evolved very quickly, requiring major changes each year.
We may now be seeing a similar evolution with SwiftUI.
Related (non-code) issues also change, like privacy and App Tracking Transparency requirements.
Existing apps will often continue to run, but changes to iOS, and new device sizes, can require an app update.