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Building Codes By State

Untitled Document
U.S. BUILDING CODES
Residential and Commercial Building Codes

This map represents adopted International Codes for residential and commercial construction, including state-developed codes that meet or exceed the indicated version. Although states may adopt a model building code, changes made during the process often vastly alter the adopted code. Cities shown are profiled in detail below.

Research by Jane Holtje, Lorin Hancock and Amanda Behnke

  States with International Building Code and International Residential Code
  States with IBC statewide and IRC adopted locally
  States with both IBC and IRC adopted locally
  States with IBC adopted statewide and locally developed residential codes
  Hawaii-developed codes are adopted and enforced by specific counties. Hawaiian officials work toward adopting International Codes.
Sources: International Code Council, www.iccsafe.org; Reed Construction Data, www.firstsourceonl.com; American Architectural Manufacturers Association, www.aamanet.org.
State Code *Notes
Alabama 2003 IBC 2003 IBC adopted by Alabama Building Commission for state buildings and construction, schools, hotels and movie theatres.
Alaska 2003 IBC  
Arizona 2000 IBC  
Arkansas 2000 IBC/2000 IRC  
California 2006 IBC 2006 IBC effective January 2008.
Colorado 2003 IBC/2003 IRC 2003 IBC adopted by several state departments including fire safety; 2003 IRC adopted by two state departments and some localities.
Connecticut 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
Delaware    
Florida 2003 UBC/2003 IRC  
Georgia 2006 IBC/2006IRC  
Hawaii    
Idaho 2006 IBC/2006 IRC  
Illinois 2000, 2003 IBC 2000 and 2003 IBC adopted by state departments of health and state departments of education, respectively, and locally.
Indiana 2000 IBC/2003 IRC  
Iowa 2006 IBC/2006 IRC  
Kansas 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
Kentucky 2000 IBC/ 2000 IRC  
Louisiana 2006 IBC/ 2006 IRC  
Maine 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
Maryland 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
Massachusetts 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
Michigan 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
Minnesota 2000 IBC/2000 IRC  
Mississippi    
Missouri    
Montana 2006 IBC/2006 IRC  
Nebraska 2000 IBC/2000 IRC  
Nevada 2003 IBC/2003 IRC 2003 IBC and 2003 IRC adopted by state public-works board and locally.
New Hampshire 2000 IBC/2000 IRC  
New Jersey 2006 IBC/2006 IRC  
New Mexico 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
New York 2000 IBC/2000 IRC  
North Carolina 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
North Dakota 2003 IBC/2003 IRC 2003 IBC and 2003 IRC mandatory statewide for schools and state buildings. Also adopted on local level.
Ohio 2006 IBC/2003 IRC 2006 IBC adopted but may not yet be effective.
Oklahoma 2003 IBC/2003 IRC 2003 IBC with 2004 supplement.
Oregon 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
Pennsylvania 2006 IBC/2006 IRC  
Rhode Island 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
South Carolina 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
South Dakota 2000 IBC/2000 IRC 2000 IBC and 2000 IRC adopted by state department of health and locally.
Tennessee    
Texas 2003 IBC/2000 IRC  
Utah 2006 IBC/2006 IRC  
Vermont 2003 IBC  
Virginia 2003 IBC/2003 IRC  
Washington 2006 IBC/2006 IRC  
West Virginia 2000 IBC/2000 IRC  
Wisconsin 2000 IBC  
Wyoming 2000 IBC  
 
Commercial and residential building codes for selected U.S. Cities
City Commercial Building Code Residential Building Code Web Site
New York New York City Building Code (2003 IBC) New York State Residential Code (2006 IRC) www.nyc.gov/buildings
Los Angeles 2006 IBC, effective January 2008 Residential applications also governed by the 2006 IBC http://www.lacity.org/LADBS/permits/codes.htm
Chicago Chicago Building Code None http://egov.cityofchicago.org
Houston 2003 IBC 2000 IRC

http://www.publicworks.houstontx.gov/planning/enforcement/codeupdates_amend.htm

Philadelphia Philadelphia Building Code (2006 IBC) The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code (2006 IRC) http://www.phila.gov/LI/codes/2007_Amendments.pdf
Phoenix 2006 IBC (adopted but may not yet be effective) 2006 IRC (adopted but may not yet be effective http://phoenix.gov/DEVPRO/bldproc2.html
San Antonio 2006 IBC 2006 IRC http://www.sanantonio.gov/dsd/codes.asp?res+1280&ver+true
Jacksonville 2003 IBC 2003 IRC http://www.floridabuilding.org/BCISOld/common/c_about.asp
Indianapolis 2000 IBC 2003 IRC http://www.in.gov/dhs/fire/branches/building%20code/index.html
Detroit 2003 Michigan Building Code (2003 IBC) 2003 Michigan Residental Code (2003 IRC) http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/bsed/default.htm
San Francisco 2006 IBC (effective January 2008) Residential applications also governed by the 2006 IBC http://www.sfgov.org/site/dbi_index.asp
Boston 2003 IBC (adopted but may not yet be effective) 2003 IRC http://www.cityofboston.gov/isd/building/
Columbus 2003 IBC 2003 IRC http://td.ci.columbus.oh.us/contractorsanddevelopers/BuildingCodes/index.asp
New Orleans 2006 IBC 2006 IRC http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?tabid=54
Atlanta 2006 IBC 2006 IRC http://www.atlantaga.gov/government/planning/codescomplaintsprocess050306.aspx
Denver 2003 with 2004 Denver-specific amendments 2003 with 2004 Denver-specfic amendmetns http://www.denvergov.org/Default.aspx?alias=www.denvergov.org/Building_Code
Cites chosen with reference to population, geographic location and rate of growth.
Source: International Code Council, www.iccsafe.org; First Source, www.reedfirstsource.com; state and local websites