North Dakota Department of Commerce
Division of Community Services (DCS)
(701) 390-4806
Community Services: Building Codes (nd.gov)
The North Dakota Division of Community Services (DCS) is assigned the responsibility of updating and amending the North Dakota State Building Code. The DCS is not involved in the enforcement of the State Building Code. Plan review, enforcement, inspection is the responsibility of jurisdictions that elect to adopt and enforce building codes.
If a city, county, or township elects to adopt and enforce building codes, it must adopt and enforce the State Building Code. However, a jurisdiction is permitted to further amend the State Building Code to conform to local needs.
The tall mass timber provisions went into effect in 2023.
Code amendments do not involve subjects impacting wood construction.
North Dakota has adopted the latest version of the IBC and IRC.
North Dakota went live with the 2021 IBC and IRC on 1/1/2023
North Dakota adopted the 2018 editions of the I-Codes in September of 2019.
Page last updated: January 2023