North Dakota

North Dakota Department of Commerce
Division of Community Services (DCS)

Current Codes and Edition Adopted:
2021 International Building Code (IBC)
2021 International Residential Code (IRC)
2018 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code
2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
Applicability (statewide, local, limited): LIMITED

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. 

Tall Mass Timber Adoption

The tall mass timber provisions went into effect in 2023.

Amendments Disadvantaging Wood Construction:

Code amendments do not involve subjects impacting wood construction. 

Expected date most recent code will be adopted:

North Dakota has adopted the latest version of the IBC and IRC. 

Next Update Cycle:

North Dakota went live with the 2021 IBC and IRC on 1/1/2023 

Notes:

North Dakota adopted the 2018 editions of the I-Codes in September of 2019. 

Page last updated: January 2023