There is a statewide residential code enforcement program that came into effect in 2010, which individual cities and areas can “opt out” of, but if they don’t, state permits are required for residential construction (and state will provide enforcement). Individual jurisdictions adopt their own codes (commercial included); the state code based on the 2012 IBC is applicable to all structures, but enforcement in terms of plan review and inspection only applies to certain occupancies. State codes may be amended locally to be more restrictive than the state code; jurisdictions that do not rely on the state for enforcement and larger jurisdictions may “opt out” (they are “exempt” jurisdictions) and adopt any code they want, as long as it’s within 7 years of the most current edition of the I-Codes. Most major jurisdictions have adopted more current editions of the International Codes.

Page last updated: December 2023