Alaska building code

Codes in force in Alaska

Each code family with the edition and the date it took effect, as the adopting agency or statute states them.

Scope, amendments and transition rules

International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

Commercial and 4+ dwelling units²

Local amendments allowed?

Local standards may not be less stringent without approval¹

Amendments

13 AAC 50.020¹

International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

Commercial and 4+ dwelling units²

Local amendments allowed?

Local standards may not be less stringent without approval¹

Amendments

13 AAC 50.021¹

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

Commercial and 4+ dwelling units²

Local amendments allowed?

Local standards may not be less stringent without approval¹

Amendments

13 AAC 50.023¹

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

Commercial and 4+ dwelling units²

Local amendments allowed?

Local standards may not be less stringent without approval¹

Amendments

13 AAC 50.024¹

International Fire Code (IFC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

Commercial and 4+ dwelling units²

Local amendments allowed?

Local standards may not be less stringent without approval¹

Amendments

13 AAC 50.025¹

Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

Municipalities or unorganized villages under 2,500 population exempt from AS 18.60.705-18.60.740²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

8 AAC 63.010¹

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

8 AAC 70.025¹

Energy code, residential

Scope

No statewide code¹

Applies to

State-financed buildings¹

Energy code, commercial

Scope

No statewide code¹

Applies to

State-financed buildings¹

International Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

No statewide code³

Applies to

AHFC-funded residential work³

How Alaska adopts building codes

AS 18.70.080; 13 AAC 50; AS 18.60.580; 8 AAC 70.025; AS 18.60.705; 8 AAC 63.010; 15 AAC 155.010

• Commercial and 4+ dwelling units. …fire and life safety criteria in commercial, industrial, business, institutional, or other public buildings, and buildings used for residential purposes containing four or more dwelling units…²
• Building excludes under 4 units. In this chapter, “building” means a structure, installation, facility, or edifice erected or in the process of being erected and that is used or intended for use as a commercial, industrial, business, institutional, other public building, or residential building containing four or more dwelling units.²
• Detached 1-3 family dwellings excepted from IBC scope. 1. Detached one-, two-, and three-family dwellings.¹
• The International Building Code 2021 Edition (IBC), Chapters 1 - 12, 14 - 28, and 30 - 35, and Appendix C are adopted by reference to regulate all occupancies and buildings…¹
• (a) The 2020 Edition of NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, issued by the National Fire Protection Association on August 5, 2019, and approved by the American National Standards Institute on August 25, 2019, constitutes the minimum electrical code for the state and is adopted by reference.¹
• Minimum plumbing standards. (a) The codes set out in this section are adopted in accordance with AS 18.60.705 as the minimum plumbing standards to be followed throughout the state, except as provided under AS 18.60.710 or 18.60.735.¹
• The International Energy Conservation Code of 2018, with Alaska-specific amendments dated November 28, 2018, which are adopted by reference, shall constitute the building energy efficiency standards for Alaska.¹
• Home Rule. Current State Code Home Rule Home Rule…⁴
• Voluntary. Enforcement Voluntary Voluntary…⁴
• AHFC IRC for financed housing. These amendments comprise the Minimum Construction Standards for AHFC-funded residential mortgage loans, energy rebates, and energy retrofits of public buildings.³
• Financing tied to municipal or state codes. …the unit is in compliance with the construction codes of the municipality, if the unit is located within a municipality that has adopted and enforces construction codes and each of those codes meets or exceeds the comparable standards for similar housing established by the state building code…²
• Sprinkler limit on municipalities. (a) Except as provided by (b) of this section, a municipality may not require a sprinkler fire protection system to be included in the construction of all new single-family residential buildings or in the construction of all new residential buildings with not more than two dwelling units.²
• Deferral to local plan review. The state fire marshal may exempt a municipality from compliance with the requirements of 13 AAC 50.027, if the municipality…¹
• List of deferred communities. The following communities have received deferrals and handle plan review locally.⁵

Applies to

Commercial and 4+ unit residential²

Can local rules be stricter?

Local standards may not be less stringent without approval¹

For permits, exemptions and owner-builder rules, see Alaska building permits. To compare editions across states, see the code adoption map.