Connecticut building code
The residential code in Connecticut is the 2021 International Residential Code portion of the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code1, effective 2.
On this page
Codes in force in Connecticut
Each code family with the edition and the date it took effect, as the adopting agency or statute states them.
| Code | Title as adopted | Model edition | Effective | Adopted by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Residential Code (IRC) | 2021 International Residential Code portion of the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code1 | 20211 | 2 | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| International Building Code (IBC) | 2021 International Building Code portion of the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code1 | 20211 | 2 | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| International Existing Building Code (IEBC) | 2021 International Existing Building Code portion of the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code1 | 20211 | 2 | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| International Plumbing Code (IPC) | 2021 International Plumbing Code portion of the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code1 | 20211 | 2 | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| International Mechanical Code (IMC) | 2021 International Mechanical Code portion of the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code1 | 20211 | 2 | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| Energy code, residential | 2021 International Energy Conservation Code portion of the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code1 | 20211 | 2 | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| Energy code, commercial | 2021 International Energy Conservation Code portion of the 2022 State Building Code1 | 20211 | 2 | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2020 NFPA 70, National Electrical Code1 | 20201 | 2 | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) | 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code portion of the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code1 | 20211 | 2 | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) | Not adopted1 | – | – | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) | Not adopted1 | – | – | State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services3 |
| International Fire Code (IFC) | 2022 Connecticut State Fire Safety Code1 | – | 4 | State Fire Marshal and Codes and Standards Committee3 |
Scope, amendments and transition rules
International Residential Code (IRC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere5
- Applies to
- Detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories, with accessory structures1
- Local amendments allowed?
Any town, city or borough or any interested person may propose amendments to the State Building Code, which proposed amendments may be either applicable to all municipalities or, where it is alleged and established that conditions exist within a municipality which are not generally found within other municipalities, any such amendment may be restricted in application to such municipality.
5- Amendments
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-254(a), 29-252b5
- Transition period
- No automatic grace period stated; primary permit application date governs; modification possible4
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) by ICC6
International Building Code (IBC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere5
- Local amendments allowed?
Any town, city or borough or any interested person may propose amendments to the State Building Code, which proposed amendments may be either applicable to all municipalities or, where it is alleged and established that conditions exist within a municipality which are not generally found within other municipalities, any such amendment may be restricted in application to such municipality.
5- Amendments
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-254(a), 29-252b5
- Transition period
- No automatic grace period stated; primary permit application date governs; modification possible4
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 International Building Code (IBC) by ICC6
International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere5
- Local amendments allowed?
Any town, city or borough or any interested person may propose amendments to the State Building Code, which proposed amendments may be either applicable to all municipalities or, where it is alleged and established that conditions exist within a municipality which are not generally found within other municipalities, any such amendment may be restricted in application to such municipality.
5- Amendments
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-254(a), 29-252b5
- Transition period
- No automatic grace period stated; primary permit application date governs; modification possible4
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) by ICC6
International Plumbing Code (IPC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere5
- Local amendments allowed?
Any town, city or borough or any interested person may propose amendments to the State Building Code, which proposed amendments may be either applicable to all municipalities or, where it is alleged and established that conditions exist within a municipality which are not generally found within other municipalities, any such amendment may be restricted in application to such municipality.
5- Amendments
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-254(a), 29-252b5
- Transition period
- No automatic grace period stated; primary permit application date governs; modification possible4
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) by ICC6
International Mechanical Code (IMC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere5
- Local amendments allowed?
Any town, city or borough or any interested person may propose amendments to the State Building Code, which proposed amendments may be either applicable to all municipalities or, where it is alleged and established that conditions exist within a municipality which are not generally found within other municipalities, any such amendment may be restricted in application to such municipality.
5- Amendments
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-254(a), 29-252b5
- Transition period
- No automatic grace period stated; primary permit application date governs; modification possible4
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) by ICC6
Energy code, residential
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere5
- Local amendments allowed?
Any town, city or borough or any interested person may propose amendments to the State Building Code, which proposed amendments may be either applicable to all municipalities or, where it is alleged and established that conditions exist within a municipality which are not generally found within other municipalities, any such amendment may be restricted in application to such municipality.
5- Amendments
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-254(a), 29-252b5
- Transition period
- No automatic grace period stated; primary permit application date governs; modification possible4
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by ICC6
Energy code, commercial
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere5
- Local amendments allowed?
Any town, city or borough or any interested person may propose amendments to the State Building Code, which proposed amendments may be either applicable to all municipalities or, where it is alleged and established that conditions exist within a municipality which are not generally found within other municipalities, any such amendment may be restricted in application to such municipality.
5- Amendments
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-254(a), 29-252b5
- Transition period
- No automatic grace period stated; primary permit application date governs; modification possible4
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by ICC6
National Electrical Code (NEC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere5
- Local amendments allowed?
Any town, city or borough or any interested person may propose amendments to the State Building Code, which proposed amendments may be either applicable to all municipalities or, where it is alleged and established that conditions exist within a municipality which are not generally found within other municipalities, any such amendment may be restricted in application to such municipality.
5- Amendments
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-254(a), 29-252b5
- Transition period
- No automatic grace period stated; primary permit application date governs; modification possible4
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2023 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC) by NFPA6
Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere5
- Local amendments allowed?
Any town, city or borough or any interested person may propose amendments to the State Building Code, which proposed amendments may be either applicable to all municipalities or, where it is alleged and established that conditions exist within a municipality which are not generally found within other municipalities, any such amendment may be restricted in application to such municipality.
5- Amendments
- Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-254(a), 29-252b5
- Transition period
- No automatic grace period stated; primary permit application date governs; modification possible4
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 International Swimming Pool & Spa Code (ISPSC) by ICC6
International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
- Scope
- No statewide code1
Property Maintenance Code (IPMC)
- Scope
- No statewide code1
International Fire Code (IFC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere3
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) by ICC6
How Connecticut adopts building codes
Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-252, 29-252b, 29-253, 29-254, 29-254a · in effect 2
- Statewide; applies everywhere.
The State Building Code, including any amendment to said code adopted by the State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, shall be the building code for all towns, cities and boroughs.
5 - State Building Inspector and Codes and Standards Committee, jointly, with approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services.
The State Building Inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee shall, jointly, with the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services and in accordance with the provisions of section 29-252b, adopt and administer a State Building Code based on a nationally recognized model building code…
3 - Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 29-254(a), 29-252b.
Each amendment to the State Building Code shall be adopted in accordance with the provisions of section 29-252b.
5 - State process only.
Any town, city or borough or any interested person may propose amendments to the State Building Code, which proposed amendments may be either applicable to all municipalities or, where it is alleged and established that conditions exist within a municipality which are not generally found within other municipalities, any such amendment may be restricted in application to such municipality.
5 Such amendments shall be limited to administrative matters, geotechnical and weather-related portions of said code, amendments to said code necessitated by a provision of the general statutes and any other matter which, based on substantial evidence, necessitates an amendment to said code.
3- 2 years; no revision required between the 2024 and 2030 model codes.
The [code] State Building Code shall be revised as deemed necessary to incorporate any subsequent revisions to the nationally recognized model building code not later than [eighteen [...] months] two years following the date of first publication of such subsequent revisions to the nationally recognized model building code, provided no revisions to the State Building Code shall be required after the first publication of revisions to the 2024 nationally recognized model code and prior to the first publication of revisions to the 2030 nationally recognized model code.
3 - October 1, 2022 (in effect).
2022 State Building Code - Effective 10/1/2022 (currently in effect)…
7 - 2021 model codes.
The 2022 Connecticut State Building Code is based on the International Code Council’s widely-adopted 2021 International Codes and references the ICC A117.1-2017 standard for accessibility, and applies to projects with permit applications filed from October 1, 2022.
2 - 2026 code delayed; no effective date.
The next state building, fire safety, and fire prevention codes were expected to take effect on July 1, 2026, but at this time, we await approval of the next codes by the Legislative Regulation Review Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly, and therefore the effective date has been delayed.
6 - Approval motion: yea 6, nay 7.
Action: Approval in whole w/ technical corrections [...] TOTALS Voting Yea Nay Abstain Absent and Not Voting Voice Vote 13 6 7 0 1…
8 - Rejection without prejudice: yea 8, nay 5.
Action: Rejection without prejudice [...] TOTALS Voting Yea Nay Abstain Absent and Not Voting Voice Vote 13 8 5 0 1…
9 - Last item listed for the code.
Vote Tally Sheet 2…
10 - Dec. 2025 vote on first submission.
Action: Rejection Without Prejudice [...] TOTALS Voting Yea Nay Abstain Absent and Not Voting Voice Vote 11 11 0 0 2…
11 - 30 days.
If the committee rejects a proposed code without prejudice, in whole or in part, the committee shall notify the State Building Inspector of the reasons for the rejection and the State Building Inspector shall resubmit the proposed code in revised form to the committee not later than thirty days after the date of rejection without prejudice.
5
- Can local rules be stricter?
- State process only5
For permits, exemptions and owner-builder rules, see Connecticut building permits. To compare editions across states, see the code adoption map.
Sources
- 2022 Connecticut State Building Code (w/ Errata #1)State of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services, Office of the State Building InspectorEffective October 1, 2022Checked November 7, 2026
- Connecticut State Building Code - RegulationsState of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services, Office of the State Building InspectorChecked November 5, 2026
- Public Act No. 26-58, An Act Concerning Revisions to the State Building Code, State Fire Prevention Code and Fire…State of Connecticut, General Assembly (Public Acts)Adopted May 26, 2026Checked November 5, 2026
- DAS 2022 Building and Fire CodesState of Connecticut, Department of Administrative ServicesPublished October 31, 2022Checked November 5, 2026
- Chapter 541 - Building, Fire and Demolition CodesState of Connecticut, General Assembly (Connecticut General Statutes)Revised January 1, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Building and Fire Code Adoption ProcessState of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services, Office of the State Building InspectorChecked November 5, 2026
- History of the Connecticut State Building CodeState of Connecticut, Department of Administrative Services, Office of the State Building InspectorChecked November 5, 2026
- Vote Tally Sheet 1, Resubmitted 2026 Connecticut State Building CodeState of Connecticut, General Assembly, Legislative Regulation Review CommitteeChecked November 5, 2026
- Vote Tally Sheet 2, Resubmitted 2026 Connecticut State Building CodeState of Connecticut, General Assembly, Legislative Regulation Review CommitteeChecked November 5, 2026
- Regulation Review Committee home page, Department of Administrative Services Codes file listState of Connecticut, General Assembly, Legislative Regulation Review CommitteeChecked November 5, 2026
- Vote Tally Sheet, 2026 Connecticut State Building CodeState of Connecticut, General Assembly, Legislative Regulation Review CommitteeChecked November 5, 2026