Nebraska building code

Codes in force in Nebraska

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 Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

Adopted locally¹

Applies to

Counties, cities and villages without their own adopted code; farm buildings exempt¹

Transition period

State code applies by default if no local code adopted within two years of a state update¹

International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Adopted locally¹

Applies to

Counties, cities and villages without their own adopted code; farm buildings exempt¹

Transition period

State code applies by default if no local code adopted within two years of a state update¹

International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Scope

Adopted locally¹

Applies to

Counties, cities and villages without their own adopted code; farm buildings exempt¹

Transition period

State code applies by default if no local code adopted within two years of a state update¹

Energy code, residential

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further⁶

Applies to

New buildings, additions and renovations of one- and two-family dwellings, townhouses and low-rise Group R⁶

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁶

Amendments

No residential state amendments⁷

Energy code, commercial

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further⁶

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁶

Amendments

Commercial state amendments exist⁷

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

State inspection applies unless a county, city or village runs its own program meeting state minimums³

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

How Nebraska adopts building codes

Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 71-6401 to 71-6407; LB348 and LB96 (2019); §§ 81-2104, 81-2125; § 81-1618

• 2018 IBC, IRC and IEBC adopted as state code. LB348, [...] adopts the 2018 version of the International Building Code, the International Residential Code and the International Existing Building Code as published by the International Code Council. [...] Lawmakers passed the bill on a 41-6 vote.¹
• Prior edition was 2012. Nebraska had been using the 2012 edition of the ICC codes.¹
• State code is the default where no local code adopted within two years of an update. LB96, [...] makes the state building code applicable in any county, city or village that does not adopt a building code within two years of an update to the state building code. [...] Senators approved LB96 on a 39-0 vote.¹
• Farm buildings exempt. Any building that is on a farm or is used for farm purposes is exempt.¹
• Radon-resistant construction standards in state code. A bill that requires the state’s building code to include standards for radon-resistant construction for new residential, commercial, educational and medical structures passed 40-4.¹
• Energy code statewide at 2018 IECC. The unamended 2018 IECC was adopted in Nebraska statewide on July 1, 2020.⁶
• State enforces energy code where no local code. If a local jurisdiction has not adopted an energy code, the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Planning and Aid Division will enforce the code.²
• NEC 2023 with 2017 carve-outs. In adopting and promulgating such rules and regulations, the board shall be governed by the minimum standards set forth in the National Electrical Code issued and adopted by the National Fire Protection Association beginning in 2023 edition of the National Electrical Code, Publication Number 70-2023, except that the minimum standards set forth in the 2017 edition of the National Electrical Code shall apply for sections 210.8(A), 210.8(A)(3), 210.8(A)(5), 230.67(A), and 230.85.³

Applies to

State code default for counties, cities, villages without own code¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Local electrical standards may not be less than state³

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