New York building code

Codes in force in New York

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

Adopted by: State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council (rule filed by NY Department of State)¹.

Scope, amendments and transition rules

International Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

New York State outside New York City⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

Amendments

19 NYCRR Parts 1219 to 1229¹

Transition period

Option to comply with 2020 or 2025 Uniform Code between publication of the Notice of Adoption (State Register, October 1, 2025) and December 31, 2025¹

International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

New York State outside New York City⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

Amendments

19 NYCRR Parts 1219 to 1229¹

Transition period

Option to comply with 2020 or 2025 Uniform Code between publication of the Notice of Adoption (State Register, October 1, 2025) and December 31, 2025¹

International Plumbing Code (IPC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

New York State outside New York City⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

Amendments

19 NYCRR Parts 1219 to 1229¹

Transition period

Option to comply with 2020 or 2025 Uniform Code between publication of the Notice of Adoption (State Register, October 1, 2025) and December 31, 2025¹

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

New York State outside New York City⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

Amendments

19 NYCRR Parts 1219 to 1229¹

Transition period

Option to comply with 2020 or 2025 Uniform Code between publication of the Notice of Adoption (State Register, October 1, 2025) and December 31, 2025¹

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

New York State outside New York City⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

Amendments

19 NYCRR Parts 1219 to 1229¹

Transition period

Option to comply with 2020 or 2025 Uniform Code between publication of the Notice of Adoption (State Register, October 1, 2025) and December 31, 2025¹

International Fire Code (IFC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

New York State outside New York City⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

Amendments

19 NYCRR Parts 1219 to 1229¹

Transition period

Option to comply with 2020 or 2025 Uniform Code between publication of the Notice of Adoption (State Register, October 1, 2025) and December 31, 2025¹

Property Maintenance Code (IPMC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

New York State outside New York City⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

Amendments

19 NYCRR Parts 1219 to 1229¹

Transition period

Option to comply with 2020 or 2025 Uniform Code between publication of the Notice of Adoption (State Register, October 1, 2025) and December 31, 2025¹

International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further³

Applies to

New York State outside New York City⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes³

Amendments

19 NYCRR Parts 1219 to 1229¹

Transition period

Option to comply with 2020 or 2025 Uniform Code between publication of the Notice of Adoption (State Register, October 1, 2025) and December 31, 2025¹

Energy code, residential

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further⁵

Applies to

All of New York State, including New York City (NYC has an approved local energy code)²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

19 NYCRR Part 1240¹

Transition period

None¹

Energy code, commercial

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further⁵

Applies to

All of New York State, including New York City (NYC has an approved local energy code)²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

19 NYCRR Part 1240¹

Transition period

None¹

How New York adopts building codes

N.Y. Exec. Law Art. 18 (§§ 370-383); N.Y. Energy Law Art. 11; 19 NYCRR Parts 1219-1229, 1240

• New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and State Energy Conservation Construction Code, 2025 editions. New York State has adopted the 2025 Uniform Code of New York State and the 2025 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State, based on the 2024 International Code Council (ICC) books with New York State specific amendments included.²
• Effective December 31, 2025. Effective Date: The effective date of the 2025 NYS Uniform Code is December 31, 2025.¹
• Effective December 31, 2025. Effective Date: The effective date of the modifications to Part 1240 is December 31, 2025. There is no transition period.¹
• State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council. On July 25, 2025, the State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council (the “Code Council”) adopted rules that amended and updated the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (the “Uniform Code”) and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code (the “Energy Code”).¹
• Local enforcement. …every local government shall administer and enforce the uniform fire prevention and building code and the state energy conservation construction code on and after the first day of January, nineteen hundred eighty-four…⁶
• Local enforcement. In general, every city, town, village, and county is charged with administering and enforcing the Uniform Code and Energy Code within its jurisdiction.²
• NYC keeps its own building and fire codes. That, in cities with a population of over one million, the existing building and fire prevention codes shall continue in full force and effect beyond January one, nineteen hundred eighty-four unless the council, after analysis and consultation with the building and fire officials of such cities, shall determine that said local code provisions are less stringent than the uniform code.⁴
• NYC keeps its own building codes. Due to its population, New York City is allowed to adopt separate building codes than the rest of the state.²
• Fossil-fuel equipment ban in new buildings suspended. Implementation and enforcement of the 2025 provisions of the Energy Code and Uniform Code that prohibit the installation of fossil-fuel equipment and building systems in new buildings, found at 19 NYCRR Section 1240.6 and Subpart 1229-2, continues to be suspended by Court Order (see here) and are neither effective nor enforceable.¹

Applies to

Statewide except New York City for the Uniform Code⁴

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes³

What local governments may change

N.Y. Exec. Law §§ 379, 383(1)

• …the legislative body of any local government may duly enact or adopt local laws or ordinances imposing higher or more restrictive standards for construction within the jurisdiction of such local government than are applicable generally to such local government in the uniform code.³
• Code Council approval required. Such local laws or ordinances shall take full force and effect upon an affirmative determination by the council as provided herein.³
• Cannot weaken the Uniform Code. …no municipality shall have the power to supersede, void, repeal or make more or less restrictive any provisions of this article or of rules or regulations made pursuant hereto.³
• Uniform Code supersedes inconsistent local law. The provisions of this article and of the uniform fire prevention and building code shall supersede any other provision of a general, special or local law, ordinance, administrative code, rule or regulation inconsistent or in conflict therewith provided however…⁴

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes³

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