North Carolina building code
The residential code in North Carolina is the 2018 North Carolina Residential Code (2015 IRC base)1, effective 1.
On this page
Codes in force in North Carolina
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Residential Code (IRC) | 2018 North Carolina Residential Code (2015 IRC base)1 | 20151 | 1 |
| International Building Code (IBC) | 2018 North Carolina Building Code (based on the 2015 IBC)1 | 20151 | 1 |
| International Existing Building Code (IEBC) | 2018 North Carolina Existing Building Code1 | 20151 | 1 |
| International Fire Code (IFC) | 2018 North Carolina Fire Code1 | 20151 | 1 |
| International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) | 2018 North Carolina Fuel Gas Code1 | 20151 | 1 |
| International Mechanical Code (IMC) | 2018 North Carolina Mechanical Code1 | 20151 | 1 |
| International Plumbing Code (IPC) | 2018 North Carolina Plumbing Code1 | 20151 | 1 |
| Energy code, residential | 2018 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code1 | 20151 | 1 |
| Energy code, commercial | 2018 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code1 | 20151 | 1 |
| National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2020 State Electrical Code (2020 NEC with State Amendments; excluding one- and two-family dwellings)3 | 20203 | 3 |
Adopted by: North Carolina Building Code Council (BCC)2.
Scope, amendments and transition rules
International Residential Code (IRC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere2
- Applies to
- Statewide (all NC jurisdictions; enforced by municipal, county or joint inspection departments)4
- Amendments
- 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission1
- Transition period
- 2024 Code may be used at owner/agent request before its effective date5
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 North Carolina State Building Code: adopted, effective date not yet set (12 months after State Fire Marshal certification under S.L. 2025-2 s. 5.12(b))5
International Building Code (IBC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere2
- Applies to
- Statewide (all NC jurisdictions; enforced by municipal, county or joint inspection departments)4
- Amendments
- 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission1
- Transition period
- 2024 Code may be used at owner/agent request before its effective date5
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 North Carolina State Building Code: adopted, effective date not yet set (12 months after State Fire Marshal certification under S.L. 2025-2 s. 5.12(b))5
International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere2
- Applies to
- Statewide (all NC jurisdictions; enforced by municipal, county or joint inspection departments)4
- Amendments
- 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission1
- Transition period
- 2024 Code may be used at owner/agent request before its effective date5
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 North Carolina State Building Code: adopted, effective date not yet set (12 months after State Fire Marshal certification under S.L. 2025-2 s. 5.12(b))5
International Fire Code (IFC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere2
- Applies to
- Statewide (all NC jurisdictions; enforced by municipal, county or joint inspection departments)4
- Amendments
- 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission1
- Transition period
- 2024 Code may be used at owner/agent request before its effective date5
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 North Carolina State Building Code: adopted, effective date not yet set (12 months after State Fire Marshal certification under S.L. 2025-2 s. 5.12(b))5
International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere2
- Applies to
- Statewide (all NC jurisdictions; enforced by municipal, county or joint inspection departments)4
- Amendments
- 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission1
- Transition period
- 2024 Code may be used at owner/agent request before its effective date5
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 North Carolina State Building Code: adopted, effective date not yet set (12 months after State Fire Marshal certification under S.L. 2025-2 s. 5.12(b))5
International Mechanical Code (IMC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere2
- Applies to
- Statewide (all NC jurisdictions; enforced by municipal, county or joint inspection departments)4
- Amendments
- 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission1
- Transition period
- 2024 Code may be used at owner/agent request before its effective date5
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 North Carolina State Building Code: adopted, effective date not yet set (12 months after State Fire Marshal certification under S.L. 2025-2 s. 5.12(b))5
International Plumbing Code (IPC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere2
- Applies to
- Statewide (all NC jurisdictions; enforced by municipal, county or joint inspection departments)4
- Amendments
- 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission1
- Transition period
- 2024 Code may be used at owner/agent request before its effective date5
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 North Carolina State Building Code: adopted, effective date not yet set (12 months after State Fire Marshal certification under S.L. 2025-2 s. 5.12(b))5
Energy code, residential
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere2
- Applies to
- Statewide (all NC jurisdictions; enforced by municipal, county or joint inspection departments)4
- Amendments
- 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission1
- Transition period
- 2024 Code may be used at owner/agent request before its effective date5
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 North Carolina State Building Code: adopted, effective date not yet set (12 months after State Fire Marshal certification under S.L. 2025-2 s. 5.12(b))5
Energy code, commercial
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere2
- Applies to
- Statewide (all NC jurisdictions; enforced by municipal, county or joint inspection departments)4
- Amendments
- 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission1
- Transition period
- 2024 Code may be used at owner/agent request before its effective date5
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2024 North Carolina State Building Code: adopted, effective date not yet set (12 months after State Fire Marshal certification under S.L. 2025-2 s. 5.12(b))5
National Electrical Code (NEC)
- Scope
- Statewide; applies everywhere2
- Applies to
- Statewide (all NC jurisdictions; enforced by municipal, county or joint inspection departments)4
- Transition period
- 2024 Code may be used at owner/agent request before its effective date5
- Next edition (not yet in force)
- 2023 State Electrical Code (2023 NEC): effective date indefinitely delayed3
How North Carolina adopts building codes
N.C.G.S. § 143-138 (North Carolina State Building Code); N.C.G.S. §§ 160D-1102, 160D-1104; S.L. 2025-2, s. 5.12(b)
- Statewide; applies everywhere.
The NC State Building Code is adopted and amended by the NC Building Code Council for implementation across the state.
2 - 2018 NC Codes based on the 2015 International Codes, effective 1/1/2019.
The 2018 NC Codes (Effective 1/1/2019) include the 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission along with the 2015 International Codes.
1 - 2018 Residential Code currently effective.
The 2018 Residential Code was effective from January 1, 2019 and is currently effective.
1 - 2020 State Electrical Code current (one- and two-family dwellings excluded).
Effective: November 1, 2021 - Current Code…
3 - 2017 State Electrical Code for all structures within the NC Residential Code scope (R101.2).
Therefore, the electrical systems of all structures described in the scope of section R101.2 of the Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings are regulated by the 2017 State Electrical Code.
6 - 2024 Code delayed by S.L. 2024-57 to July 1, 2025, then further by S.L. 2025-2.
Pursuant to S.L. 2024-57, the General Assembly delayed the effective date of the 2024 Code to July 1, 2025.
5 - 2024 Code effective 12 months after State Fire Marshal certification.
Section 5.12(b) of S.L. 2025-2 provides that the 2024 Code will become effective 12 months after the State Fire Marshal certifies that the following events have occurred…
5 - Condition: Residential Code Council fully constituted.
(2) The Residential Code Council is fully constituted in accordance with the membership requirements set forth in G.S. 143-136.1.
5 - 2024 NC State Building Code components (2021 I-codes base, 2023 NEC).
…the 2023 North Carolina Electrical Code; and (10) the 2024 North Carolina Administrative Code and Policies – have been adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission.
5 - 2024 NC Residential Code is based on the 2021 IRC.
10. 2024 North Carolina Residential Code (2021 IRC with NC Amendments)…
7 - 2024 NC Building Code is based on the 2021 IBC.
2. 2024 North Carolina Building Code (2021 IBC with NC Amendments)…
7 - 2018 code remains enforced until 2024 effective date unless owner opts in.
Until the to-be- determined effective date of the 2024 Code, the 2018 North Carolina State Building Code remains in full force and should continue to be enforced as the governing standard, unless a building owner or his agent requests that the 2024 Code be applied to the project.
5 - As of November 2026 the 2024 effective date is still pending.
It is still a moving date, and we will update this as it changes, but as of this writing (November 2026) this letter is still current.
8 - Residential Code Council membership not yet determined.
Council members have yet to be determined in accordance with N.C.G.S. 143-136.1…
2 - Code administration moving to NC Department of Labor on January 1, 2027.
The most obvious news item is the scheduled transfer of the Engineering Department to the NC Department of Labor, to occur January 1, 2027, see the Current Topics section next for this update.
8
- Applies to
- Local government (municipal, county or joint inspection department)4
Residential code in North Carolina cities
The edition each city enforces, from the city’s own adoption page or ordinance.
For permits, exemptions and owner-builder rules, see North Carolina building permits. To compare editions across states, see the code adoption map.
Sources
- Codes - Current and Past | OSFMNorth Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Engineering DivisionChecked November 6, 2026
- Codes | OSFMNorth Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Engineering DivisionChecked November 6, 2026
- State Electrical Code and Interpretations | OSFMNorth Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal, State Electrical DivisionChecked November 6, 2026
- 2018 NC State Administrative Code Amendments (adopted December 2017 through December 2024)North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Engineering DivisionPublished January 7, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Update Regarding the Effective Date of the 2024 North Carolina State Building Code (letter to NC code officials)North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal (State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor)Published March 31, 2025Checked November 6, 2026
- Application of the 2020 State Electrical Code with Respect to the Scope of the Residential Code for One- and…North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal, State Electrical DivisionPublished November 1, 2021Checked November 6, 2026
- Rules Review Commission links to the 2024 North Carolina State Building Code as of 4/3/25North Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Engineering DivisionPublished April 3, 2025Checked November 6, 2026
- Engineering Newsletter - November 2026North Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Engineering DivisionPublished October 30, 2026Checked November 6, 2026