North Dakota building code

Codes in force in North Dakota

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

Adopted locally⁵

Applies to

Cities, townships and counties electing to enforce; all state and local government buildings; all public and private schools⁶

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

State amendments printed in the North Dakota State Building Code book, voted under N.D.A.C. art. 108-01¹

International Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

Adopted locally⁵

Applies to

Cities, townships and counties electing to enforce; all state and local government buildings; all public and private schools⁶

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

State amendments printed in the North Dakota State Building Code book, voted under N.D.A.C. art. 108-01¹

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Scope

Adopted locally⁵

Applies to

Cities, townships and counties electing to enforce; all state and local government buildings; all public and private schools⁶

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

State amendments printed in the North Dakota State Building Code book, voted under N.D.A.C. art. 108-01¹

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Scope

Adopted locally⁵

Applies to

Cities, townships and counties electing to enforce; all state and local government buildings; all public and private schools⁶

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

State amendments printed in the North Dakota State Building Code book, voted under N.D.A.C. art. 108-01¹

Energy code, residential

Scope

Adopted locally⁵

Applies to

Residential: 2024 IRC chapter 11 as amended, or the 2024 IECC as amended¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

State amendments printed in the North Dakota State Building Code book, voted under N.D.A.C. art. 108-01¹

Energy code, commercial

Scope

Adopted locally⁵

Applies to

Cities, townships and counties electing to enforce; all state and local government buildings; all public and private schools⁶

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

State amendments printed in the North Dakota State Building Code book, voted under N.D.A.C. art. 108-01¹

International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Scope

Adopted locally⁵

Applies to

Cities, townships and counties electing to enforce; all state and local government buildings; all public and private schools⁶

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

State amendments printed in the North Dakota State Building Code book, voted under N.D.A.C. art. 108-01¹

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere⁷

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁷

Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC)

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere⁴

How North Dakota adopts building codes

N.D.C.C. ch. 54-21.3; N.D.A.C. art. 108-01

• Commerce updates the code; it does not enforce it. Community Services is not involved in the enforcement of the State Building Code.²
• Enforcement is local and elective. This is the responsibility of jurisdictions that elect to adopt and enforce building codes.²
• Rulemaking duty and code families. The department of commerce, in cooperation with the state building code advisory committee, shall adopt rules to implement, amend, and periodically update the state building code, which must consist of the international building, residential, mechanical, and fuel gas codes.⁵
• Local governments that enforce must use the state code. The governing body of a city, township, or county that elects to administer and enforce a building code shall adopt and enforce the state building code.⁵
• Local amendments allowed. However, the state building code may be amended by cities, townships, and counties to conform to local needs.⁵
• Home rule cities may differ, but all that enforce use the same codes. Fully chartered home rule cities may adopt something other than the State Building Code, but at the present time, all that enforce a building code have elected to adopt the same individual codes that make up the State Building Code.²
• City and township enforcement area. A city or township may administer and enforce the state building code only within its jurisdictional area.⁵
• County enforcement area. A county may administer and enforce the state building code within those areas of the county in which the state building code is not administered by a city or township.⁵
• No sprinkler mandate for one- and two-unit homes. The state building code or a building code adopted by a city, township, or county may not include a requirement that fire sprinklers be installed in a single family dwelling or a residential building that contains no more than two dwelling units.⁵
• Electrical, plumbing and fire codes are separate. Except as specifically provided in this chapter, the following statewide codes are exempt from this chapter…⁵
• Published schedule set the effective date. January 1, 2026, effective date of the updated North Dakota State Building Code.⁸
• Local directory of enforcing jurisdictions. CODE ENFORCING JURISDICTIONS AS OF 2022…⁹
• Municipal power to require building permits and set fees. Building permits. To provide by ordinance and to fix the fees for the issuance of building permits.¹⁰
• Electrical wiring standards use the 2026 NEC. …must comply with the 2026 edition, National Electrical Code (first version, printed in 2025).¹¹
• No appendices adopted. NO APPENDICES ARE ADOPTED…¹
• Jurisdictions off the list may still enforce. Jurisdictions not on this list may have elected to adopt the State Building Code; therefore, we advise contacting the local governing body to confirm building code requirements.¹

Applies to

Cities, townships and counties that elect to enforce⁶

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes⁵

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