Pennsylvania building code

Codes in force in Pennsylvania

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

Adopted by: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (final-omitted rulemaking, 55 Pa.B. 7701)¹.

Scope, amendments and transition rules

International Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

All buildings in Pennsylvania, subject to statutory exclusions²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

All buildings in Pennsylvania, subject to statutory exclusions²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

All buildings in Pennsylvania, subject to statutory exclusions²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

All buildings in Pennsylvania, subject to statutory exclusions²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

All buildings in Pennsylvania, subject to statutory exclusions²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

International Plumbing Code (IPC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

Not administered by municipalities within a county of the second class¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

Energy code, residential

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

Residential provisions adopted with listed modifications¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

Energy code, commercial

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

Commercial provisions adopted with listed modifications¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

International Fire Code (IFC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

Only to the extent referenced by other adopted ICC codes¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

All buildings in Pennsylvania, subject to statutory exclusions²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further¹

Applies to

All buildings in Pennsylvania, subject to statutory exclusions²

Local amendments allowed?

Yes²

Amendments

34 Pa. Code § 403.21¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 ICC codes under Review and Advisory Council review³

How Pennsylvania adopts building codes

Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, 35 P.S. § 7210.101 et seq.; 34 Pa. Code § 403.21

• 2021 ICC codes adopted as the Uniform Construction Code. The Department adopts and incorporates by reference the following codes as the Uniform Construction Code…¹
• Municipalities enforce by ordinance adopting the UCC. (1) In order to administer and enforce the provisions of this act, municipalities shall enact an ordinance concurrently adopting the current Uniform Construction Code as their municipal building code and the current International Fuel Gas Code for the purposes described in section 102.²
• Over 90% of 2,562 municipalities enforce locally. Over 90% of Pennsylvania's 2,562 municipalities have elected to administer and enforce the UCC locally, using their own employees or via certified third party agencies (private code enforcement agencies) that they have retained.⁴
• Opt-out municipalities: owner hires certified third-party agency for residential. (b) An applicant for a residential building permit shall obtain the services of a third-party agency certified in the appropriate categories to conduct the plan review and inspections under § § 403.61—403.66 (relating to permit and inspection process for residential buildings).¹
• 2021 triennial update effective January 1, 2026. Pennsylvania’s Uniform Construction Code Triennial Update was approved by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission on October 16, 2025.⁴
• Triennial ICC review by the Review and Advisory Council. The Council is also charged with reviewing the most recent triennial building code updates published by the International Code Council (ICC).³
• Regulations take effect 33 months after council review begins. (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii), regulations adopted under this act shall become effective 33 months after the commencement of council review as provided for in section 108(a)(1)(i).²
• IPC not enforced by municipalities in counties of the second class. (i) A municipality within a county of the second class may not administer and enforce the ‘‘International Plumbing Code’’ adopted under this chapter.¹

Applies to

All buildings in Pennsylvania, subject to statutory exclusions²

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes²

What local governments may change

35 P.S. § 7210.503; 34 Pa. Code § 403.102(i)

• Local ordinances may not fall below the UCC. Subject to the provisions of this act, no municipality may propose or enact any ordinance which is less than the minimum requirement of the Uniform Construction Code, except as provided in subsection (b.1).²
• …the municipal governing body may propose and enact an ordinance to equal or exceed the minimum requirements of the Uniform Construction Code under the law governing the adoption of ordinances in that jurisdiction.²
• Statewide minimum; local governments may go further. A municipality may enact an ordinance containing standards that equal or exceed the Uniform Construction Code as adopted by § 403.21 (relating to the Uniform Construction Code) under section 503 of the act (35 P.S. § 7210.503) after Department review and approval.¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes²

Residential code in Pennsylvania cities

The edition each city enforces, from the city’s own adoption page or ordinance.

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