Texas building code

Codes in force in Texas

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): International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2012

Scope

Set by state statute for cities¹

Applies to

All residential construction, alteration, remodeling, enlargement and repair in a municipality¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹

Amendments

Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 214.212(c)-(e)¹

Transition period

Ordinances in cities over 100,000: enforcement delayed at least 30 days after final adoption¹

International Residential Code (IRC): International Residential Code published as of May 1, 2008 (or county-seat version)

Scope

Adopted locally²

Applies to

New single-family/duplex construction and large additions in unincorporated areas of opt-in counties²

Amendments

Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §§ 233.151-233.157²

International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Set by state statute for cities¹

Applies to

Commercial buildings in a municipality¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹

Amendments

Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 214.216(c)-(f)¹

Transition period

Ordinances in cities over 100,000: enforcement delayed at least 30 days after final adoption¹

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Scope

Set by state statute for cities¹

Applies to

National Electrical Code as it existed on May 1, 2001 (municipal base)¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹

Amendments

Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 214.214(b), (d)¹

Energy code, residential

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere⁵

Applies to

One- and two-family residences three stories or fewer above grade⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 388.003(d)-(e)⁵

Energy code, commercial

Scope

Statewide; applies everywhere⁵

Applies to

Commercial, industrial and residential buildings taller than three stories⁶

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁵

Amendments

Tex. Health & Safety Code § 388.003(d)-(e)⁵

Next edition (not yet in force)

SECO elected to continue the 2015 IECC; no newer edition adopted⁶

Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC)

Scope

Adopted locally⁷

Applies to

State-adopted plumbing code applies where no local plumbing code has been adopted⁷

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁷

Amendments

22 Tex. Admin. Code § 367.2(b); Tex. Occ. Code § 1301.255(d)⁷

Transition period

Installations started before adoption may finish under the code in effect when permitted or started⁷

Next edition (not yet in force)

2021 UPC and 2021 IPC proposed (Texas Register, Aug. 14, 2026)⁹

International Plumbing Code (IPC)

Scope

Adopted locally⁷

Applies to

State-adopted plumbing code applies where no local plumbing code has been adopted⁷

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁷

Amendments

22 Tex. Admin. Code § 367.2(b); Tex. Occ. Code § 1301.255(d)⁷

Transition period

Installations started before adoption may finish under the code in effect when permitted or started⁷

Next edition (not yet in force)

2021 UPC and 2021 IPC proposed (Texas Register, Aug. 14, 2026)⁹

Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC)

Scope

Set by state statute for cities¹

Applies to

Municipalities that elect to regulate pools or spas¹

Local amendments allowed?

Yes¹

Amendments

Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 214.103(d)¹

International Fire Code (IFC)

Scope

Adopted locally²

Applies to

Unincorporated area: commercial establishments, public buildings, multifamily of four or more units²

Local amendments allowed?

Commissioners court may adopt later editions²

Amendments

Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 233.062²

How Texas adopts building codes

Tex. Loc. Gov't Code §§ 214.211-214.218, 214.103; § 233.153; Tex. Health & Safety Code § 388.003; Tex. Occ. Code §§ 1301.255, 1305.101

• International Residential Code as it existed on May 1, 2012. (a) To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2012, is adopted as a municipal residential building code in this state.¹
• All residential construction, alteration, remodeling, enlargement and repair in a municipality. (b) The International Residential Code applies to all construction, alteration, remodeling, enlargement, and repair of residential structures in a municipality.¹
• Municipality may adopt later ICC editions. (d) A municipality may review and consider amendments made by the International Code Council to the International Residential Code after May 1, 2012.¹
• International Building Code as it existed on May 1, 2012. (a) To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the International Building Code, as it existed on May 1, 2012, is adopted as a municipal commercial building code in this state.¹
• National Electrical Code as it existed on May 1, 2001 (municipal base). (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the National Electrical Code, as it existed on May 1, 2001, is adopted as the municipal electrical construction code in this state and applies to all residential and commercial electrical construction applications.¹
• 2026 National Electrical Code (state electrical code adopted by TDLR). The adopted amendments adopt the 2026 National Electrical Code as the state electrical code, with a limited exception pertaining to ground-fault circuit interrupter requirements for certain outdoor outlets.³
• Energy efficiency chapter of the IRC as it existed on May 1, 2015, from Sept. 1, 2016. On September 1, 2016, the energy efficiency chapter of the International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2015, is adopted as the energy code in this state for single-family residential construction.⁵
• International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as it existed on May 1, 2019. (b) To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, as it existed on May 1, 2019, is adopted as the municipal swimming pool and spa code in this state.¹
• IRC published as of May 1, 2008, or the IRC version applicable in the county seat. (a) New residential construction of a single-family house or duplex in the unincorporated area of a county to which this subchapter applies shall conform to the version of the International Residential Code published as of May 1, 2008, or the version of the International Residential Code that is applicable in the county seat of that county.²
• Ordinances in cities over 100,000: enforcement delayed at least 30 days after final adoption. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the governing body of a municipality with a population of more than 100,000 that adopts an ordinance or national model code provision that is intended to govern the construction, renovation, use, or maintenance of buildings and building systems in the municipality shall delay implementing and enforcing the ordinance or code provision for at least 30 days after final adoption to permit persons affected to comply with the ordinance or code provision.¹
• Cities over 100,000 must post notice 21 days before considering a model code adoption. (c) On or before the 21st day before the date the governing body of a municipality takes action to consider, review, and recommend the adoption of or amendment to a national model code governing the construction, renovation, use, or maintenance of buildings and building systems in the municipality, the governing body shall publish notice of the proposed action conspicuously on the municipality's Internet website.¹
• IRC and IBC exclude electrical wiring (covered by NEC). (a) The International Residential Code and the International Building Code do not apply to the installation and maintenance of electrical wiring and related components.¹

Applies to

All residential construction, alteration, remodeling, enlargement and repair in a municipality¹

Can local rules be stricter?

Yes¹

What local governments may change

Tex. Gov't Code § 3000.002

• Local governments may not ban building products/materials approved by a national model code from the last three cycles. …prohibits or limits, directly or indirectly, the use or installation of a building product or material in the construction, renovation, maintenance, or other alteration of a residential or commercial building if the building product or material is approved for use by a national model code published within the last three code cycles that applies to the construction, renovation, maintenance, or other alteration of the building…¹⁰
• Local amendments allowed if they do not conflict. (b) A governmental entity that adopts a building code governing the construction, renovation, maintenance, or other alteration of a residential or commercial building may amend a provision of the building code to conform to local concerns if the amendment does not conflict with Subsection (a).¹⁰

Residential code in Texas cities

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

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