Utah building code

Codes in force in Utah

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

Adopted by: Utah Legislature³.

Scope, amendments and transition rules

International Building Code (IBC)

Scope

Statewide; local amendments not allowed³

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Codes apply with statewide amendments (Ch. 3) and local amendments enacted in Ch. 4¹

International Residential Code (IRC)

Scope

Statewide; local amendments not allowed³

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Utah Code Title 15A, Chapter 3, Part 2 (Statewide Amendments to International Residential Code)⁷

International Plumbing Code (IPC)

Scope

Statewide; local amendments not allowed³

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Codes apply with statewide amendments (Ch. 3) and local amendments enacted in Ch. 4¹

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Scope

Statewide; local amendments not allowed³

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Codes apply with statewide amendments (Ch. 3) and local amendments enacted in Ch. 4¹

International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)

Scope

Statewide; local amendments not allowed³

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Codes apply with statewide amendments (Ch. 3) and local amendments enacted in Ch. 4¹

National Electrical Code (NEC)

Scope

Statewide; local amendments not allowed³

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Codes apply with statewide amendments (Ch. 3) and local amendments enacted in Ch. 4¹

Energy code, residential

Scope

Statewide; local amendments not allowed³

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Codes apply with statewide amendments (Ch. 3) and local amendments enacted in Ch. 4¹

Energy code, commercial

Scope

Statewide; local amendments not allowed³

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Codes apply with statewide amendments (Ch. 3) and local amendments enacted in Ch. 4¹

International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Scope

Statewide; local amendments not allowed³

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Codes apply with statewide amendments (Ch. 3) and local amendments enacted in Ch. 4¹

Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC)

Scope

Statewide; local amendments not allowed³

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Codes apply with statewide amendments (Ch. 3) and local amendments enacted in Ch. 4¹

International Fire Code (IFC)

Scope

Statewide minimum; local governments may go further⁶

Applies to

State Fire Code⁴

Local amendments allowed?

Yes⁶

Amendments

Utah Code Title 15A, Chapter 5, Part 2⁴

Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC)

Scope

Adopted locally¹

Applies to

Where a local compliance agency adopts it by ordinance¹

Local amendments allowed?

No³

Amendments

Alternatives or amendments approved by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands¹

Next edition (not yet in force)

2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code, effective January 1, 2027⁸

How Utah adopts building codes

Utah Code §§ 15A-1-203, 15A-1-204, 15A-1-207, 15A-1-403, 15A-2-103, 15A-5-103

• Legislature adopts the State Construction Code by statute. The Legislature shall adopt a State Construction Code by enacting legislation that adopts a nationally recognized construction code with any modifications.³
• Code legislation takes effect July 1 after enactment unless stated. Legislation described in Subsection (2)(a) shall state that the legislation takes effect on the July 1 after the day on which the legislation is enacted, unless otherwise stated in the legislation.³
• Residential (one- and two-family/townhouse) provisions reviewed every second code update. For the provisions of a nationally recognized construction code that apply only to detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane in height with separate means of egress and their accessory structures, the commission shall prepare a report described in Subsection (4) in 2022 and, thereafter, for every second update of the nationally recognized construction code.³
• Statewide; local amendments not allowed. The State Construction Code is the construction codes adopted with any modifications in accordance with this section that the state and each political subdivision of the state shall follow.³
• Except as provided in Subsections (6), (7), (9), and (10), or as expressly provided in state law, a state executive branch entity or political subdivision of the state may not, after December 1, 2016, adopt or enforce a rule, ordinance, or requirement that applies to a subject specifically addressed by, and that is more restrictive than, the State Construction Code.³
• Codes apply with statewide amendments (Ch. 3) and local amendments enacted in Ch. 4. …the following construction codes are incorporated by reference, and together with the amendments specified in Chapter 3, Statewide Amendments Incorporated as Part of State Construction Code, and Chapter 4, Local Amendments Incorporated as Part of State Construction Code, are the construction standards to be applied to building construction, alteration, remodeling, and repair…¹
• Uniform Building Code Commission advises DOPL. (1) There is created a Uniform Building Code Commission to advise the division with respect to the division's responsibilities in administering the codes.⁹
• Division = Division of Professional Licensing. "Division" means the Division of Professional Licensing created in Section 58-1-103, except as provided in…¹⁰
• Local compliance agency inspects and enforces. The compliance agency having jurisdiction over the project and the applicable codes has the responsibility for inspection of construction projects and enforcement of compliance with the codes.¹¹
• Code applies to new construction and voluntary repair/remodel/alteration. …the owner of an existing building, or the owner's agent, is voluntarily engaged in…³
• Effective July 1, 2026. (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect July 1, 2026.²
• State Fire Code: local governments may adopt more restrictive fire-code ordinances for a public safety need, except for IRC-built structures. Except as provided in Subsection (7)(b), a legislative body of a political subdivision may enact an ordinance in the political subdivision's fire code that is more restrictive than the State Fire Code…⁶

Applies to

State and each political subdivision of the state³

Can local rules be stricter?

No³

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