International Building Code
International Building Code (IBC)
The International Building Code is the foundational document in the ICC Family of International Codes and is the most widely adopted building code in the United States, used in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and several U.S. territories. As a model code, it is intended to be adopted by state and local jurisdictions, which often amend it to reflect local practices and laws. The IBC governs structural design, fire and life safety, means of egress, accessibility, occupancy classification, and the installation of building systems and materials, supporting both prescriptive and performance-based engineered solutions. It is developed through ICC's consensus-based, governmental process and revised on a three-year cycle, with editions such as 2018, 2021, and 2024.
Key features
- Model building code published by the International Code Council (ICC)
- Most widely adopted building code in the U.S.; adopted in all 50 states
- Covers structural, fire/life safety, egress, accessibility, and occupancy
- Excludes detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses (covered by the IRC)
- Updated on a three-year development cycle (e.g., 2018, 2021, 2024 editions)