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District of Columbia · Building code

The building code in force in District of Columbia now.

2017 DC Construction Codes (2015 ICC family + 2014 NEC + 2013 ASHRAE 90.1, DC-amended); DCMR Title 12. Enforced by DC Department of Buildings (DOB), district-wide. Verified on the primary source, re-checked weekly.

Enter a District of Columbia ZIP code for the building view

Building code in District of Columbia

Verified on the source
In force

2017 DC Construction Codes (2015 ICC family + 2014 NEC + 2013 ASHRAE 90.1, DC-amended); DCMR Title 12

Governs new construction and alterations district-wide; effective May 29, 2020. DC is a single consolidated jurisdiction with no separate municipal building departments.

Source: primary document

Who enforces it

DC Department of Buildings (DOB), district-wide

Statewide layer. County and city amendments sit on top; the building view resolves them from your ZIP.

What changes next

Rulemaking notice Fall 2026

Full code-cycle update underway: DOB targets Fall 2026 for the 1st rulemaking notice, new edition targeted Fall 2027 (exact dates TBD)

Dated items

Next 24 months
Fall 2026
DOB's 1st Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (45-day comment) opens the next DC Construction Code cycle, covering all 12 code categories; exact date not yet setDC Department of Buildings (DOB)
Dated
Summer 2027
DOB's 2nd Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (30-day comment) on the next Construction Code edition; exact date not yet setDC Department of Buildings (DOB)
Dated
Fall 2027
Final next-generation DC Construction Codes published after DC Council review; new base code editions not yet announcedDC Department of Buildings (DOB) / DC Council
Dated

Questions about the building code in District of Columbia

Which building code applies in District of Columbia today?

2017 DC Construction Codes (2015 ICC family + 2014 NEC + 2013 ASHRAE 90.1, DC-amended); DCMR Title 12. Governs new construction and alterations district-wide; effective May 29, 2020. DC is a single consolidated jurisdiction with no separate municipal building departments.

Who enforces the building code in District of Columbia?

DC Department of Buildings (DOB), district-wide.

What changes next for the building code in District of Columbia?

Rulemaking notice Fall 2026. Full code-cycle update underway: DOB targets Fall 2026 for the 1st rulemaking notice, new edition targeted Fall 2027 (exact dates TBD)

Other areas in District of Columbia

Everything in force in District of Columbia
Fire codeDC Fire Code, part of the 2017 DC Construction Codes (based on the 2015 ICC/IFC family)ElevatorsDC Elevator/Escalator Code (ASME A17.1/A17.3, edition tied to the 2015-ICC-family code cyc…BoilersDCMR Title 12, Ch.10E (Boilers, Water Heaters and Pressure Vessels); DC Code Sec.2-103/2-1…Pools and spasAquatic Facilities Regulations (Swimming Pools, Spa Pools and Saunas), DCMR Title 25-C, fi…Hotels and lodgingNo standalone statewide hotel life-safety statute found; hotels licensed under DLCP's Lodg…Workplace safetyFederal OSHA jurisdiction; DC has no OSHA-approved State Plan

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