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Washington · Building code

The building code in force in Washington now.

2021 International Building Code incl. Appendix E with Washington amendments (ch. 51-50 WAC); effective Mar 15, 2024. Enforced by Counties and cities enforce or contract for enforcement (RCW 19.27.050); State Building Code Council adopts and amends. Verified on the primary source, re-checked weekly.

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Building code in Washington

Verified on the source
In force

2021 International Building Code incl. Appendix E with Washington amendments (ch. 51-50 WAC); effective Mar 15, 2024

Mandatory statewide State Building Code (RCW 19.27); the 2021 IBC, IRC, IMC, IFC and UPC took effect together. The 2024 cycle adds IEBC and IFGC tracks; the WUI code is reserved pending statewide wildfire mapping.

Source: primary document

Who enforces it

Counties and cities enforce or contract for enforcement (RCW 19.27.050); State Building Code Council adopts and amends

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

What changes next

New edition May 3, 2027

2024 IBC/IEBC with WA amendments effective May 3, 2027 (final adoption vote targeted Oct 16, 2026); 2024 energy codes final adoption targeted Nov 20, 2026, same effective date

Dated items

Next 24 months
Oct 16, 2026
TARGET: State Building Code Council final adoption vote on the 2024 IBC, IEBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IFC and UPC with Washington amendments (CR-103P filing targeted Nov 18, 2026)Washington State Building Code Council
Dated
May 3, 2027
2024 Washington State Building Code takes effect: IBC, IEBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IFC, UPC and energy codes (energy final adoption targeted Nov 20, 2026)State Building Code Council; enforced by cities and counties
Dated
Jun 1, 2027
Clean Buildings Performance Standard Tier 1 compliance reports due for buildings of 90,001-220,000 sq ft (hotel and motel floor area counts)Department of Commerce
Dated
Jul 1, 2027
CBPS Tier 2 compliance (benchmarking, O&M program, energy management plan) due for buildings of 20,001-50,000 sq ft and multifamily buildings of 50,000+ sq ftDepartment of Commerce
Dated
Jun 1, 2028
CBPS Tier 1 compliance reports due for buildings of 50,001-90,000 sq ftDepartment of Commerce
Dated

Questions about the building code in Washington

Which building code applies in Washington today?

2021 International Building Code incl. Appendix E with Washington amendments (ch. 51-50 WAC); effective Mar 15, 2024. Mandatory statewide State Building Code (RCW 19.27); the 2021 IBC, IRC, IMC, IFC and UPC took effect together. The 2024 cycle adds IEBC and IFGC tracks; the WUI code is reserved pending statewide wildfire mapping.

Who enforces the building code in Washington?

Counties and cities enforce or contract for enforcement (RCW 19.27.050); State Building Code Council adopts and amends.

What changes next for the building code in Washington?

New edition May 3, 2027. 2024 IBC/IEBC with WA amendments effective May 3, 2027 (final adoption vote targeted Oct 16, 2026); 2024 energy codes final adoption targeted Nov 20, 2026, same effective date

Other areas in Washington

Everything in force in Washington
Fire code2021 International Fire Code with Washington amendments (ch. 51-54A WAC), part of the Stat…ElevatorsCh. 296-96 WAC (RCW 70.87): ASME A17.1-2019/CSA B44-19, A18.1-2020 and A17.3-2015 adopted …BoilersCh. 70.79 RCW + ch. 296-104 WAC; inspection frequencies in WAC 296-104-100 (last amended e…Pools and spasCh. 246-260 WAC Water Recreation Facilities (pools, spas, wading and spray pools) + ch. 24…Hotels and lodgingDOH Transient Accommodation license (ch. 70.62 RCW, ch. 246-360 WAC) for 3+ lodging units …Workplace safetyWashington State Plan run by L&I Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) under c…Retrofit and recertificationClean Buildings Performance Standard (RCW 19.27A.210; energy, not life safety) for buildin…

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