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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. Checked on the primary source; the state record was last reviewed 2026-11-12.

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Building code in Washington

Checked 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; confirm the local office for the address.

What changes next

New edition May 3, 2027

Oct 30, 2026: Council voted an emergency wildfire rebuilding rule (energy code flexibility, WSEC-R R101.2), filed Nov 4, 2026 and stated effective immediately (SBCC home page, read Nov 9, 2026). 2024 IBC/IEBC: no adoption outcome posted; SBCC states May 3, 2027 as the effective date; energy codes final adoption targeted Nov 20, 2026

Dated items

Next 24 months
Nov 20, 2026
State Building Code Council meeting (10 a.m., Olympia); energy codes final adoption targeted. The SBCC home page (read Nov 9, 2026) posts an Oct 30 emergency wildfire rebuilding rule filed Nov 4; no other Oct 16 or Oct 30 outcome is postedWashington State Building Code Council
Confirmed date
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
Confirmed date
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
Confirmed date
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
Confirmed date
Jun 1, 2028
CBPS Tier 1 compliance reports due for buildings of 50,001-90,000 sq ftDepartment of Commerce
Confirmed date

What a building has to do

1 recurring duties

These apply when the building has the equipment or fits the type named. The frequency is the standard one; your local official can set a stricter one, so confirm it for the address.

Monthly
Accessible pool entry: a pool lift or sloped entry in place and working whenever the pool is open (pools with 300 or more linear feet of wall need two accessible entries; a spa needs one: lift, transfer wall or transfer system); the rule sets no inspection interval; a monthly check that it works and is charged is common practice2010 ADA Standards §242 and §1009; 28 CFR 36.211 · U.S. Department of Justice (enforced through complaints and lawsuits) · Checked against the source 2026-09-28.

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. Oct 30, 2026: Council voted an emergency wildfire rebuilding rule (energy code flexibility, WSEC-R R101.2), filed Nov 4, 2026 and stated effective immediately (SBCC home page, read Nov 9, 2026). 2024 IBC/IEBC: no adoption outcome posted; SBCC states May 3, 2027 as the effective date; energy codes final adoption targeted Nov 20, 2026

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 effective Oct 2, 2023; table also l…BoilersCh. 70.79 RCW + ch. 296-104 WAC; inspection frequencies in WAC 296-104-100 as amended by W…Pools and spasCh. 246-260 WAC Water Recreation Facilities (pools, spas, wading and spray pools) + ch. 24…Hotels and lodgingDOH Transient Accommodation licensing (ch. 70.62 RCW, ch. 246-360 WAC); fire safety under …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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