Codes - Current and Past

Current Codes

2018 Codes

The 2018 NC Codes (Effective 1/1/2019) include the 2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee amendments as adopted by the Building Code Council and approved by the Rules Review Commission along with the 2015 International Codes. Available to FREE VIEW or BUY at the ICC website.

The following 2018 Codes were effective from January 1, 2019 and are currently effective. The 2018 Codes were also available during a transition period from July 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.

Code reference	Approved Amendments
2018 Administrative	Amendments
2018 Building	Amendments
2018 Residential	Amendments
2018 Energy Conservation	Amendments
2018 Existing Building	Amendments
2018 Fire	Amendments
2018 Fuel Gas	Amendments
2018 Mechanical	Amendments
2018 Plumbing	Amendments
2017 Electrical Code *	Amendments

*The 2017 Electrical Code was effective from June 12, 2018 and is currently effective.

2018 NC Ad-Hoc Committee Amendments

Accessibility Code

Year Edition	Accessibility Standard	Effective Date	Comments
2018 North Carolina Building Code (based on the 2015 IBC)	2009 ANSI A117.1	1/1/2019

Electrical Code

The North Carolina Electrical Code consists of an adopted version of the National Electrical Code (NEC) supplemented by North Carolina Amendments.

All editions of the NEC can be accessed through the NFPA website at NEC Access

(Note: NFPA requires an user account be created prior to viewing the Codes)

The 2017 Electrical Code was effective from June 12, 2018 and is currently effective.

Go to the State Electrical Division Webpage

Past Codes and Amendments

Code Applicability Dates

Administrative, Building, Energy Conservation, Existing Building, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Residential Codes.

2002 Codes

The following 2002 Codes were effective from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2007. The 1996 Codes were also valid during a transition period from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002.

2002 Administrative
2002 Building
2002 Energy Conservation
2002 Fire Prevention
2002 Fuel Gas
2002 Mechanical
2002 Plumbing

2006 Codes

The following 2006 Codes were effective from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2009. The 2002 Codes were also valid during a transition period from July 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006.

2006 Administrative
2006 Building
2006 Energy Conservation
2006 Fire Prevention
2006 Fuel Gas
2006 Mechanical
2006 Plumbing

2009 Codes

The following 2009 Codes were effective from January 1, 2009 through June 1, 2012. The 2006 Codes were also valid during a transition period from January 1, 2009 through June 30, 2009.

2009 Administrative
2009 Building
2009 Energy Conservation
2009 Fire Prevention
2009 Fuel Gas
2009 Mechanical
2009 Plumbing

2012 Codes

The following 2012 Codes were effective from September 1, 2011 through December 31, 2018. The 2009 Codes were also valid during a transition period from September 1, 2011 through June 1, 2012.

2012 Administrative
2012 Building
2012 Energy Conservation
2012 Fire Prevention
2012 Fuel Gas
2012 Mechanical
2012 Plumbing

2018 Codes

The following 2018 Codes were effective from January 1, 2019 and are currently effective. The 2018 Codes were also available during a transition period from July 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.

2018 Administrative
2018 Building
2018 Energy Conservation
2018 Existing Building
2018 Fire
2018 Fuel Gas
2018 Mechanical
2018 Plumbing

Residential Code

The 2002 Residential Code was effective from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2006. The 1996 Residential Code was also valid during a transition period from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002.

The 2006 Residential Code was effective from June 1, 2007 through July 1, 2009. The 2002 Residential Code was also valid during a transition period from June 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007.

The 2009 Residential Code was effective from January 1, 2009 through June 1, 2012. The 2006 Residential Code was also valid during a transition period from January 1, 2009 through July 1, 2009.

The 2012 Residential Code was effective from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2018. The 2009 Residential Code was also valid during a transition period from January 1, 2012 through June 1, 2012.

The 2018 Residential Code was effective from January 1, 2019 and is currently effective. The 2018 Residential Code was also available during a transition period from July 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.

Accessibility Code

Year Edition	Accessibility Standard	Effective Date	Comments
1999 North Carolina State Building Code, Volume I-C		7/1/1999	Included previous state accessibility, Federal ADAAG, and Fair Housing Act requirements.
2002 North Carolina State Building Code, Volume I-C		1/1/2002
2004 North Carolina Accessibility Code [Renamed as a separate code instead of being identified as NCSBC, Vol. I-C]		1/1/2006 until 12/31/2009	Certified by the US Department of Justice as complying with the ADA for Title II requirements on March 17, 2005, documented in a letter from Wan J. Kim, AAG, USDOJ, on 11/28/2005.
2006 North Carolina Building Code (based on the 2003 IBC)	2004 North Carolina Accessibility Code	NCBC Chapter 11 effective on 1/1/2010	NCBC Ch. 11, deleted from 1/1/2002 through 12/31/2009 while NC had a certified accessibility code, became enforceable on 1/1/2010.
2009 North Carolina Building Code (based on the 2006 IBC)	2003 ANSI A117.1	1/1/2010
2012 North Carolina Building Code (based on the 2009 IBC)	2009 ANSI A117.1	1/6/2012
2018 North Carolina Building Code (based on the 2015 IBC)	2009 ANSI A117.1	1/1/2019	Proposed effective date.

Electrical Code

The 2002 Electrical Code was effective from January 1, 2002 through March 15, 2005.

The 2005 Electrical Code was effective from March 15, 2005 through June 1, 2008.

The 2008 Electrical Code was effective from June 1, 2008 through July 3, 2011.

The 2011 Electrical Code was effective from July 3, 2011 through April 1, 2016.

The 2014 Electrical Code was effective from April 1, 2016 through June 11, 2018.

The 2017 Electrical Code was effective from June 12, 2018 and is currently effective.

There were no transition periods between various editions of the Electrical Code.

Existing Buildings Code

The 1995 Existing Building Code was effective from June 14, 1994 through February 28, 2015. There were minor revisions in 1997, 1998, and 1999. Effective January 1, 2003, the NC Building Code Council replaced Chapters 5 and 6 of the Existing Building Code with Sections 3405 and 3409 of the 2002 Building Code. Table 501 of Chapter 5 may continue to be used for relative hazard categories and classification.

The 2015 NC Existing Building Code became effective March 1, 2015 through December 31, 2018.

Rehabilitation Code

The 2006 NC Rehabilitation Code was effective from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2009.

The 2009 NC Rehabilitation Code was effective from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2014.

The 2012 NC Rehabilitation Code became effective January 1, 2015 through February 28, 2018.

1936

1936 - North Carolina Building Code

1953

Table of Contents - Article V

Article VI - Article VIII

Article IX - Article X

Article XI - Article XX

Index

1958

Table of Contents - Article V

Article VI - Article VIII

Article IX

Article X - Article XIX

Article XX - Index

Article XX (Section 2001-2023)

Article XXI - Index

Article XXI cont. - (Heat Producing Appliances) - Index

Apendix I - Apendix III

Apendix IV

Index and General Statutes

1961 (Plumbing Only)

1961 North Carolina Plumbing Code

1963

1963 - North Carolina Plumbing Code

1967

Table of Contents - Chapter IV

Chapter V - Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII - Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV - Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII - Chapter XXIII

Chapter XXIV - Chapter XXIX

Amendments (January 1, 1967 - January 1, 1975)

1968

1968 - North Carolina Plumbing Code

1968

1968 North Carolina Residential Code with Revisions Thru 1985

1968 North Carolina Residential Code 1985 – 1993 Amendments

1971

Mechanical - Front Cover

Mechanical - Forward, Table of Contents & Chapter 1

Mechanical - Chapter 2

Mechanical - Chapter 3

Mechanical - Chapter 4

Mechanical - Chapter 5

Mechanical - Chapter 6

Mechanical - Chapter 7

Mechanical - Chapter 8

Mechanical - Chapter 9

Mechanical - Chapter 10

Mechanical - Chapter 11

Mechanical - Chapter 12 & 13

Mechanical - Chapter 14

Mechanical - Chapter 15

Mechanical - Chapter 16

Mechanical - Chapter 17

Mechanical - Chapter 18

Mechanical - Chapter 19

Mechanical - Chapter 20

Mechanical - Chapter 21

Mechanical - Appendices List

Mechanical - Appendix A & B

Mechanical - Appendix C & D

Mechanical - Appendix E

Mechanical - Appendix F

Mechanical - Appendix G

Mechanical - Appendix H

Mechanical - Appendix I

Mechanical - Appendix J

Mechanical - Accumulative Supplements

Mechanical - Index

1978

1978 North Carolina State Building Code with Revisions Thru 1984

1991

1991 North Carolina State Building Code with Revisions Thru 1995

1993 with revisions thru 1996

1993 NC Amendments

1995

1995 North Carolina Existing Code with 1996 Revisions

1996

1996 with Revisions Thru 1997

1996 with Revisions Thru 1998

1996 with Revisions Thru 1999

1997

Residential Code 1997 with revisions thru 1999

2002

2002 Volume 1-C Handicap Accessibility

International Code Council Online Library

2006

2006 NC Rehabilitation Code

The 2006 NC Accessibility Code includes the 1999 NC Accessibility Code with 2002 NC Amendments incorporated. The 2004 NC Amendments are available below to complete your Code.

2004 NC Accessibility Amendments

2006 NC Administrative Code and Policies

Chapter 1, 2006 NC Administrative Code

Chapter 2, 2006 NC Administrative Policies

Chapter 3, Referenced Statutes

Appendix A, Permit Application Information

Appendix B, Building Code Summary

Appendix C, Code Change Proposal

Appendix D, Affidavit of Workers' Compensation

Appendix E, Appeal

2009

2009 NC/ICC 2006 - APPROVED

2009 NC Rehab Code

The 2009 NC Rehab Code includes the 2009 NC Building Code with the 2003 ANSI A117.1.

The Base Documents for the 2009 NC Codes are the 2006 I-Codes. The attached 2009 NC Amendments are replacements to the Sections printed in the Base Documents.

The following amendments were approved by the NC Building Code Council on March 11, 2008. The effective date is: January 1, 2009

Building Code – 2009 NC Amendments

Energy Conservation Code – 2009 NC Amendments

Fire Code – 2009 NC Amendments

Fuel Gas Code – 2009 NC Amendments

Mechanical Code – 2009 NC Amendments

Plumbing Code – 2009 NC Amendments

Residential Code – 2009 NC Amendments

2009-2011 Cumulative Amendments

The 2006 NC Codes remain in effect for permits issued until June 30, 2009 (6-month overlap).

2012 NC/ICC 2009 – Amendments

The North Carolina Building Codes are promulgated by the North Carolina Building Code Council (BCC) and are interpreted and enforced by the Engineering and Codes Section. The code is made up by modifications to the International Codes. This year, the 2012 North Carolina Codes are the 2009 International Codes with amendments made by the BCC.

The following documents represent a summary of the BCC amendments:

Building Code – 2012 (Chapters 1-15, 34-end) NC Amendments

Building Code – 2012 (Chapters 16-33) NC Amendments

Fire Code – 2012 NC Amendments

Fuel Gas Code – 2012 NC Amendments

Mechanical Code – 2012 NC Amendments

Plumbing Code – 2012 NC Amendments

Residential Code – Townhouse Sprinkler Amendment

2012 NC Residential Code, Part 4 Energy Conservation (Adopted 12/14/2010)

2012 NC Energy Conservation Code (Adopted 12/14/2010)

Energy Conservation Code – HVAC System Verification Amendment

2012–2017 Accumulative Supplement to the 2012 NC Codes (Effective 1/1/2017)

2012–2015 Approved Cumulative Amendments (Effective 1/1/2015)

2014–2016 Approved Cumulative Amendments (Effective 1/1/2016)

2015–2017 Approved Cumulative Amendments (Effective 1/1/2017)

2016–2018 Approved Cumulative Amendments (Effective 1/1/2018)

Errata Central 2012-2019

R602.10 Code and Commentary for 2012 NC Residential Code - final 03-06-13.pdf

2012 NCECC, 2012 NCRC, Duct Leakage to the Outside

2012 NC Residential Code, Chapters 5 & 8, Southern Pine Span Tables

2012 NC Building Code, Chapter 23, Southern Pine Span Tables

The public hearing for the 2012 NC Building, Energy Conservation, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing and Residential Codes was June 15, 2010. The written public comment period expired on July 16, 2010. The Building, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical and Plumbing Codes were adopted September 14, 2010 and the effective date is September 1, 2011. The Energy Conservation and Residential Codes were adopted December 14, 2010 and the effective date is January 1, 2012.

The 2009 NC Codes other than the Residential and Energy codes remain in effect for permits issued until June 1, 2012. (overlap with the 2012 codes). The 2009 Residential and Energy codes remain in effect until March 1, 2012.

National Fire Protection Association

Visit the NFPA web site for read-only access to the NFPA codes and standards referenced in our state's statutes and/or regulations.

North Carolina Existing Building Code - 2015 Edition

The 2015 NC Existing Building Code has been adopted by the BCC and approved by the RRC with a March 1, 2015 effective date. The 1995 NC Existing Building Code will expire on March 1, 2015. The NC Rehabilitation Code will remain effective until March 1, 2018 (3-year overlap).

2015 NC Amendments to the 2012 IEBC – Effective March 1, 2015

2015 NC Existing Building Code – NC Amendments Only with Commentary

2005 North Carolina State Electrical Code Amendments

Effective March 1, 2005 through May 31, 2008

2005 NC Amendments

2008 North Carolina State Electrical Code Amendments

Effective June 1, 2008 through July 2, 2012

2008 NC Amendments

2011 North Carolina State Electrical Code Amendments

Effective July 3, 2012 through March 31, 2016

2011 NC Amendments

2014 North Carolina State Electrical Code Amendments