Which building code applies to my house?
There is no single U.S. building code. Every state picks its own edition, and in 21 states the city or county decides. Type a ZIP code to see who sets the rules where you live, which code editions are in force, what the big state amendments are, and where to confirm it before you build or repair.
How to read the answer
Statewide code means one mandatory code your town cannot change. Statewide minimum means the state sets a floor and your town may add stricter rules. Local adoption or state code, local enforcement means the city or county is the real authority, and a house outside city limits may have no building permit at all.
The edition that governs a job is the one in force on the day the permit application is filed. State amendments change model-code numbers in both directions, so the “what’s different here” list matters as much as the edition. A ZIP code can tell us the state, not whether you are inside city limits; the permit office can.
Education only. This page summarizes publicly adopted codes as of the date shown on each result; it is not engineering advice for your property and it is not a permit. Codes change several times a year across the country, so confirm with your city or county permit office. If you need an engineer, contact a licensed structural engineer in your state.