Alaska building code
Alaska has adopted 2021 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Alaska cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2021 I-Codes (IBC/IFC/IMC/IEBC per 13 AAC 50, effective 2022-10-28) + 2020 NEC (8 AAC 70.025) + 2018 UPC (8 AAC 63.010)
- Code authority
- Alaska Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire and Life Safety (State Fire Marshal): building/fire/mechanical/existing via 13 AAC 50-55; Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety, electrical (8 AAC 70) and plumbing (8 AAC 63); Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, BEES energy standard for financed housing
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2021 IBC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2021 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2021 IFC | n/a |
| Electrical | 2020 NEC (NFPA 70) based on 2020 NEC | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2021 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2018 UPC based on 2018 UPC (IAPMO) | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Alaska. They apply by parcel, not jurisdiction-wide, so confirm the parcel before assuming one is in play. Check CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity viewer and FEMA's flood map service.
- Seismic design category overlay
Sources
- https://dps.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/13-AAC-50-to-13-AAC-55-Fire-Prevention_effective-10-28-2022.pdf
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/alaska/13-AAC-50.020
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/alaska/13-AAC-50.021
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/alaska/13-AAC-50.023
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/alaska/13-AAC-50.025
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/alaska/8-AAC-70.025
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/alaska/8-AAC-63.010
- https://dps.alaska.gov/fire/plan-review/
- https://www.ahfc.us/pros/energy/bees
- https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=204227
- https://www.iccsafe.org/adoptions
Common questions
What building code does Alaska use?
Alaska uses 2021 IBC. It is administered by the Alaska Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire and Life Safety (State Fire Marshal): building/fire/mechanical/existing via 13 AAC 50-55; Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Labor Standards and Safety, electrical (8 AAC 70) and plumbing (8 AAC 63); Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, BEES energy standard for financed housing.
Do cities in Alaska amend the state code?
Local amendments are adopted by ordinance at the city or county level. Confirm with the building department that reviews your permit.
Check a plan set against Alaska code
Knowing the adopted edition is the easy half. Architechtura reads your drawings, resolves which of these provisions actually apply to the project, and returns the corrections a plan checker would write up, each one cited to the section it came from.
Your first check is free, no card required.
Compiled from published state and municipal adoption ordinances. Local governments amend their codes on their own schedule, and a pending ordinance can change what applies to your permit. Confirm the governing edition with the building department before you submit. This page is reference information, not a code determination.