Georgia building code
Georgia has adopted 2024 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Georgia cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2024 I-codes (IBC/IRC/IFC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/ISPSC) with Georgia Amendments + 2023 NEC, effective 2026-01-01; energy remains 2015 IECC with Georgia Supplements and Amendments
- Prior edition
- 2018 I-codes (IBC/IRC/IFC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/ISPSC) with Georgia Amendments (effective 2020-01-01) and 2020 NEC (effective 2021-01-01)
- Code authority
- Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Office of Construction Codes and Industrialized Buildings (fire: Georgia Safety Fire Commissioner / State Fire Marshal)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2018 I-codes (IBC/IRC/IFC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/ISPSC) with Georgia Amendments (effective 2020-01-01) and 2020 NEC (effective 2021-01-01).
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2024 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2024 IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2018 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2024 IFC | n/a |
| Electrical | 2023 NEC based on 2023 NEC (NFPA 70) | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2024 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2024 IPC | n/a |
| Energy | 2015 IECC | n/a |
| Accessibility | 2012 Georgia Accessibility Code (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 120-3-20) based on 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | 2024 IFGC | n/a |
| Swimming Pool | 2024 ISPSC | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Georgia. 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.
- FEMA mapped flood hazard area
Sources
- https://dca.georgia.gov/community-assistance/construction-codes/current-state-minimum-codes-construction
- https://dca.georgia.gov/announcement/2025-12-09/new-codes-jan-2026
- https://dca.georgia.gov/community-assistance/construction-codes/mandatory-and-permissive-state-codes
- https://dca.georgia.gov/community-assistance/construction-codes/enforcement-state-minimum-codes
- https://dca.georgia.gov/document/publications/code-adoption-history/download
- https://dca.georgia.gov/document/document/nec-2026-amendment-packet/download
- https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/120-3-20
- https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/120-3-3
- https://www.concrete.org/Portals/0/Files/PDF/Master-I-Code-Adoption-Chart_December_2025.pdf
- https://www.energycodes.gov/state-portal
Common questions
What building code does Georgia use?
Georgia uses 2024 IBC. It is administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Office of Construction Codes and Industrialized Buildings (fire: Georgia Safety Fire Commissioner / State Fire Marshal). The prior edition was 2018 I-codes (IBC/IRC/IFC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/ISPSC) with Georgia Amendments (effective 2020-01-01) and 2020 NEC (effective 2021-01-01).
Do cities in Georgia 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.
Which edition applies to a permit already in review in Georgia?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2018 I-codes (IBC/IRC/IFC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/ISPSC) with Georgia Amendments (effective 2020-01-01) and 2020 NEC (effective 2021-01-01).
Check a plan set against Georgia 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.