Guam building code
Guam has adopted 2009 IBC based on 2009 IBC (incl. Appendices C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K); selected provisions replaced with 2015 IBC text by P.L. 33-192 (Dec. 14, 2016) as amended by P.L. 34-031 (Jul. 13, 2017); IBC Chapter 13 (Energy Efficiency) replaced by the 2017 Guam Tropical Energy Code per P.L. 35-145:4. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Guam cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2009 I-Codes (IBC/IRC/IPC/IMC/IFGC/IEBC/IPSDC 2009 per P.L. 30-199, with selected provisions updated to the 2015 IBC by P.L. 33-192/34-031) + 2017 Guam Tropical Energy Code (P.L. 35-145) + current-edition NEC
- Prior edition
- 1994 Uniform Building Code (UBC 94)
- Code authority
- Guam Department of Public Works (DPW): Building Permits & Inspection (building official); Guam Fire Department (fire code); Guam Building Code Council (21 GCA § 67101.9, review board for code updates and appeals)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2010-12-30 (IBC 2009 became sole applicable code after the 90-day transition following the Oct 1, 2010 effective date of P.L. 30-199) may still be reviewed under the 1994 Uniform Building Code (UBC 94).
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2009 IBC based on 2009 IBC (incl. Appendices C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K); selected provisions replaced with 2015 IBC text by P.L. 33-192 (Dec. 14, 2016) as amended by P.L. 34-031 (Jul. 13, 2017); IBC Chapter 13 (Energy Efficiency) replaced by the 2017 Guam Tropical Energy Code per P.L. 35-145:4 | n/a |
| Residential | 2009 IRC based on 2009 IRC (incl. Appendices A, B, C, D, G, I, J, K, M, O, P, Q) | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2009 IEBC based on 2009 IEBC (incl. all appendices) | n/a |
| Fire | 2009 IFC | n/a |
| Electrical | current (rolling) NEC based on NFPA 70, current edition | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2009 IMC based on 2009 IMC (incl. Appendix A) | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2009 IPC based on 2009 IPC (incl. Appendices C, E, F); § 416.5 amended by P.L. 33-192 and P.L. 35-145 (hot-water piping insulation per 2017 GTEC) | n/a |
| Energy | 2017 GTEC based on Model Tropical Energy Code (federally funded model for tropical jurisdictions), as approved by the Guam Building Code Council on Feb. 25, 2020, NOT the IECC, which Guam deliberately declined to adopt in P.L. 30-199 | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | 2009 IFGC based on 2009 IFGC (incl. all appendices) | n/a |
| Private Sewage | 2009 IPSDC based on 2009 IPSDC (incl. Appendices A, B) | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Guam. 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.
- Hurricane wind-borne debris region
- Seismic design category overlay
- FEMA mapped flood hazard area
- California Coastal Zone
Sources
Common questions
What building code does Guam use?
Guam uses 2009 IBC based on 2009 IBC (incl. Appendices C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K); selected provisions replaced with 2015 IBC text by P.L. 33-192 (Dec. 14, 2016) as amended by P.L. 34-031 (Jul. 13, 2017); IBC Chapter 13 (Energy Efficiency) replaced by the 2017 Guam Tropical Energy Code per P.L. 35-145:4. It is administered by the Guam Department of Public Works (DPW): Building Permits & Inspection (building official); Guam Fire Department (fire code); Guam Building Code Council (21 GCA § 67101.9, review board for code updates and appeals). The prior edition was 1994 Uniform Building Code (UBC 94).
Do cities in Guam 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 Guam?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2010-12-30 (IBC 2009 became sole applicable code after the 90-day transition following the Oct 1, 2010 effective date of P.L. 30-199) may still be reviewed under the 1994 Uniform Building Code (UBC 94).
Check a plan set against Guam 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.