Louisiana building code
Louisiana has adopted 2021 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Louisiana cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2021 I-Codes + 2020 NEC with Louisiana amendments (LSUCC), effective January 1, 2023 (2021 IECC effective July 1, 2023)
- Prior edition
- 2015 I-Codes with Louisiana amendments ('Blue Amendments 2015')
- Code authority
- Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council (LSUCCC), Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Fire Marshal
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2022-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2015 I-Codes with Louisiana amendments ('Blue Amendments 2015').
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2021 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2021 IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2021 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2015 NFPA 101 based on NFPA 101-2015 | n/a |
| Electrical | 2020 NEC based on NFPA 70-2020 | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2021 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2021 IPC | n/a |
| Energy | 2021 IECC | n/a |
| Accessibility | 2010 ADA-ABA 2010 Standards based on 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | 2021 IFGC | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Louisiana. 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
- California Coastal Zone
- FEMA mapped flood hazard area
Sources
- https://lsuccc.la/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/LSUCCC_blue-book_08012025.pdf
- https://lsuccc.la/codes-standards/
- https://lsuccc.la/
- https://www.lasfm.org/plan-review/plan-review-codes-rules-laws/
- https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes/louisiana
- https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/adoptions-map/louisiana/
- https://lsuccc.la/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/LSUCCC_Louisiana-Construction-Code-Information.pdf
Common questions
What building code does Louisiana use?
Louisiana uses 2021 IBC. It is administered by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council (LSUCCC), Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Office of State Fire Marshal. The prior edition was 2015 I-Codes with Louisiana amendments ('Blue Amendments 2015').
Do cities in Louisiana 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 Louisiana?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2022-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2015 I-Codes with Louisiana amendments ('Blue Amendments 2015').
Check a plan set against Louisiana 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.