Maine building code
Maine has adopted 2021 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Maine cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- MUBEC 2021 update — 2021 I-codes (IBC/IRC/IEBC/IECC/IMC) with Maine amendments in DPS Rule Chapters 1-7, mandatory enforcement as of 2025-04-07
- Prior edition
- MUBEC based on 2015 IBC/IRC/IEBC/IECC (2015 I-code cycle)
- Code authority
- Maine Office of Community Affairs, Division of Building Codes & Standards (MUBEC / Technical Building Codes and Standards Board): the division moved from the Dept. of Public Safety / Office of State Fire Marshal to MOCA (reported 2025-09-24); Office of Professional & Occupational Regulation boards for electrical (Electricians' Examining Board), plumbing (Plumbers' Examining Board) and fuel gas (Maine Fuel Board); fire code remains with the State Fire Marshal (16-219 CMR)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-04-07 may still be reviewed under the MUBEC based on 2015 IBC/IRC/IEBC/IECC (2015 I-code cycle).
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 | 2018 NFPA 1 / NFPA 101 (State Fire Marshal rules, 16-219 CMR) based on 2018 NFPA 1 Fire Prevention Code; 2018 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code | n/a |
| Electrical | 2023 NEC (NFPA 70) based on 2023 NEC | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2021 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2021 Maine Internal Plumbing Rules (UPC) based on 2021 UPC (IAPMO) | n/a |
| Energy | 2021 IECC based on 2021 IECC (with ASHRAE 90.1-2019 for commercial per MUBEC standards) | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | NFPA 54: 2021; NFPA 58: 2020 NFPA 54 / NFPA 58 (Maine Fuel Board rules, 02-658 CMR ch. 6) based on 2021 NFPA 54 National Fuel Gas Code; 2020 NFPA 58 LP-Gas Code | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Maine. 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.
- Local stretch energy code
- FEMA mapped flood hazard area
- California Coastal Zone
Sources
- https://barharbormaine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8154/20250401MUBECCodeAdoptionNotice
- https://www11.maine.gov/dps/fmo/laws-rules-policy/nfpa-standards
- https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/10/title10sec9724.html
- https://www.maine.gov/moca/programs/code-enforcement/resources/publications-manuals
- https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/sites/maine.gov.pfr.professionallicensing/files/inline-files/Spring%2026%20Newsletter_.pdf
- https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/sites/maine.gov.pfr.professionallicensing/files/inline-files/MFB%20FUE%20rules%20adopted%20May%2026,%202023%20combined%20PDF._0.pdf
- https://aiamaine.org/aiamainenews/2025/2/27/updated-maine-building-codes
- https://www.iccsafe.org/adoptions
- https://www.maine.gov/dps/fmo/building-codes
Common questions
What building code does Maine use?
Maine uses 2021 IBC. It is administered by the Maine Office of Community Affairs, Division of Building Codes & Standards (MUBEC / Technical Building Codes and Standards Board): the division moved from the Dept. of Public Safety / Office of State Fire Marshal to MOCA (reported 2025-09-24); Office of Professional & Occupational Regulation boards for electrical (Electricians' Examining Board), plumbing (Plumbers' Examining Board) and fuel gas (Maine Fuel Board); fire code remains with the State Fire Marshal (16-219 CMR). The prior edition was MUBEC based on 2015 IBC/IRC/IEBC/IECC (2015 I-code cycle).
Do cities in Maine 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 Maine?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-04-07 may still be reviewed under the MUBEC based on 2015 IBC/IRC/IEBC/IECC (2015 I-code cycle).
Check a plan set against Maine 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.