Maryland building code
Maryland has adopted 2021 MBPS (IBC) based on 2021 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Maryland cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2021 I-codes under the Maryland Building Performance Standards (state effective 2023-05-29; local enforcement required by 2024-05-29); fire on 2024 NFPA 1/101
- Prior edition
- 2018 I-codes (prior MBPS cycle)
- Code authority
- Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry, Building Codes Administration (fire: Office of the State Fire Marshal; plumbing/fuel gas: Maryland Board of Plumbing; mechanical: Maryland Board of HVACR Contractors)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2023-05-29 may still be reviewed under the 2018 I-codes (prior MBPS cycle).
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2021 MBPS (IBC) based on 2021 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2021 MBPS (IRC) based on 2021 IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2021 MBRC (Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code) based on 2021 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2024 State Fire Prevention Code (NFPA 1 / NFPA 101) based on 2024 NFPA 1 and 2024 NFPA 101 | n/a |
| Electrical | 2017 NEC (NFPA 70) based on 2017 NEC | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2021 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2021 IPC | n/a |
| Energy | 2021 MBPS (IECC) based on 2021 IECC | n/a |
| Accessibility | 2019 MAC (Maryland Accessibility Code) based on based on IBC Ch.11/ICC A117.1 with Maryland provisions (COMAR 09.12.53) | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | 2018 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 Maryland. 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
- California Coastal Zone
Sources
Common questions
What building code does Maryland use?
Maryland uses 2021 MBPS (IBC) based on 2021 IBC. It is administered by the Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry, Building Codes Administration (fire: Office of the State Fire Marshal; plumbing/fuel gas: Maryland Board of Plumbing; mechanical: Maryland Board of HVACR Contractors). The prior edition was 2018 I-codes (prior MBPS cycle).
Do cities in Maryland 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 Maryland?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2023-05-29 may still be reviewed under the 2018 I-codes (prior MBPS cycle).
Check a plan set against Maryland 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.