Massachusetts building code
Massachusetts has adopted 10th Edition (2024) 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code), Base Volume based on 2021 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Massachusetts cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), 10th Edition — 2021 I-code base (effective 2024-10-11; sole code for permits filed after 2025-06-30)
- Prior edition
- 780 CMR 9th Edition (2015 I-code base, effective 2017-10-20)
- Code authority
- Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS), Office of Public Safety and Inspections, Division of Occupational Licensure (780 CMR); Board of Fire Prevention Regulations (527 CMR fire/electrical); Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (248 CMR); Department of Energy Resources (225 CMR stretch/specialized energy); Architectural Access Board (521 CMR)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-06-30 may still be reviewed under the 780 CMR 9th Edition (2015 I-code base, effective 2017-10-20).
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 10th Edition (2024) 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code), Base Volume based on 2021 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 10th Edition (2024) 780 CMR Residential Volume (Massachusetts Residential Code) based on 2021 IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 10th Edition (2024) 780 CMR (Massachusetts Existing Building Code volume) based on 2021 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2021 527 CMR 1.00 (Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code) based on 2021 NFPA 1 | n/a |
| Electrical | 2023 527 CMR 12.00 (Massachusetts Electrical Code) based on 2023 NEC (NFPA 70) | n/a |
| Mechanical | 10th Edition (2024) 780 CMR Chapter 28 (Mechanical Systems) based on 2021 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2023 248 CMR 10.00 (Uniform State Plumbing Code) | n/a |
| Energy | 10th Edition base (2024); 225 CMR 22/23 stretch code with 2025 low-rise residential amendments 780 CMR ch. 11R (residential) / ch. 13 (commercial), base energy code; 225 CMR 22.00/23.00, opt-in Stretch and Specialized codes based on 2021 IECC (all tiers are MA-amended IECC 2021) | n/a |
| Accessibility | 2006 (as amended) 521 CMR (Architectural Access Board Rules and Regulations) | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Massachusetts. 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
- Hurricane wind-borne debris region
Sources
- https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/bookstore/agencies/780-building-regulations-and-standards.htm
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/527-CMR-527-CMR-12.00
- https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/MAPC2023P1/preface
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/248-CMR-4-02
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/780-CMR-CHAPTER-28
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/massachusetts/department-521-CMR
- https://www.sgh.com/insight/massachusetts-state-building-code-whats-changed-in-the-10th-edition/
- https://www.nfpa.org/product/nfpa-1-ma/p0001acma
- https://up.codes/codes/massachusetts
- https://www.mass.gov/handbook/tenth-edition-of-the-ma-state-building-code-780
Common questions
What building code does Massachusetts use?
Massachusetts uses 10th Edition (2024) 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code), Base Volume based on 2021 IBC. It is administered by the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS), Office of Public Safety and Inspections, Division of Occupational Licensure (780 CMR); Board of Fire Prevention Regulations (527 CMR fire/electrical); Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters (248 CMR); Department of Energy Resources (225 CMR stretch/specialized energy); Architectural Access Board (521 CMR). The prior edition was 780 CMR 9th Edition (2015 I-code base, effective 2017-10-20).
Do cities in Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-06-30 may still be reviewed under the 780 CMR 9th Edition (2015 I-code base, effective 2017-10-20).
Check a plan set against Massachusetts 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.
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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.