Nebraska building code
Nebraska has adopted 2018 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Nebraska cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2018 I-Code cycle by statute (2018 IBC / 2018 IRC / 2018 IEBC + 2018 UPC), plus 2023 NEC, 2018 IECC, and NFPA 1/101 2012 fire code
- Code authority
- Nebraska Legislature (state building code adopted directly by statute, Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-6403); Nebraska State Electrical Division / State Electrical Board (NEC); Nebraska State Fire Marshal (fire code Title 153, accessibility Title 156); Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (Nebraska Energy Code)
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2018 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2018 IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2018 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2012 NFPA 1 / NFPA 101 based on NFPA 1 (2012) and NFPA 101 (2012) | n/a |
| Electrical | 2023 NEC based on 2023 NEC (NFPA 70) | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2018 UPC based on 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code (IAPMO) | n/a |
| Energy | 2018 IECC | n/a |
| Accessibility | 2010 Title 156 NAC (2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design) based on 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Nebraska. 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
Sources
- https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=71-6403
- https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=71-6406
- https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-1608
- https://electrical.nebraska.gov/state-act-update-2023-code-adoption
- https://electrical.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/STATE%20ACT%20REVISED%20VERSION%2003%2011%202026.pdf
- https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=81-503.01
- https://sfm.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/Title%20153%20Chapter%201%20Stamped.pdf
- https://sfm.nebraska.gov/regulations
- https://sfm.nebraska.gov/plans/nebraska-accessibility-guidelines-and-fair-housing-act
- https://sfm.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/Title%20156-ADA%20UPDATED%2009-02-2025.pdf
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/nebraska/153-Neb-Admin-Code-ch-1-SS-001
- https://www.iccsafe.org/adoptions
Common questions
What building code does Nebraska use?
Nebraska uses 2018 IBC. It is administered by the Nebraska Legislature (state building code adopted directly by statute, Neb. Rev. Stat. 71-6403); Nebraska State Electrical Division / State Electrical Board (NEC); Nebraska State Fire Marshal (fire code Title 153, accessibility Title 156); Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (Nebraska Energy Code).
Do cities in Nebraska 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.
Check a plan set against Nebraska 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.