North Carolina building code
North Carolina has adopted 2018 NCBC (NC Building Code) based on 2015 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the North Carolina cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2018 North Carolina State Building Code (based on 2015 I-Codes) plus 2020 NC Electrical Code (2020 NEC) — still governing; the adopted 2024 NC State Building Code is NOT yet effective as of 2026-07-01
- Code authority
- North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Engineering & Codes; NC Building Code Council and NC Residential Code Council (G.S. 143-136 et seq.)
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2018 NCBC (NC Building Code) based on 2015 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2018 NCRC (NC Residential Code) based on 2015 IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2018 NCEBC (NC Existing Building Code) based on 2015 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2018 NC Fire Code (NC Fire Prevention Code) based on 2015 IFC | n/a |
| Electrical | 2020 NC Electrical Code (NEC with NC amendments) based on 2020 NEC (NFPA 70) | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2018 NCMC (NC Mechanical Code) based on 2015 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2018 NCPC (NC Plumbing Code) based on 2015 IPC | n/a |
| Energy | 2018 NCECC (NC Energy Conservation Code) based on 2015 IECC | n/a |
| Accessibility | 2018 (A117.1-2009) NCBC Chapter 11 / ICC A117.1 based on ICC/ANSI A117.1-2009 | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | 2018 NCFGC (NC Fuel Gas Code) based on 2015 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 North Carolina. 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://www.ncosfm.gov/codes/codes-current-and-past
- https://www.ncosfm.gov/letter-re-2024-state-building-code-effective-date/open
- https://www.ncosfm.gov/news/press-releases/2025/04/07/north-carolina-delays-implementation-2024-state-building-code
- https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143/GS_143-138.html
- https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes/united-states/north-carolina
- https://www.iccsafe.org/adoptions
- https://nclicensing.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-15-Code-Update.pdf
- https://www.constructionowners.com/news/north-carolina-delays-building-code-overhaul-to-2026
Common questions
What building code does North Carolina use?
North Carolina uses 2018 NCBC (NC Building Code) based on 2015 IBC. It is administered by the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), Engineering & Codes; NC Building Code Council and NC Residential Code Council (G.S. 143-136 et seq.).
Do cities in North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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.