Northern Mariana Islands building code
Northern Mariana Islands has adopted 2018 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Northern Mariana Islands cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2018 IBC (with 2018 ICC family incl. IRC) as the Commonwealth Building Safety Code, per PL 21-14 and NMIAC 155-10.1-601 (amendments adopted 42 Com. Reg. 43713, July 28, 2020); 2014 CNMI Tropical Energy Code; IFC adopted as rolling 'most up to date version'
- Prior edition
- 2009 IBC / 2009 IRC (Commonwealth Building Safety Code per 31 Com. Reg. 29744, Aug. 27, 2009)
- Code authority
- CNMI Department of Public Works, Building Safety Code Division (building/energy); CNMI Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (fire)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2020-07-28 (superseded when the 2018-IBC amendments to NMIAC 155-10.1-601 were adopted at 42 Com. Reg. 43713; PL 21-14 signed Dec. 19, 2019 directed the update) may still be reviewed under the 2009 IBC / 2009 IRC (Commonwealth Building Safety Code per 31 Com. Reg. 29744, Aug. 27, 2009).
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2018 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2018 IRC | n/a |
| Fire | rolling (most up-to-date version) IFC based on IFC (current edition, rolling adoption) | n/a |
| Energy | 2014 CNMI Tropical Energy Code (TEC) based on Model Tropical Energy Code 2014 (aligned to ASHRAE 90.1-2007/90.1-2010 and 2009/2012 IECC) | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for Northern Mariana Islands. 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
- Seismic design category overlay
- FEMA mapped flood hazard area
- California Coastal Zone
Sources
- https://cnmilaw.org/pdf/admincode/T155/T155-10.1.pdf
- https://cnmilaw.org/pdf/admincode/T72/T72-10.pdf
- https://dpw.gov.mp/bscd/about-us/
- https://cnmileg.net/documents/laws/public/21/PL21-14.pdf
- https://cnmilaw.org/adopted.php
- https://bcapcodes.org/code-status/state/us-territories/
- https://www.iccsafe.org/adoptions
- https://opd.gov.mp/library/reports/special-wind-region-swr-maps-for-the-commonwealth-of-the-northern-mariana-islands-cnmi/special-wind-region-swr-maps-for-the-commonwealth-of-the-northern-mariana-islands-cnmi.pdf
Common questions
What building code does Northern Mariana Islands use?
Northern Mariana Islands uses 2018 IBC. It is administered by the CNMI Department of Public Works, Building Safety Code Division (building/energy); CNMI Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services (fire). The prior edition was 2009 IBC / 2009 IRC (Commonwealth Building Safety Code per 31 Com. Reg. 29744, Aug. 27, 2009).
Do cities in Northern Mariana Islands 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 Northern Mariana Islands?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2020-07-28 (superseded when the 2018-IBC amendments to NMIAC 155-10.1-601 were adopted at 42 Com. Reg. 43713; PL 21-14 signed Dec. 19, 2019 directed the update) may still be reviewed under the 2009 IBC / 2009 IRC (Commonwealth Building Safety Code per 31 Com. Reg. 29744, Aug. 27, 2009).
Check a plan set against Northern Mariana Islands 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.