Pennsylvania building code
Pennsylvania has adopted 2021 IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the Pennsylvania cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- 2021 International Codes with RAC amendments (PA UCC triennial update, 55 Pa.B. 7701, effective 2026-01-01)
- Prior edition
- 2018 International Codes with RAC amendments (UCC, effective 2022-02-14)
- Code authority
- Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety (Uniform Construction Code, 34 Pa. Code Chs. 401-405; UCC Review and Advisory Council)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2018 International Codes with RAC amendments (UCC, effective 2022-02-14).
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2021 IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2021 IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2021 IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2021 IFC | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2021 IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2021 IPC | n/a |
| Energy | 2021 IECC | n/a |
| Accessibility | 2018 UCC accessibility provisions (2018 IBC Ch. 11 + Appendix E, ICC A117.1) based on 2018 IBC Ch. 11 / ICC A117.1-2009 (A117.1 edition per secondary sources) | n/a |
| Fuel Gas | 2021 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 Pennsylvania. 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
- Wildland-urban interface area
Sources
- https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F034%2Fchapter403%2Fs403.21.html
- https://pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol55/55-45/1513.html
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dli/programs-services/labor-management-relations/bureau-of-occupational-and-industrial-safety/uniform-construction-code-home
- https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dli/programs-services/labor-management-relations/bureau-of-occupational-and-industrial-safety/uniform-construction-code-home/ucc-review-and-advisory-council
- https://www.psats.org/commonwealth-court-decision-enjoins-enforcement-of-2021-ucc-accessibility-updates/
- https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes/pennsylvania
Common questions
What building code does Pennsylvania use?
Pennsylvania uses 2021 IBC. It is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry, Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety (Uniform Construction Code, 34 Pa. Code Chs. 401-405; UCC Review and Advisory Council). The prior edition was 2018 International Codes with RAC amendments (UCC, effective 2022-02-14).
Do cities in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-12-31 may still be reviewed under the 2018 International Codes with RAC amendments (UCC, effective 2022-02-14).
Check a plan set against Pennsylvania 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.