International Fire Code
Alabama enforces the 2021 IFC
The 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) has been in force in Alabama since Jan 1, 2023. It applies statewide. Adopted by Alabama State Fire Marshal. The legal citation is Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-2-101-.02; Ala. Code 27-2-17, 36-19-9.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2021 IFC
Fire Codes: Building Code (2021 International Fire Code), Reg. 101
Partial
- In force since
- Legal citation
- Ala. Admin. Code r. 482-2-101-.02; Ala. Code 27-2-17, 36-19-9
- Adopted by
- Alabama State Fire Marshal
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide
- Also called
- 482-2-101
The rule’s history shows a revision effective January 1, 2023 and an amendment effective January 1, 2025; Rule .06, new from January 1, 2023, already names the 2021 editions, so the 2021 IFC is dated from 2023.
Exceptions
- Rule applies to projects whose architectural services contract date is on or after the effective date
- DCM separately applies the 2021 IFC with 2024 IFC sections to buildings within its jurisdiction (amended Mar 17, 2025)
How Alabama adopts the IFC
The State Fire Marshal amends its regulation 482-2-101 by administrative rule; DCM adopts fire code editions for its own jurisdiction through the State Building Code. No legislative approval step was found.
Cycle. irregular
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- LegislationAct 2023-2762023 regular session
Requires the state building code not to prohibit substitute refrigerants, prompting DCM’s 2024-2025 amendments using 2024 IBC/IFC/IMC sections.
Enacted, effective Aug 1, 2023
dcm.alabama.gov (opens in a new tab)
How it was checked
Partial
Researched in the state’s own record. The seal stays broken until the passage is on file word for word.
Read twice: a second, blind reading of the state’s record agreed with the first on .
The state’s record was last read on , from three source pages.
Evidence 3 sources
Sources for the record itself come first, the state’s own records ahead of others. A label marks a source about something else, such as an exception. A source marked secondary is not the state’s own record.
“the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code® and Appendices B, C, D, E, and M”
Regulation 101: Fire Codes (482-2-101), amended 2024Alabama State Fire Marshalfiremarshal.alabama.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved About an exception
“2021 International Fire Code, with the following exceptions”
Manual of Procedures, Chapter 2 (April 2025)Alabama Division of Construction Managementdcm.alabama.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved About an exception
“The 2021 International Building Code adopted on July 1, 2022, with exceptions as noted below amended March 17, 2025”
State Building CodeAlabama Division of Construction Managementdcm.alabama.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved
Tracker cross-checks
Code adoption trackers are a cross-check. They are not Alabama’s own record.
ICC’s code adoption mapCross-checkAgrees with the record
State Alabama 21 15 21 21 21 X 21 15 15 X 21 X X X X (IFC taken as third value)