International Building Code
Georgia enforces the 2024 IBC as a statewide minimum
The 2024 International Building Code (IBC) has been in force in Georgia since Jan 1, 2026. It applies as a statewide minimum; local codes may go further. Adopted by Georgia Board of Community Affairs (Department of Community Affairs). The legal citation is O.C.G.A. 8-2-23; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 110-11-1-.24.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2024 IBC
2024 International Building Code with Georgia Amendments
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- O.C.G.A. 8-2-23; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 110-11-1-.24
- Adopted by
- Georgia Board of Community Affairs (Department of Community Affairs)
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide minimum; local codes may go further
- State amendments
- Major
- Also called
- Georgia State Minimum Standard Building Code
Replaced the 2018 IBC with 2020/2022/2024/2025 amendments. The DCA announcement, memo, amendment packet, and info sheet agree.
Exceptions
- Group R-3 residential construction falls under the IRC
- Local governments may adopt DCA-reviewed local amendments
Coming next
- Change to the 2024 IBCPartialPlanned for Jan 1, 2027ProposedNotice of Intent dated Aug 20, 2026
Not a new IBC edition, only new Georgia amendments to the 2024 IBC. SCAC met Jul 23, 2026, public hearing Oct 15, 2026, Board consideration Nov 19, 2026.
How Georgia adopts the IBC
SCAC reviews task-force and amendment proposals, DCA issues a notice of intent with a public hearing, then the Board of Community Affairs votes. Rules take effect on the date the Board sets, normally January 1. HB 812 (2025-26) would have added state review of local amendments but did not pass.
Cycle. Roughly follows the ICC cycle with a lag; 2018 edition stayed in force until Jan 1, 2026 (2024 edition).
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- LegislationHB 8122025-2026 regular session
Would have required State Codes Advisory Committee approval or denial of local amendments to the state minimum standard codes (locality could override), plus permit timelines.
Failed (last action House Withdrawn, Recommitted Mar 6, 2026, per secondary tracker)
policyrisk.com (opens in a new tab) - LegislationHB 1322023 regular session
Requires DCA to amend the state minimum codes to allow ungraded lumber in certain accessory structures.
Enacted 2023, effective Jul 1, 2023 (adds 8-2-23(e); DCA duty from Jul 1, 2024)
dca.georgia.gov (opens in a new tab)
How it was checked
Verified
Two separate readings of the state’s own record agree, and 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.
“2024 International Building Code with Georgia Amendments”
Memo: Notice of the adoption of the 2024 ICC Code Editions and the 2026 Georgia Amendments (Dec 1, 2025)Georgia Department of Community Affairsdca.georgia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved “Georgia State Amendments to the International Building Code (2024 Edition)”
Georgia State Amendments to the International Building Code (2024 Edition)Georgia Department of Community Affairsdca.georgia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved New Georgia Codes and Amendments - Effective January 1, 2026Georgia Department of Community Affairsdca.georgia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved
Tracker cross-checks
Code adoption trackers are a cross-check. They are not Georgia’s own record.
ICC’s code adoption mapCross-checkAgrees with the record
State Georgia 24 24 24 24 24 24 15 15 24 24 24 X X (IBC taken as 1st value; as of 2026-04)