International Residential Code
Maryland enforces the 2021 IRC
The 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) has been in force in Maryland since May 29, 2023. It applies statewide. Adopted by Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry, Building Codes Administration. The legal citation is COMAR 09.12.51; Public Safety Article 12-503.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2021 IRC
Maryland Building Performance Standards
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- COMAR 09.12.51; Public Safety Article 12-503
- Adopted by
- Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor and Industry, Building Codes Administration
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide
- Also called
- MBPS, COMAR 09.12.51
MBPS adopts the IRC as modified by the Department (COMAR 09.12.51.04C); local enforcement deadline was May 29, 2024.
Exceptions
- Modular and state-owned buildings follow the Model Performance Code (COMAR 09.12.50), also on the 2021 IRC
Coming next
- 2024 IRCPartialNo date yetProposedCOMAR 09.12.50, 09.12.51 (proposed)
Agency page names the IRC among the 2024 editions proposed; published in the Maryland Register Jun 26, 2026, per the page. No final adoption found.
How Maryland adopts the IRC
Same as the IBC: Labor adopts the MBPS by regulation within 18 months of a new edition’s issue, and local jurisdictions implement within 12 months.
Cycle. statutory 18-month target after each ICC edition
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- LegislationHB 870, Large Buildings for Tomorrow Act, Chapter 4122026 regular session
Enacted title requires counties and municipalities to notify the Department of the Environment of new-building permit applications of 35,000 sq ft or more; the first-reader text also had Labor adopt energy requirements by Oct 1, 2028.
Enacted May 12, 2026, effective Oct 1, 2026
mgaleg.maryland.gov (opens in a new tab) - UndatedLegislationPublic Safety Article 12-50318-month adoption rule, HB 57, 2016 regular session first-reader text moved 12 to 18 months
Requires Labor to adopt the MBPS by regulation and each later version within 18 months after issue, and bars energy requirements less stringent than the IECC.
In force (current statute text)
mgaleg.maryland.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 four source pages.
Evidence 5 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.
“2021 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings (International Code Council)”
Model Performance Code, COMAR 09.12.50Maryland Department of Laborlabor.md.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “Effective as of May 29, 2023”
Model Performance Code, COMAR 09.12.50Maryland Department of Laborlabor.md.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “as may be modified by the Department”
Maryland Building Performance Standards, COMAR 09.12.51Maryland Department of Laborlabor.md.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “2021 IRC (MBPS)”
Current Adopted Building-Related Codes in the State of Maryland (3/18/2026)Maryland Department of Labor, Building Codes Administrationlabor.maryland.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved “On May 29, 2023, the State of Maryland adopted the 2021 IECC.”
Building Codes (IECC Information Page)Maryland Energy Administrationenergy.maryland.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved
Tracker cross-checks
Code adoption trackers are a cross-check. They are not Maryland’s own record.
ICC’s code adoption mapCross-checkAgrees with the record
Adoption chart row ‘State Maryland 21 21 21 21 X 21 X 21 21 X 21 21’; IRC = 2021, statewide