International Building Code
Massachusetts enforces the 2021 IBC
The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) has been in force in Massachusetts since Oct 11, 2024. It applies statewide. Adopted by Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS). The legal citation is 780 CMR (10th Edition Base Volume), s. 101.1.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2021 IBC
Massachusetts State Building Code, 780 CMR, Tenth Edition, Base Volume
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- 780 CMR (10th Edition Base Volume), s. 101.1
- Adopted by
- Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS)
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide
- State amendments
- Major
- Also called
- 780 CMR, 10th Edition, Massachusetts Amendments to the International Building Code 2021
The 9th Edition could still be used for applications filed through Jun 30, 2025 (extended from an original Jan 1, 2025, end); since Jul 1, 2025, the 10th Edition is the only code accepted for new applications.
Exceptions
- On a city or town’s request the BBRS may adopt more restrictive local standards where it finds special conditions (G.L. c. 143, s. 98); no individual local variations were checked.
Coming next
- 2024 IBCPartialNo date yetIn development780 CMR (11th Edition, in drafting)
BBRS 11th Edition subcommittees are drafting and reviewing changes from the 2021 to the 2024 I-Codes; no adoption or effective date was found.
How Massachusetts adopts the IBC
The BBRS adopts each edition of 780 CMR by regulation under G.L. c. 143, s. 94, after statutory public hearings (BBRS agendas mention hearings in May and November); no legislative vote or approval step appears in s. 94. Paragraph (h) directs the board to revise the code at least once every five years. The 10th Edition (2021 I-Codes) took effect Oct 11, 2024, with a concurrency period, and the 11th Edition (2024 I-Codes) is being drafted.
Cycle. Irregular: the 9th Edition adopted the 2015 IBC and the 10th Edition the 2021 IBC (effective Oct 11, 2024); the statute requires revision at least once every five years.
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- Other actionBBRS extension of the 9th/10th Edition concurrency period
After a BBRS hearing on Dec 2, 2024, the concurrency period originally set to end Jan 1, 2025, was extended to Jun 30, 2025 (announced Dec 5, 2024); only the 10th Edition applies after that.
- LegislationSt. 2021, c. 8, An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy
Directs DOER, with the BBRS, to develop a municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code (G.L. c. 25A, s. 6(14)), adds it to the specialized codes in G.L. c. 143, s. 96, enlarges the BBRS from 11 to 15 members and changes a timing phrase in s. 97 to 45 days.
Enacted Mar 26, 2021 (date from the legislature page metadata)
malegislature.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 six source pages.
Evidence 6 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.
“adopts and incorporates by reference, the International Building Code-2021”
“Massachusetts State Building Code, Tenth Edition, Base Volume.”
780 CMR: MASSACHUSETTS AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE 2021Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Board of Building Regulations and Standardsmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “The tenth edition building code became first effective on October 11, 2024”
“The tenth edition code is based on modified versions of the following 2021 International Codes (I-Codes)”
Tenth edition of the MA State Building Code 780Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Board of Building Regulations and Standardsmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved “Effective October 11, 2024, the 10th Edition of the State Building Code will take effect.”
10th Edition of the State Building Code Board of Building Regulations and StandardsCommonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Board of Building Regulations and Standardsmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved About an exception
“more restrictive standards than those established by the state building code”
“reasonably necessary because of special conditions prevailing within such city or town”
General Law - Part I, Title XX, Chapter 143, Section 98Massachusetts General Court (malegislature.gov)malegislature.gov (opens in a new tab)StatuteRetrieved About the note
“The 9th Edition of the Building Code will apply concurrently with the 10th Edition until June 30, 2025.”
Concurrency period for 9th and 10th Edition of the State Building Code extended until June 30, 2025Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Mass.gov), Board of Building Regulations and Standardsmass.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved About the note
NOTICE OF HEARING - Board of Building Regulations and Standards, 780 CMR 1.00 and 51.00 (hearing Dec 2, 2024)Secretary of the Commonwealth, State Publications and Regulations Division (Massachusetts Register notice)sec.state.ma.us (opens in a new tab)State registerRetrieved