International Fire Code
New Jersey enforces the 2018 IFC
The 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) has been in force in New Jersey since Oct 15, 2024. It applies statewide. Adopted by NJ Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety (Commissioner). The legal citation is N.J.A.C. 5:70-3.1.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2018 IFC
Uniform Fire Code (2018 International Fire Code, (NJ) Edition)
Partial
- In force since
- Legal citation
- N.J.A.C. 5:70-3.1
- Adopted by
- NJ Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety (Commissioner)
- Applies
- Statewide
- Also called
- N.J.A.C. 5:70, State Fire Prevention Code
Separate from the Uniform Construction Code; the 2024 UCC adoption did not update it. Edition 2018 is shown by the DFS 2025 brochure, the Register adoption notice’s comment responses, and DFS March 2026 minutes. The Oct 15, 2024, effective date is from N.J.A.C. 5:70-3.1.
Coming next
- 2024 IFCPartialNo date yetProposedN.J.A.C. 5:70
DFS March 19, 2026 minutes say the proposal was placed in the NJ Register on March 2, 2026 and was in its 60-day comment period.
How New Jersey adopts the IFC
The Division of Fire Safety (DCA) updates the Uniform Fire Code by rule at N.J.A.C. 5:70, adopting an ICC International Fire Code NJ Edition by reference, through a Register proposal, comment period and adoption. The fire code lags the UCC: the 2015 IFC was replaced by the 2018 edition in 2024, and the 2024 edition was proposed in March 2026. No legislative approval step was found.
Cycle. Irregular, lagging the Uniform Construction Code by several years
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.
The state’s record was last read on , from four source pages.
Evidence 4 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.
“2018 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE, (NJ) EDITION”
Division of Fire Safety publications brochure 2025NJ Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safetynj.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved “currently, we are using the 2018 Code as there are a handful more steps until the adoption of the 2024 edition.”
Fire Safety Commission Minutes, meeting of March 19, 2026NJ Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safetynj.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved N.J.A.C. 5:70-3.1 (Justia mirror, current through Register Vol. 57 No. 12, June 16, 2025)Justiaregulations.justia.com (opens in a new tab)Administrative code, secondaryRetrieved About the note
“updates to the Uniform Fire Code are outside the scope of this rulemaking”
N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14, 3.15, 3.16 (adoption notice, model codes 2024)NJ Department of Community Affairsnj.gov (opens in a new tab)State registerRetrieved
Tracker cross-checks
Code adoption trackers are a cross-check. They are not New Jersey’s own record.
ICC’s code adoption mapCross-checkDoes not agree with the record
Adoption chart (April 2026 copy): IFC 15 (IBC) i.e. 2015; ICC state page: Fire Safety Division authorizes the state’s Uniform Fire Code