International Residential Code
Oregon enforces the 2024 IRC
The 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) has been in force in Oregon since Oct 1, 2026. It applies statewide. Adopted by Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division (Residential and Manufactured Structures Board approves). The legal citation is OAR 918-480-0005.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2024 IRC
2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- OAR 918-480-0005
- Adopted by
- Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Division (Residential and Manufactured Structures Board approves)
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide
- Also called
- ORSC, 2026 ORSC, Low-Rise Residential Dwelling Code
Phase-in: Chapter 1 is effective and mandatory Oct 1, 2026; Chapters 2-44 are effective Oct 1, 2026, and mandatory Apr 1, 2027, and the 2023 ORSC may still be used through Mar 31, 2027. Rule BCD 14-2026 was filed Sep 30, 2026. Treated as in force because the 2026 ORSC is the adopted, effective edition.
Exceptions
- Low-rise apartment construction provisions are adopted in the 2025 OSSC and 2025 Oregon Mechanical Specialty Code, not the ORSC (OAR 918-480-0005(3)(d)).
How Oregon adopts the IRC
BCD amends OAR 918-480-0005 for each ORSC edition; ORS 455.610 requires the division, with the Residential and Manufactured Structures Board’s approval, to adopt the low-rise residential code. For the 2026 edition the board approved the energy chapter on Feb 18, 2026, and sent it to rulemaking, the rule was filed Sep 30, 2026, and it took effect Oct 1, 2026, with a six-month phase-in. No legislative approval step was found; 2025 SB 83 changed only the wildfire (R327) provisions.
Cycle. Roughly triennial; ORSC editions effective Oct 1, 2023, and Oct 1, 2026, per rule history.
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- LegislationSB 10612025 regular session
Requires BCD to set up, by rule, a process to accept lumber graded by individuals for structures governed by the ORSC.
Enacted 2025 (per BCD 2025 legislative report), effective Jan 1, 2026, sunsets Jan 2, 2033
oregon.gov (opens in a new tab) - LegislationSB 832025 regular session
Repeals the statewide wildfire hazard map and makes the ORSC R327 wildfire-mitigation standards available for local adoption without the department requiring it; BCD amended the 2023 ORSC R327 effective Jan 1, 2026.
Enacted 2025 (passed Senate Apr 22, 2025, and House Jun 24, 2025), effective on passage (emergency clause)
apps.oregonlegislature.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 five source pages.
Evidence 8 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.
“Articulates the contents of the 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code, effective October 1, 2026.”
“based on the 2024 edition of the International Residential Code for One-and Two-Family Dwellings (IRC)”
Notice of permanent rulemaking, 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (OAR 918-480-0005, 918-480-0010)Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Divisionoregon.gov (opens in a new tab)State registerRetrieved “Effective October 1, 2026, the 2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code consists of the following:”
“The 2024 edition of the International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings”
OAR 918-480-0005 Adopted Oregon Residential Specialty CodeOregon Secretary of State, Archives Division (Oregon Administrative Rules Database)secure.sos.state.or.us (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “BCD 14-2026, amend filed 09/30/2026, effective 10/01/2026”
“BCD 4-2024, minor correction filed 04/23/2024, effective 04/23/2024”
“BCD 3-2023, amend filed 09/12/2023, effective 10/01/2023”
OAR 918-480-0005 Adopted Oregon Residential Specialty Code (history lines)Oregon Secretary of State, Archives Division (Oregon Administrative Rules Database)secure.sos.state.or.us (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “The state building code shall be applicable and uniform throughout this state and in all municipalities”
“Subject to any requirement for approval by the appropriate advisory boards”
ORS chapter 455 (Building Code), ORS 455.040 and 455.030Oregon Legislative Assemblyoregonlegislature.gov (opens in a new tab)StatuteRetrieved “2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) New adoption”
“Chapters 2 - 44 and appendices ~ Effective Oct. 1, 2026 and mandatory April 1, 2027”
Adopted codes (Oregon Building Codes Division)Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Divisionoregon.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved About an exception
“Low-rise apartment construction provisions of the Oregon Residential Specialty Code”
“are adopted in the 2025 Oregon Structural Specialty Code and the 2025 Oregon Mechanical Specialty Code.”
OAR 918-480-0005 Adopted Oregon Residential Specialty Code (low-rise apartments)Oregon Secretary of State, Archives Division (Oregon Administrative Rules Database)secure.sos.state.or.us (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved About the note
“is adopted for a period of six months beginning October 1, 2026 and ending March 31, 2027.”
OAR 918-480-0005 Adopted Oregon Residential Specialty Code (phase-in)Oregon Secretary of State, Archives Division (Oregon Administrative Rules Database)secure.sos.state.or.us (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved About the note
“Mandatory April 1, 2027”
“During the phase-in period, except for Chapter 1, use of the 2023 ORSC or the 2026 ORSC is permitted”
2026 Oregon Residential Specialty Code adoption (Oregon Building Codes Division)Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Building Codes Divisionoregon.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved