International Building Code
South Carolina enforces the 2021 IBC
The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) has been in force in South Carolina since Jan 1, 2023. It applies statewide. Adopted by South Carolina Building Codes Council (LLR). The legal citation is S.C. Code Ann. 6-9-50(A); Building Codes Council adoption of Oct 6, 2021.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2021 IBC
2021 South Carolina Building Code
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- S.C. Code Ann. 6-9-50(A); Building Codes Council adoption of Oct 6, 2021
- Adopted by
- South Carolina Building Codes Council (LLR)
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide
- Also called
- South Carolina Building Code, SC modifications to the IBC
The state notice names the 2021 ICC edition directly, so no base-code tracing was needed. Local jurisdictions may seek Council variances.
Exceptions
- Administrative chapters/provisions of the model codes are not adopted statewide; local governments adopt them by ordinance
- Local variations only through Council-approved modifications (e.g. Greenville County radon appendix for IRC)
Coming next
- 2024 IBCPartialTakes effect Jan 1, 2027Adopted, not yet in forceCouncil vote Aug 26, 2025; State Register May 22, 2026 (Sr50-5, Doc. No. 5424)
Implementation date for local jurisdictions.
How South Carolina adopts the IBC
The Building Codes Council adopts the latest ICC edition by vote after a 180-day modification window and Code Study Committee review, and sets the implementation date. Modifications are published as regulations in the State Register and submitted to the General Assembly; minutes record the legislature asking that two IPC modifications be removed.
Cycle. Follows the ICC three-year cycle; Reg. 8-240 requires adoption at least every four years.
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- LegislationH.3021 Small Business Regulatory Freedom Act, Act No. 2512025-2026 session
General Administrative Procedures Act change that, per the bill summary, would require legislative approval of regulations with an estimated economic impact of $1 million or more; it does not mention building codes, so its effect on future Council rules is untested.
Enacted Jun 30, 2026
scstatehouse.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 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.
“2020 National Electrical Code* October 6, 2021 January 1, 2023 2009 International Energy Conservation Code¹ April 2, 2012 January 1, 2013”
Building Codes in Effect for South Carolina (12/2022)SC LLR Building Codes Councilllr.sc.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved “The South Carolina Building Codes Council adopted the 2021 South Carolina Building Codes at their meeting on October 6, 2021. The Council approved an effective date of January 1, 2023.”
Building Code AdoptionSC LLR Building Codes Councilllr.sc.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved SC Code Adoption Notice (2021 codes)SC LLR Building Codes Councilllr.sc.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved About a coming change
“On August 26, 2025, the South Carolina Building Codes Council adopted the latest editions of the mandatory codes”
2024 Code Adoption NoticeSC LLR Building Codes Councilllr.sc.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved
Tracker cross-checks
Code adoption trackers are a cross-check. They are not South Carolina’s own record.
ICC’s code adoption mapCross-checkAgrees with the record
State South Carolina 21 21 21 21 21 21 09 09 X X X X (April 2026 chart copy)