International Building Code
Wisconsin enforces the 2021 IBC
The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) has been in force in Wisconsin since Sep 1, 2025. It applies statewide. Adopted by Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). The legal citation is Wis. Admin. Code chs. SPS 361-366 (Clearinghouse Rule CR 23-007, identified from the Legislature’s document naming).
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2021 IBC
Wisconsin Commercial Building Code (chs. SPS 361-366)
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- Wis. Admin. Code chs. SPS 361-366 (Clearinghouse Rule CR 23-007, identified from the Legislature’s document naming)
- Adopted by
- Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide
- Also called
- CBC, Commercial Building Code, SPS 361-366
Some trackers still list the 2015 IBC, but the 2015-based code was replaced on Sep 1, 2025, and DSPS required plans submitted from Nov 1, 2025 (extended from Oct 1, 2025) to meet the new code.
Exceptions
- Applies to public buildings, public structures and places of employment; one- and two-family dwellings are under the Uniform Dwelling Code (chs. SPS 320-325)
How Wisconsin adopts the IBC
DSPS revises chs. SPS 361-366 by agency rule (CR 23-007; a trade-magazine article says the update began in 2020). The Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) objected indefinitely in September 2023, which stalled the 2021-based code until the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down that power in Evers v. Marklein (2025 WI 36, Jul 8, 2025) and DSPS published the code effective Sep 1, 2025. The Legislature then passed AB 450 to keep the old code for plans submitted through Apr 1, 2026, but the Governor vetoed it on Dec 5, 2025, and the Senate companion SB 475 failed to pass.
Cycle. Irregular: a 2015-based code was replaced by the 2021-based code in 2025 (no 2018 adoption found), and the update was delayed by a legislative objection from September 2023 to July 2025.
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- Legislation2025 Senate Bill 4752025-26 regular session
Senate companion to AB 450 with the same relating-to line on applicability of the commercial building code to certain buildings.
Failed Mar 23, 2026 (failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1; committee recommended passage Nov 7, 2025)
docs.legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab) - Legislation2025 Enrolled Joint Resolution 13 (introduced as 2025 Assembly Joint Resolution 133)
Proposed constitutional amendment (new art. IV, s. 35) letting the full Legislature suspend agency rules, in whole or part, by a joint resolution adopted by a majority of all members elected to each house.
Pending: first consideration passed the Assembly Feb 12, 2026, and the Senate Feb 18, 2026; second consideration by the 2027 Legislature and a statewide vote would follow, and no ballot date is set
legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab) - Legislation2025 Assembly Bill 4502025-26 regular session
Would have kept the commercial building code rules in effect on Aug 1, 2025 (the 2015-based code) applicable to plans submitted no later than Apr 1, 2026.
Vetoed Dec 5, 2025 (passed Assembly Oct 7, 2025; Senate concurred Nov 18, 2025, 20-13; presented to Governor Dec 4, 2025)
docs.legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab) - Other actionDSPS extends the commercial building code plan-submission grace period
DSPS moved the date from which all submitted plans must meet the new 2021-based code from Oct 1, 2025, to Nov 1, 2025, while the code itself was published and effective Sep 1, 2025.
- Court rulingEvers v. Marklein, 2025 WI 36 (Wisconsin Supreme Court)
Held the statutes letting JCRAR indefinitely object to proposed rules and suspend promulgated rules facially unconstitutional because they lack bicameralism and presentment, which cleared the stalled commercial building code update.
- Legislation2017 Senate Bill 15 / 2017 Wisconsin Act 57 (rulemaking reforms, REINS-type provisions)
Requires an economic impact analysis for proposed rules and makes an agency stop work on a rule with $10,000,000 or more in implementation and compliance costs over any two-year period unless a bill authorizing it is enacted.
Enacted Aug 9, 2017, published Aug 10, 2017
docs.legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab) - UndatedOther actionJCRAR indefinite objection to the commercial building code rule (chs. SPS 361-366), September 2023
The Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules objected indefinitely in September 2023, which kept the 2021-based commercial building code from taking effect until the 2025 court ruling.
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.
“(1) Ibc. The International Building Code® – 2021, subject to the modifications specified in chs. SPS 361 to 366 is incorporated by reference into chs. SPS 361 to 366.”
Wisconsin Legislature: SPS 361.05 (Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 361)Wisconsin Legislaturedocs.legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “CR 23-007: am. Register August 2025 No. 836, eff. 9-1-25.”
Wisconsin Legislature: SPS 361.05 (Wis. Admin. Code ch. SPS 361)Wisconsin Legislaturedocs.legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “incorporate by reference the 2021 International Building Code.”
“apply to a public building, public structure, or place of employment if the plans”
2025 Assembly Bill 450 (bill text)Wisconsin Legislaturedocs.legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab)BillRetrieved cr 23 007 fiscal estimate and economic impact analysis (Legislature docs-preview host)Wisconsin Legislaturedocs-preview.legis.wisconsin.gov (opens in a new tab)Other sourceRetrieved About the note
20250916CBC ExtensionNewsReleaseWisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)dsps.wi.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved