State Building Codes | National Tradesman

We have put together the following state-by-state list of building code and permitting resources to help you gather information on projects you may be about to undertake in states less familiar. It’s no easy task to obtain the information you need for out-of-state building code, fire code, electrical code, mechanical code, accessible code, or whatever code information you happen to be searching for. Being thorough is not optional at this stage. You have to be thorough, otherwise it could be costly for you in permit suspensions, penalties, and fines not to mention the cost of untimely job prosecution.

Not every state is the same for putting a finger on building code and permitting information. Some are easy and some are difficult or even nonexistent at the state level and you will have to drill further into finding county, municipal, or city information resources. Some websites resources are beautiful while others quite frankly stink, not even having search widgets that work properly. As the National Tradesman website evolves, we will try to make obtaining building codes information a little easier for you. Please bookmark our website.

Alabama (AL)

Brings you to the State of Alabama Building Commissioner page and a listing of the currently adopted trade codes. From there it is easy menu access to plan submittal requirements and many other forms. The Alabama website makes it pretty easy.

Alabama Construction Codes

Alaska (AK)

Alaska adopts portions of the International Building Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code etc. A reference to it other than PDF archives can be found at the Alaska DPS Fire & Life Safety Regulations.

Fire & Life Safety Regs

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona’s building code adoptions are city & municipal weighted. Check with the municipal you will be performing work in.

AZ State Directory
AZ Housing Dept

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas building and trade codes along with permitting and oversight, are administered at the city and county levels of government, so you will have to contact them for more information. The link below is to the Arkansas state fire marshal which has info on codes in the interest of fire safety, egress, etc.

Arkansas Fire Marshal

California (CA)

Honestly, it can’t get easier than the way California puts their building code out there. Makes sense to just have to go to a building standards page that provides access via viewers to every part of their integrated code including electrical, plumbing etc. Wow. Easy-smeezy.

California Building Standards

Florida (FL)

Florida sure does have a handle on their stuff and provides you non-frustrating experience in finding their codes.

Florida Building Codes

Georgia (GA)

Georgia Construction Codes

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii makes your code search pretty easy.

Hawaii Code Rules

Idaho (ID)

Idaho Building Safety

Illinois (IL)

Illinois Building Codes

Indiana (IN)

Indiana Plan Review

Iowa (IA)

Iowa Building Codes

Kansas (KS)

The Kansas state website/websites are all over the place and among the most difficult to navigate and find updated building code info. BTW their search widget is less than desirable as well. Good luck.

Kansas Const Compliance
Kansas Fire Marshal

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky Dept of Hsng, Bldg, & Const

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana is another state where construction codes are more under the umbrella of cities and towns instead of the state where they are difficult at best to find. Listed is Lafayette LA as a code example.

Lafayette Codes