North Dakota

In 1979, the 46th North Dakota Legislative Assembly created the North Dakota State Building Code. At the same time, the Legislature amended N.D.C.C. Sections 11-33-01, 40-47-01, and

58-03-11 relating to the authority of cities, townships, and counties to zone to reflect compliance with the state building code. The Legislature directed that the state building code would consist of the Uniform Building Code published by the International Conference of Building Officials.

In 1985, the 49th Legislative Assembly added the Uniform Mechanical Code, also published by the International Conference of Building Officials.

Until 1991, the Legislature maintained the authority to update the state building code, but this process did not permit the state to update the state building code in a timely manner as new editions of the Uniform Building Code and Uniform Mechanical Code were published. In 1991, the Legislature provided for the state building code to be updated as new editions of the codes

are published. This procedure, however, was later declared unconstitutional. As a result, in 1993 the Legislative Assembly shifted the responsibility for updating the state building code to the

Office of Management and Budget, which then designated the Office of Intergovernmental

Assistance (now the Division of Community Services) to adopt rules to implement and periodically update and to amend the code. The Legislative Assembly also directed in 1993, that effective August 1, 1994, any city, township, or county that elects to administer and enforce a

building code shall adopt and enforce the state building code. However, the Legislative

Assembly also provided for the ability for a city, county, or township to amend the state building code to conform to local needs. The first Administrative Rule (Article 4-08-01) for updating the state building code became effective December 1, 1994.

In 2001, the 57th Legislative Assembly amended N.D.C.C. 54-21.3-03, deleting the reference to the Uniform Building Code and Uniform Mechanical Code because they were no longer being published. In their place, the Legislative Assembly designated the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, and International Fuel Gas Code as the codes that would make up the state building code. The first version of these codes to be adopted was the 2000 edition. The Legislative Assembly also created a Building Code Advisory Committee to help write administrative rules and to develop recommendations on proposed code amendments. A new Administrative Rule (Article 108, Chapter 108-01) to implement, amend, and periodically update the state building code became effective July 22, 2002.

In 2004, the Building Code Advisory Committee and the eligible local jurisdictions adopted the

2003 edition of the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International

Mechanical Code, and International Fuel Gas Code with amendments.

In 2007, the Building Code Advisory Committee and the eligible local jurisdictions adopted the

2006 edition of the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International

Mechanical Code, and International Fuel Gas Code with amendments.

In 2009, the Building Code Advisory Committee and the eligible local jurisdictions made additional amendments to the State Building Codes. 

In 2010 the Advisory Committee and eligible jurisdictions adopted the 2009 versions of the IBC, IRC, IMC and IFGC with amendments. In addition, in accordance with the State Legislature, the energy conservation provisions of the IBC (Chapter 13) and IRC (Chapter 11) were retained with minor amendments.

In 2013 the Advisory Committee and eligible jurisdictions adopted the 2012 versions of the IBC, IRC, IMC and IFGC with amendments. In addition, in accordance with the State Legislature, the energy conservation provisions of the IBC (Chapter 13) and IRC (Chapter 11) were retained with minor amendments.