The State Building Code Council is currently deliberating the composition of the Technical Advisory Groups for the 2024 Code Cycle. Public input is welcome. Please submit comments to the SBBC mailbox at sbcc@des.wa.gov.
Current Technical Advisory Group Composition: 2021 Code Cycle
The Washington State Building Code Council has initiated rulemaking for WAC 51-55 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code. The Sections affected are WAC 51-55-0300 (Chapter 3) and WAC 51-55-0600 (Section 603). Please see the SBCC Rulemaking Page to view filings and proposed draft language.
The Council has scheduled two public hearings to hear public testimony on proposed changes to the Washington State Energy Code, both the Commercial and Residential provisions. The first hearing is November 21, 2023, at the Yakima City Hall. The second hearing is scheduled for November 22, 2023, at the DES Building in Olympia. Both proposed rules are posted on the Rulemaking page under Off Cycle Rules and on both of the Public Hearing meeting pages.
The Washington State Building Code Council has filed an emergency rule pertaining to energy storage systems regulated under WAC 51-54A-1201 and WAC 51-54A-8000 in WSR 23-11-148. This emergency rule was in effect from May 24, 2023, through June 30, 2023, and was refiled and extended for another 120 days on July 1, 2023 (WSR 23-14-094). Due to the revised effective date for all 2021 codes (March 15, 2024), the emergency rule will be refiled again and will be effective until March 14, 2024.
On September 15, 2023, the State Building Code Council agreed on another delay. The new effective date for all building codes is March 15, 2024.
Please complete the Public Testimony Sign-Up Sheet and submit to staff by emailing SBCC@des.wa.gov, at least 30 minutes prior to the Hearing.
Note: You do not need to fill out a sign-up form to provide written testimony.
Written testimony must be sent to SBCC@des.wa.gov and received by 5:00 pm on June 28, 2023.
The State Building Code Council voted on May 24, 2023, to delay the effective date of the 2021 codes for 120 days. The new effective date for all building codes is October 29, 2023. Previously, the effective date was July 1, 2023.
The Council also directed SBCC staff to convene two Technical Advisory Groups to consider stakeholder proposals to modify sections in the commercial and residential energy codes. The modification would be intended to address legal uncertainty stemming from the decision in California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley recently issued by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Council will accept proposals addressing this issue through June 9, 2023. All proposals must be submitted on the Council's code change proposal form. SBCC staff will compile those proposals for the full Council to consider at a later date.
The Washington State Building Code Council has filed an emergency rule pertaining to energy storage systems regulated under WAC 51-54A-1201 and WAC 51-54A-8000 in WSR 23-11-148. This emergency rule is in effect from May 24, 2023, through June 30, 2023, and will be rescinded as of July 1, 2023. A new emergency rule is expected to go into effect July 1, 2023.
For more than four decades, the International Code Council, its members, and a diverse group of professionals for the building construction, design and safety communities have come together to celebrate Building Safety Month.
Building Safety Month provides education for the public about solutions that improve the safety, sustainability, affordability, and resiliency of buildings, infrastructure and communities. Contemporary planning, building materials, design and construction can make our communities more resilient in the aftermath of disasters, fires and other events.
Building Safety Month unites industries, associations, academia and government under a common goal to protect the public by creating a safe and resilient built environment.
Estimated submission period for proposed state wide amendments for the Group 2 Code Cycle will be between the dates of February 21 - April 8, 2022.
The Department of Natural Resources has finalized the development of the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Code maps. The links to these maps are located here on our website.
The State Building Code Council has begun the new adoption and review process for the 2021 code editions. The deadline for code change proposals for the Group 1 Codes (IBC, IFC, WUIC, WSEC-C) is June 1, 2021 at 5:00 P.M. The process for the Group 2 Codes (IBC structural, IRC, IEBC, IMC, UPC, WSEC-R) will begin in the fall of 2021. The anticipated effective date for the 2021 codes is July 1, 2023.
Click here for the 2021 Code Review and Adoption Schedule
All proposed statewide amendments need to be submitted in writing, on the provided forms here.
For the TAG Reports, please click here.
House Bill 2701 relating to inspection and testing of fire and smoke control systems and dampers, and penalties, will go into effect July 1, 2021. Local authorities, as defined, are the enforcement authorities identified in the statute to enforce the requirements.
RCW's cited in HB 2701 19.27.700, 19.27.710, 19.27.720, 19.27.730, and 19.27.740
The Governor repealed the 2018 Code Effective Date extension of July 1, 2021.
