International Building Code (IBC) & International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
International Building Code (IBC) & International Existing Building Code (IEBC)
The proposed changes for the International Building Code (IBC) & International Existing Building Code (IEBC) were approved for adoption by the Austin City Council on June 3, 2021 and will go into effect on September 1, 2021. To see the adopted changes in MuniCode, please click here.
The comment period for the proposed changes closed March 14, 2021. Responses to feedback made during the comment period are posted below in the Documents section. Please contact DSDEngagementUnit@austintexas.gov for general questions or if you require further assistance.
The International Building Code (IBC) is a model building code developed by the International Code Council. It has been adopted for use as a base code standard by most jurisdictions in the United States, including Austin. The IBC addresses both health and safety concerns for buildings based upon prescriptive and performance-related requirements. The IBC is intended to protect public health and safety while avoiding unnecessary costs and preferential treatment of specific materials or methods of construction.
The International Existing Building Code (IEBC) is a code established in the US by the International Code Council (ICC). It is applied by most of the country’s jurisdictions, including Austin. The IEBC sets out requirements for repairs, alterations and additions to existing buildings and structures to ensure the safety of the public is maintained while avoiding unnecessary costs and preferential treatment of specific methods of construction.
The chart below details the process for this proposed change to be adopted:
The documents below provide more details about the Proposed International Building Code (IBC) & International Existing Building Code (IEBC) 2021 Technical Code Changes. A new document has been added detailing the feedback received during the engagement period, along with responses provided by DSD.
- 2021 IBC&IEBC Ordinance Presentation is the presentation used in in the video linked above.
- 2021 IBC&IEBC Proposed Changes (Pre-Law Draft) highlights proposed revisions to the current Code.
- 2021 IBC and IEBC Question Comment Response Summary provides a consolidated list of questions, comments and responses.