International Residential Code (IRC)

The comment period for this code will be open June 25 - July 24, 2024. 

Austin City Council will review the proposed changes for the IRC. To learn when approved changes are scheduled for consideration by City Council and when the changes will be implemented, please visit the main page for the COA 2024 Technical Code Changes.

Responses to feedback made during the comment period will be posted in the Documents section following the comment period close date. Please contact DSDCommunications@austintexas.gov for general questions or if you require further assistance.

The IRC is a comprehensive, stand-alone residential code establishes minimum regulations for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses using prescriptive provisions. The IRC is designed to meet the needs of the public through model code regulations.

All input received will be submitted to the Austin City Council by September 2024.

Question title

Please provide a comment or question about the Proposed International Residential Code (IRC) 2024 Technical Code Changes in the space below. Please respond by July 24, 2024.

Closed for Comments

Frequently Asked Questions

When a page is open for public comment, you will notice the button on the project indicates "learn more." The "learn more" button will take you to the individual project page. There, you can provide your feedback and questions about the proposed Code changes. Provide your comment in the available box and select "comment." After a comment period has ended, you can still view the page and access the presentation/documents by selecting "view results". We appreciate your participation.

Adopting the most recent codes help protect the health, safety and welfare of Austin residents by

  • Responding to new findings from building science research, field experience or changes in community expectations
  • Responding to building performance assessments following catastrophic events to increase resilience in new structures
  • Introducing new and innovative technologies and construction methods
  • Aligning with other current accepted codes and standards

Additionally, adopting and implementing revised codes within two years of publication date is required to maintain our ISO Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) classification or ISO rating (currently at a class 3 for Commercial and class 4 for Residential). The BCEGS classification and ISO rating affect the insurance rating for the City of Austin.

Although each Code follows the same process, the process occurs at different times for some Codes. Certain Codes also require more steps than others during review. Consequently, not all Codes will be adopted at the same time. Please check the COA 2024 Technical Code Changes page for more detail about the expected timeline for each Code change.