50 states, real official resources
Building Codes & Permit
Requirements by State
Resources and official contacts for building codes across the United States.
The basics
Why building codes matter for your steel building
Planning a steel building requires more than choosing the size and design of the structure. Every building must comply with construction regulations that ensure safety, structural performance, and long-term durability.
Building codes define the minimum requirements for structural design, materials, and safety systems used in construction. These regulations determine how a building must be engineered to withstand environmental forces, including wind, snow accumulation, seismic activity, and roof loads.
Understanding applicable building codes is essential before designing or purchasing a metal building. Local authorities review construction plans and issue permits to ensure structures comply with these regulations.
The national baseline
What building codes apply to metal buildings?
Most jurisdictions in the United States base their building regulations on the International Building Code (IBC) developed by the International Code Council. The IBC establishes structural design standards and references engineering guidelines, such as ASCE 7, which defines minimum structural load requirements, including wind, snow, seismic, and other environmental loads. Although the IBC provides a national model, individual states and municipalities adopt and modify these codes to address regional conditions.
- Model codeInternational Building Code (IBC)International Code Council
- Load standardASCE 7Wind, snow, seismic, and other environmental loads
- Adopted byStates and municipalitiesAdopt and modify these codes to address regional conditions
Engineering fundamentals
Structural loads that drive your design
Before a steel building can be engineered, the structural loads for the project location must be determined. These loads represent the forces acting on the structure throughout its lifespan.
Dead Load
The permanent weight of the building structure itself, including framing, panels, and fixed components.
Live Load
Temporary loads such as maintenance workers, equipment, or movable objects.
Wind Load
Wind pressure acting on the building's walls and roof surfaces. Wind loads vary significantly depending on geographic location.
snow load
The accumulated snow weight that the roof must safely support in colder climates.
seismic load
Structural forces generated during earthquakes.
collateral load
Weight of permanent non-structural equipment such as HVAC systems, lighting, sprinklers, and insulation.
Before you build
How the building permit process works
In most jurisdictions, the construction of a building requires a building permit before work can begin. Permit requirements vary by municipality, but most projects require engineering documentation demonstrating compliance with applicable building codes.
50 real official resources
U.S. building codes & permit authorities by state
The following resources provide official information about construction regulations, building codes, permit requirements, and safety standards in each U.S. state. Because building codes are typically enforced at the local level, project requirements may vary between municipalities even within the same state.
AL
Alabama
Alabama Building Codes and Construction Regulations
Alabama county and municipal governments enforce building codes and construction regulations through local permitting authorities.
Official Resource: alabama.gov ↗
AK
Alaska
Fire and Life Safety Regulations
The Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety administers construction and safety codes that regulate building safety across the state.
Official Resource: alaska.gov ↗
AZ
Arizona
Arizona Office of Manufactured Housing
The Office of Manufactured Housing (OMH) oversees safety and quality standards for manufactured homes, factory-built structures, and accessory buildings.
Official Resource: housing.az.gov ↗
AR
Arkansas
Arkansas Building Authority
The Arkansas Building Authority establishes construction guidelines and oversees building standards for public projects across the state.
Official Resource: arkansas.gov ↗
CA
California
California Building Standards Commission
The CBSC develops and maintains the California Building Standards Code used throughout the state.
Official Resource: ca.gov ↗
CO
Colorado
State Buildings Programs
Colorado's State Buildings Program establishes minimum building codes for construction projects involving state-owned facilities.
Official Resource: colorado.gov ↗
CT
Connecticut
Office of the State Building Inspector
The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services oversees the State Building Code and construction compliance.
Official Resource: ct.gov ↗
DE
Delaware
Delaware Construction Codes
Delaware's building regulations cover building permits and construction code requirements.
Official Resource: delaware.gov ↗
FL
Florida
Florida Building Code & Permit System
Florida maintains one of the most comprehensive statewide building code systems, particularly addressing hurricane-resistant construction.
Official Resource: floridabuilding.org ↗
GA
Georgia
Georgia Construction Codes
Georgia's Department of Community Affairs administers state minimum construction codes adopted by local jurisdictions.
Official Resource: georgia.gov ↗
HI
Hawaii
Construction Code Rules
Hawaii's Department of Accounting and General Services establishes statewide construction code rules.
Official Resource: hawaii.gov ↗
ID
Idaho
Idaho Division of Building Safety
The Division of Building Safety administers construction codes and regulatory compliance across the state.
Official Resource: idaho.gov ↗
IL
Illinois
Illinois Building Codes
Illinois construction regulations and building codes are administered through state agencies and local jurisdictions.
Official Resource: illinois.gov ↗
IN
Indiana
Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission
Indiana's Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission oversees building code services and regulatory enforcement.
Official Resource: in.gov ↗
IA
Iowa
Iowa Building Codes
The Iowa Division of Labor oversees construction code requirements and safety regulations.
Official Resource: iowa.gov ↗
KS
Kansas
Kansas Energy Efficiency and Building Codes
Kansas administers building code regulations and energy efficiency requirements through state agencies.
Official Resource: ks.gov ↗
KY
Kentucky
Department of Housing, Buildings & Construction
Kentucky's Public Protection Cabinet administers statewide building code requirements.
Official Resource: kentucky.gov ↗
LA
Louisiana
Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal
The State Fire Marshal's Office administers the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code.
Official Resource: louisiana.gov ↗
ME
Maine
Bureau of Building Codes and Standards
Maine's Department of Public Safety administers the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code.
Official Resource: maine.gov ↗
MD
Maryland
Maryland Building Codes
The Department of Labor provides links to building code authorities across the state.
Official Resource: maryland.gov ↗
MA
Massachusetts
Massachusetts State Building Code
The Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards manages the state building code.
Official Resource: mass.gov ↗
MI
Michigan
Bureau of Construction Codes
Michigan's Bureau of Construction Codes regulates building construction and safety standards throughout the state.
Official Resource: michigan.gov ↗
MN
Minnesota
Minnesota State Building Code
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry administers statewide building codes.
Official Resource: mn.gov ↗
MS
Mississippi
Mississippi Building Codes
Mississippi municipalities enforce construction codes through local building departments.
Official Resource: iccsafe.org ↗
MO
Missouri
Missouri Code of State Regulations
Missouri construction regulations are administered through the Division of Professional Registration.
Official Resource: mo.gov ↗
MT
Montana
Montana Building Codes Program
The Building Codes Program of the Montana Department of Labor & Industry establishes and enforces statewide building codes by issuing permits and performing inspections.
Official Resource: mt.gov ↗
NE
Nebraska
Nebraska Energy Codes
Nebraska construction and energy efficiency codes are administered at the state level.
Official Resource: nebraskalegislature.gov ↗
NV
Nevada
Nevada Administrative Code
Nevada building regulations are contained within the Nevada Administrative Code.
Official Resource: leg.state.nv.us ↗
NH
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Building Code Review Board
The Board reviews and updates building codes adopted within the state.
Official Resource: nh.gov ↗
NJ
New Jersey
Division of Codes and Standards
New Jersey enforces building codes through its Uniform Construction Code program.
Official Resource: nj.gov ↗
NM
New Mexico
New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department
The department oversees building construction regulations across the state.
Official Resource: nm.gov ↗
NY
New York
Division of Code Enforcement and Administration
New York administers statewide construction codes and regulatory enforcement.
Official Resource: ny.gov ↗
NC
North Carolina
North Carolina Building Code Council
The council develops and updates the state's building codes.
Official Resource: ncosfm.gov ↗
ND
North Dakota
Division of Community Services
The North Dakota Division of Community Services maintains the state building code.
Official Resource: nd.gov ↗
OH
Ohio
Ohio Board of Building Standards
The board establishes statewide construction and safety codes.
Official Resource: ohio.gov ↗
OK
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission
The commission administers building codes and regulatory standards.
Official Resource: oklahoma.gov ↗
OR
Oregon
Oregon Building Codes Division
The Building Codes Division administers statewide construction codes.
Official Resource: oregon.gov ↗
PA
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code
Pennsylvania adopted the Uniform Construction Code statewide in 2004.
Official Resource: pa.gov ↗
RI
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Building Code Commission
The commission establishes statewide building codes.
Official Resource: ri.gov ↗
SC
South Carolina
South Carolina Building Codes Council
The council administers construction codes across the state.
Official Resource: sc.gov ↗
SD
South Dakota
Manufactured Housing Construction Standards
South Dakota regulates manufactured housing through federal safety standards.
Official Resource: sdlegislature.gov ↗
TN
Tennessee
Tennessee Fire Prevention Division
The division administers residential building codes and safety regulations.
Official Resource: tn.gov ↗
TX
Texas
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Texas provides information regarding license compliance and construction regulations.
Official Resource: texas.gov ↗
UT
Utah
Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing
The division administers building codes and construction licensing.
Official Resource: utah.gov ↗
VT
Vermont
Building and Construction Licenses and Permits
Vermont provides construction permitting guidance through state agencies.
Official Resource: vermont.gov ↗
VA
Virginia
Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code
Virginia enforces statewide construction codes through the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Official Resource: virginia.gov ↗
WA
Washington
Washington State Building Code Council
The council develops and updates statewide building codes.
Official Resource: wa.gov ↗
WV
West Virginia
West Virginia Building Code
The State Fire Marshal's Office administers building code enforcement.
Official Resource: wv.gov ↗
WI
Wisconsin
Safety and Buildings Division
Wisconsin's Department of Safety and Professional Services administers building codes.
Official Resource: wisconsin.gov ↗
WY
Wyoming
Department of Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety
Wyoming regulates building safety and construction standards statewide.
Official Resource: wyo.gov ↗
Engineering standards bodies
Additional building resources
Several organizations establish engineering standards used throughout the construction industry.
ICC
International Code Council (ICC)
The ICC develops model building codes used throughout the United States, including the International Building Code and International Residential Code.
ASCE
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
ASCE publishes the ASCE 7 standard, which defines minimum design loads for buildings and structures.
AISC
American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
AISC publishes the Steel Construction Manual, which provides structural design specifications for steel buildings.
ACI
American Concrete Institute (ACI)
ACI develops standards for structural concrete design, including ACI 318, widely used in building construction.
NFPA
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
The NFPA publishes fire safety codes and standards used throughout the construction industry, including NFPA 13 for fire sprinkler systems and NFPA 101 for life safety requirements in buildings.
AISI
American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)
AISI develops design standards for cold-formed steel structures, commonly used in steel framing systems for commercial and industrial buildings.
Common questions
Building codes FAQs
Quick answers to the questions we hear most. Still unsure? Our building specialists are happy to help.
Most jurisdictions base requirements on the International Building Code (IBC), which references ASCE 7 for wind, snow, and seismic load requirements, though specific requirements vary by state and municipality.
Toro provides the engineered drawings and documentation needed to support your permit application; the application itself is typically submitted through your local building department.
Most areas require a building permit for a garage this size. Every Toro building comes with engineer-stamped drawings for the permit, designed to your local snow, wind and seismic loads and building code.
Yes. Each package is engineered for the snow, wind and seismic loads and the code at your site, with drawings for your permit application. Check permit rules with your local building department before you order.
Yes. Every Toro building is engineered for its location's snow, wind and seismic loads and comes with stamped engineered drawings you can submit with your building permit application.
Yes. Each building is engineered to the building code and design loads for its exact location, and the drawings are sealed by in-house or partner engineers licensed in the state or country where it will stand. Toro facilities are certified to IAS AC472 and AISC, and weld to AWS D1.1. See how we engineer your building.