Building Codes

Want to build a new staircase or add a porch to
your home? In addition to researching costs, be
sure to find out if your new project adheres to
local building codes.
Your contractor should know associated building codes
for specific projects, but if you want to do your own additional
research, there are a few ways to find up-to-date
codes. The best way to find them — collectively called
International Building Codes (IBC) — is to head to the
reference section of your local library. Or you can find an
explanation of codes on the building section of
your local county and
state government
websites. You should be able to find codes within these department websites. The International Code Council (iccsafe.org) is dedicated to developing a
single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model
construction codes, and also can offer insight on building codes. Common
queries might include how large a building can be
in a specific area or mandatory fire prevention additions.
These codes are available in print form, but
the codes are updated frequently, so it’s best
to go to the website for the most recent versions
of codes.

Information provided by www.crs.com