Construction Resources: Codes & Standards

The Uniform Building Code was first enacted by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) on October 18-21, 1927. Revised editions of this code were published approximately every 3 years with the final edition issued in 1997. The UBC was replaced in 2000 by the IBC, the International Building Code published by the International Code Council (ICC).  The ICC is a merger of its three predecessor organizations all of whom published different codes.

• The codes developed by the Building Officials Code Administrators International (BOCA) were used on the East Coast and throughout the Midwest of the United States. 
• The codes from the Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI) were used in the Southeast
• The codes published by the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) covered the West Coast and across to most of the Midwest.

The New Jersey Uniform Construction Code Act became effective on February 3, 1976. All construction codes and their enforcement were controlled by the provisions stated in the act. Uniform Construction Code Regulations (NJAC 5:23-1 et seq.) went into effect on January 1, 1977. On February 20, 2007, New Jersey adopted the 2006 IECC with amendments. As the new commercial code, ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2004 was adopted with minor amendments. For both residential and commercial code compliance, either the previous code or the new code can be used during a six month interim period.

NJ Division of Codes & Standards / Construction Codes Adopted in NJ / Building Codes Assistant Project: NJ