🏗️ Open Building Codes

What building code does Baltimore, MD use?

Baltimore, MD currently enforces the 2021 Baltimore City Building Code (2021 IBC per Maryland Building Performance Standards, with city amendments). Baltimore enforces the state-adopted code. The Building, Fire, and Related Codes of Baltimore City, 2024 Edition (Ord. 24-341, effective May 22, 2024) adopts the 2021 I-Codes and 2020 NEC with extensive city amendments (plus the 2021 IgCC as the city green code); Maryland's move to the 2024 IBC/IRC/IECC was still only a proposed rulemaking as of June 26, 2026, so the 2021 editions remain in force.

Adopted codes

ScopeCodeEdition
BuildingBaltimore City Building Code (2021 IBC per Maryland Building Performance Standards, with city amendments) (with local amendments)2021
ResidentialInternational Residential Code (per MBPS, with city amendments) (with local amendments)2021
FireBaltimore City Fire Code (2021 IFC; city is exempt from the state NFPA 1/101 Fire Prevention Code per COMAR 29.06.01.03) (with local amendments)2021
MechanicalInternational Mechanical Code (with city amendments) (with local amendments)2021
PlumbingBaltimore City Plumbing Code (2021 IPC, locally adopted) (with local amendments)2021
ElectricalBaltimore City Electrical Code (National Electrical Code / NFPA 70) (with local amendments)2020
EnergyInternational Energy Conservation Code (per MBPS, with city amendments) (with local amendments)2021
OtherMaryland Building Rehabilitation Code (2021 IEBC) (with local amendments)2021

Current adoptions effective 2024-05-22.

Permits: Baltimore permitting office

Get this data as JSON

curl https://codes.submittal.app/api/v1/cities/baltimore.json

Confidence: high · Verified against official sources:

Part of the open building-codes dataset (CC BY 4.0). See also: Maryland statewide adoptions.