What building code does Boston, MA use?
Boston, MA currently enforces the 10th edition (2021 I-Codes) Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR, amended 2021 IBC). Boston enforces the state-adopted code. 780 CMR 10th edition took effect Oct 11, 2024 and has been the sole code since the 9th/10th concurrency period ended June 30, 2025; the Massachusetts Electrical Code moved to the 2026 NEC effective April 24, 2026, and Boston has opted into the Specialized Stretch Energy Code effective Jan 1, 2024.
Adopted codes
| Scope | Code | Edition |
|---|---|---|
| Building | Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR, amended 2021 IBC) | 10th edition (2021 I-Codes) |
| Residential | Massachusetts Residential Code (780 CMR ch. 51, amended 2021 IRC) | 10th edition (2021 IRC) |
| Fire | Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code (527 CMR 1.00, amended NFPA 1) | 2021 (NFPA 1) |
| Mechanical | 780 CMR 10th edition mechanical provisions (amended 2021 IMC) | 2021 |
| Plumbing | Massachusetts Uniform State Plumbing Code (248 CMR 10.00, state-written; not IPC/UPC-based) | current (last amended 2023-12-08) |
| Electrical | Massachusetts Electrical Code (527 CMR 12.00, amended NEC/NFPA 70) | 2026 |
| Energy | Municipal Opt-in Specialized Stretch Energy Code (225 CMR 22/23, amended 2021 IECC) | 2023 code, Boston opt-in effective 2024-01-01 |
| Other | 780 CMR 10th edition (amended 2021 IEBC) | 2021 |
Current adoptions effective 2024-10-11.
Permits: Boston permitting office
Get this data as JSON
curl https://codes.submittal.app/api/v1/cities/boston.jsonConfidence: high · Verified against official sources:
- https://www.mass.gov/handbook/tenth-edition-of-the-ma-state-building-code-780
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-electrical-code
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-fire-code
- https://www.mass.gov/regulations/248-CMR-1000-uniform-state-plumbing-code
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/building-energy-code
- https://www.mass.gov/doc/building-energy-code-adoption-by-municipality/download
Part of the open building-codes dataset (CC BY 4.0). See also: Massachusetts statewide adoptions.