The ninth edition building code of the Massachusetts State Building Code (MSBC – 780 CMR) became effective on October 20, 2017. The MSBC is based on the 2015 I-Codes published by the International Code Council (ICC), and state-specific amendments adopted by the Board of Building Regulation and Standards (BBRS). It consists of the Residential volume which regulates all one and two family structures and townhouses that are three stories or less, and the Base volume which regulates all structures that are not covered by the Residential regulations. The BBRS regularly updates the state building codes as new information and technology becomes available and change is warranted.
Building Code Compliance Software for Massachusetts
Plan Analyst code compliance software programs make it easy for building officials, architects and other designers to quickly perform commercial and residential building code plan reviews / code studies. Plan Analyst for the 2015 IBC and Plan Analyst for the 2015 IRC simplifies the plan review / code study process enabling compliance to specific code years. This proven software allows modifications to accommodate local amendments, where applicable. Users have the ability to add code requirements and to add to the checklist. Changes can be made permanent by changing the data file using the setup section of Plan Analyst, or specific reports can be edited for special conditions.
Plan Analyst Calculators: Deck – Sign – Beam & Column
Plan Analyst Deck, Sign and Beam & Column Calculators are additional simple and effective design and code review software tools that will quickly become your go-to resources when working on associated tasks.
Users of Plan Analyst in Massachusetts have included:
| City of Chelsea | Bain & Company |
| City of Leominster | B. Thomas Heinzer Associates |
| Town of Barre | Building Technologies, Inc. |
| Town of Brookline | FCCIP |
| Town of Deerfield | Metcalf & Eddy |
| Town of Sherborn | R.W. Sullivan Engineering |
Building and Residential Code Resources in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Federation of Building Officials
- Access the MSBC
- Purchase code books.
- Purchase Plan Analyst for the IBC and or IRC to automate and simplify your plan reviews / code studies plananalyst.com.
- The ICC General Code website provides access to some municipal codes.
Energy Code Compliance Software for Massachusetts
Visit the U.S. Department of Energy website to see the latest on energy code adoption in Massachusetts, including the use of COMcheck and REScheck Energy Code compliance software. COMcheck enables architects, builders, designers, and contractors to determine whether new commercial or high-rise residential buildings, additions, and alterations meet the requirements of the IECC and ASHRAE Standard 90.1. REScheck product enables builders, designers, and contractors to determine whether new homes, additions, and alterations meet the requirements of the IECC or a number of state energy codes.
The “Building Codes Assistance Project” also provides information on Massachusetts’ building energy codes.
FEMA Building Code Adoption Tracking
The FEMA Building Code Adoption Tracking program reports on the status of hazard-resistant building code adoption in each state. Massachusetts is in FEMA Region 1. Read the 2023 Region 1 fact sheet showing the annual metric of the percent of communities adopting hazard-resistant building codes in Massachusetts.
AIA and ICC
American Institute of Architects – AIA Massachusetts represents architects in the state. There are over 7,000 registered and reciprocal architects in Massachusetts .
There are multiple ICC Chapters in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts code adoption status on the ICC website