New Jersey Building and Residential Codes

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards, establishes and enforces building codes in New Jersey, in partnership with the State’s municipalities.  The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) and the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) were adopted on September 6, 2022.

Building Code Compliance Software for New Jersey

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 2021 IBC and Plan Analyst for the 2021 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 New Jersey have included:

Port Authority of NY & NJCrane Associates, PC
Township of Cherry HillDCM Architecture, Inc.
Township of MansfieldFeeborne Decking
Township of Scotch PlainsHufnagel Landscape
Township of West WindsorMark Dumansky Home Improvements
Watchung BoroughRuggieri & Partners

Building and Residential Code Resources in New Jersey

Energy Code Compliance Software for New Jersey

Visit the U.S. Department of Energy website to see the latest on energy code adoption in New Jersey, 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 New Jersey’s 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. New Jersey is in FEMA Region 2. Read the 2023 Region 2 fact sheet showing the annual metric of the percent of communities adopting hazard-resistant building codes in New Jersey.

AIA and ICC

American Institute of Architects – AIA New Jersey represents architects in the state.  There are around 8,000 registered and reciprocal architects in New Jersey.

New Jersey has Regional ICC Chapters throughout the State.

New Jersey code adoption status on the ICC website