Building Codes in the Age of Climate Action

Building codes usually change slowly. New editions come out every three years, and then each state or city decides whether to adopt them, often years later. Now climate and energy goals are pushing some places to move faster and go further than the standard code.

How this works depends on where you live. In "home-rule" states like Colorado and Wyoming, cities and counties set and enforce their own building codes rather than following one statewide rule. In states like California and Georgia, the state sets a mandatory minimum code, but local governments can add stricter rules on top. In roughly ten states, including Florida, Ohio, and Wisconsin, local governments can't create their own separate code versions at all — the state code is what applies.

Most codes aren't written from scratch. States and cities typically start from model codes drafted by the International Code Council, then amend them to fit local priorities. Some states use "stretch codes" — optional, more advanced versions of the energy code that let builders and code officials get comfortable with practices, like tighter insulation or electrification-ready wiring, before those practices become mandatory. Massachusetts and New York currently have some of the most advanced stretch codes in the country, tied to broader state climate plans.

What this means for your own home depends heavily on your state and town. If you're planning a renovation or new construction, it's worth checking whether your local jurisdiction has adopted a stretch code or added its own energy requirements beyond the state minimum, since that can affect what's required — and what's possible — for your project.