Maryland — Code Adoption Summary
Adoption model: Statewide-mandatory via the Maryland Building Performance Standards (MBPS) law — every jurisdiction must adopt the designated IBC/IRC/IECC edition (locals administer/enforce; limited technical variance).
Last verified: 2026-07-03
Confidence: verified
Primary sources: MD Dept. of Labor, Building Codes Administration — https://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/build/buildcodes.shtml · MBPS matrix — https://labor.maryland.gov/labor/build/buildcodematrix.pdf
Statewide adopted codes — 2021 I-Codes (effective 2024-05-29; local adoption required by 2025-05-29)
| Code family | Adopted edition | Notes | Source |
|---|
| Building | 2021 IBC (MBPS-mandated) | | dllr.state.md.us |
| Residential | 2021 IRC | | " |
| Energy | 2021 IECC (MBPS-mandated) | | " |
| Electrical (NEC) | Referenced via IBC Ch. 27 — confirm current NEC edition with Building Codes Administration (≈NEC 2020 commonly cited; verify per jurisdiction) | not separately mandated by MBPS in the same statute | dllr.state.md.us |
| Plumbing | IPC (triennial, referenced via MBPS/IECC framework) | MD = IPC | labor.maryland.gov |
| Pool/Spa | 2021 ISPSC | | dllr.state.md.us |
Adoption model & precedence
- MBPS requires every MD jurisdiction to adopt the state-designated IBC/IRC/IECC edition — this is one of the more tightly uniform states, though local jurisdictions administer and enforce (and had a 12-month window to formally adopt after the 2024-05-29 state effective date).
- AHJ = local jurisdiction's building department, enforcing the MBPS-mandated edition.
Major cities / counties
| Jurisdiction | Notes | Building dept. |
|---|
| Baltimore (City) | MBPS 2021 I-Codes | baltimorecity.gov |
| Montgomery County | MBPS 2021 I-Codes; historically an early/strict adopter | montgomerycountymd.gov |
| Prince George's County | MBPS 2021 I-Codes | princegeorgescountymd.gov |
AHJ fallback (when local adoption is unverified)
- State baseline (certain): 2021 IBC/IRC/IECC (MBPS-mandated, eff. 2024-05-29).
- Action: confirm the exact NEC edition and IPC cycle with the local Building Codes Administration contact, and confirm the jurisdiction completed its required local adoption.
Change log
- 2026-07-03 — created; verified MBPS 2021 IBC/IRC/IECC (eff. 2024-05-29, local adoption due 2025-05-29). NEC/IPC editions flagged for per-jurisdiction confirmation.
