Updated : 04/22/2024

Overview

Harris County, Texas, adopted the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC). Harris County, TX, Residential Building Code Standards Applicable HC, Ordinance No 2009-09 (adoption). Note that new construction that began after September 1, 2009, compliance must be with either the 2006 IRC or the building code in effect at the county seat. Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 233.153 and Harris County, TX, Residential Building Code Standards Applicable HC, Ordinance No 2009-09. Harris County, Texas, adopted the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) with amendments. Harris County, TX, Exhibit B, Harris County Fire Code, Ordinance No. 2021-09 (2021) (adoption and amendments). No adoption of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) was found in the municipal code or city ordinances; However, the IEBC is referenced in section 101.4.7 of the 2018 IBC.

Helpful resources for Harris County, Texas include the following.

• PLRB, Ordinance and Law Coverage Discussion for Texas

Residential Building Code

Texas adopted a model state residential code but it is not in force unless adopted locally.See PLRB, Texas Building Codes for more information on state level codes.

Harris County adopted the 2006 IRC, locally. Note that adoptions usually come with amendments. So, it is important to review those amendments in addition to the unamended model code.

You can find a copy of the model code here.

You can find information about amendments to the model code here.

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Drip Edge

Drip Edge: no

Ice Barrier

Are ice barriers required for Harris County ? Undetermined
Comments:

Are ice barriers required for Harris County? We contacted the city of Harris County, TX for additional amendments to Harris County, TX, Residential Building Code Standards Applicable HC, Ordinance No 2009-09 (adoption). However, no amendments regarding § R301.2 in the 2018 IRC were recorded. Any requirement for Ice Barriers is left undetermined.

Comments

Harris County, Texas, adopted the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC). Harris County, TX, Residential Building Code Standards Applicable HC, Ordinance No 2009-09 (adoption). Note that new construction that began after September 1, 2009, compliance must be with either the 2006 IRC or the building code in effect at the county seat. Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. § 233.153 and Harris County, TX, Residential Building Code Standards Applicable HC, Ordinance No 2009-09.

Existing Buildings

Existing buildings, meaning buildings that were built in accordance to code at the time of construction, typically merit extra consideration in a current updated code.

No adoption of Appendix J or the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) was found in the municipal code or city ordinances; However, the IEBC is referenced in section 101.4.7 of the 2018 IBC.

Commercial Building Code

Harris County adopted the 2018 IBC, locally. Note that adoptions usually come with amendments. So, it is important to review those amendments in addition to the unamended model code.

You can find a copy of the code here.You can find information about amendments to the model code here.

Auto Search - beta:

No results were located with the automated search.

Comments

Harris County, Texas, adopted the 2018 International Building Code (IBC). Harris County, TX, Exhibit B HC Fire Code, Ordinance No. 2021-09 (2021) (adoption and amendments).

Existing Buildings

No adoption of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) was found in the municipal code or city ordinances; However, the IEBC is referenced in section 101.4.7 of the 2018 IBC.

Other Building Codes