Updated : 04/26/2024

Overview

The District of Columbia adopted the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendices F, H, K, and M, with amendments, as the districtwide residential code known as the 2017 District of Columbia Residential Code (DCRC) and part of the 2017 DC Construction Codes. D.C. Code § 6-1409 (Mayor may issue rules to adopt and amend codes to be adopted by DC Council); DCMR 2017-12-B1, et seq. (Residential Code Supplement of 2017, amendments); 2015 IRC. The District of Columbia adopted the 2015 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices E, G, and N, with amendments, as the districtwide building code known as the 2017 District of Columbia Building Code (DCBC) and part of the 2017 DC Construction Codes. D.C. Code § 6-1409 (Mayor may issue rules to adopt and amend codes to be adopted by DC Council); DCMR 2017-12-A1, et seq. (Building Code Supplement of 2017, amendments); 2015 DCBC. The District of Columbia adopted the 2015 International Existing Building Code (IBC), with amendments, as the districtwide building code known as the 2017 District of Columbia Building Code (DCBC) and part of the 2017 DC Construction Codes. D.C. Code § 6-1409 (Mayor may issue rules to adopt and amend codes to be adopted by DC Council); DCMR 2017-12-J1, et seq. (Existing Building Code Supplement of 2017, amendments); 2015 IEBC.

The Building Code Official is charged with enforcement of the DC Construction Codes. D.C. Code § 6-1405.01.

Helpful resources for Washington, D.C., District of Columbia include the following.

• Jurisdiction's Information Page(s):
  • Washington, D.C. Building Code
• PLRB, Ordinance and Law Coverage Discussion for District of Columbia

Residential Building Code

District of Columbia adopted a statewide mandatory residential code that will control. Authority for local amendments will be limited.See PLRB, District of Columbia Building Codes for more information on state level codes.

Washington, D.C. adopted the 2015 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: yes

Ice Barrier

Are ice barriers required for Washington, D.C. ? Yes
Citation: Section: 2017-12-B301
Municipal Code https://www.dcregs.dc.gov/Common/DCMR/SectionList.aspx?SectionNumber=2017-12-B301
Comments:

TABLE R301.2(1)
CLIMATIC AND GEOGRAPHIC DESIGN CRITERIA

GROUND SNOW LOAD	WIND DESIGN		SEISMIC DESIGN CATEGORYf	SUBJECT TO DAMAGE FROM			WINTER DESIGN TEMPe	ICE BARRIER UNDERLAY-MENT REQUIREDh	FLOOD HAZARDSg	AIR FREEZING INDEXi	MEAN ANNUAL TEMPj
	Speedd (mph)	Topographic effectsk		Weatheringa	Frost line depthb	Termitec
30	115	Not Applicable (NA)	A	Severe	30	M-H	17	YES	…	500	55

Government Officials

Comments

The District of Columbia adopted the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendices F, H, K, and M, with amendments, as the districtwide residential code known as the 2017 District of Columbia Residential Code (DCRC) and part of the 2017 DC Construction Codes. D.C. Code § 6-1409 (Mayor may issue rules to adopt and amend codes to be adopted by DC Council); DCMR 2017-12-B1, et seq. (Residential Code Supplement of 2017, amendments); 2015 IRC. 

The Building Code Official is charged with enforcement of the DC Construction Codes. D.C. Code § 6-1405.01.

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.

The District of Columbia did not adopt Appendix J of the 2015 IRC. DCMR 2017-12-B1, et seq..

Commercial Building Code

Washington, D.C. adopted the 2015 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 the adoption without amendment to the model code here.

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Comments

The District of Columbia adopted the 2015 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendices E, G, and N, with amendments, as the districtwide building code known as the 2017 District of Columbia Building Code (DCBC) and part of the 2017 DC Construction Codes. D.C. Code § 6-1409 (Mayor may issue rules to adopt and amend codes to be adopted by DC Council); DCMR 2017-12-A1, et seq. (Building Code Supplement of 2017, amendments); 2015 DCBC. 

The Building Code Official is charged with enforcement of the DC Construction Codes. D.C. Code § 6-1405.01.

Existing Buildings

The District of Columbia adopted the 2015 International Existing Building Code (IBC), with amendments, as the districtwide building code known as the 2017 District of Columbia Building Code (DCBC) and part of the 2017 DC Construction Codes. D.C. Code § 6-1409 (Mayor may issue rules to adopt and amend codes to be adopted by DC Council); DCMR 2017-12-J1, et seq. (Existing Building Code Supplement of 2017, amendments); 2015 IEBC.

Other Building Codes