Building Energy Code

Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the DOE and BCAP websites.

The Board of Building Standards is the primary state agency that protects the public's safety by: adopting rules governing the construction, repair, and rehabilitation of buildings in the state; certifying municipal, township, and county building departments to administer the code; and establishing minimum standards for construction materials.

The 2016 Ohio Building Code (OBC), adopted by the Board of Building Standards (BBS), is mandatory statewide for commercial buildings and became effective January 1, 2017. The BBS adopted the 2011 Residential Code of Ohio (RCO) which is based on the 2009 IECC and 2009 IRC, and took effect in 2013.

Compliance is determined through plan review and inspection at the local level by the local certified building department. If there is no certified building department within a jurisdiction, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance reviews and approves plans for commercial construction.