Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs

Building Energy Code

Program Overview


Category:
Regulatory Policy
Program Type:
Building Energy Code
Implementing Sector:
State
State:
Oregon
Eligible Storage Technologies:
Solar Water Heat, Solar Photovoltaics, Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building
Website:
http://bcap-ocean.org/state-country/oregon
Residential Code:
2017 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) for 1-2 family residential dwellings, based on the 2015 International Residential Code. Some provisions are better than the 2018 IECC. State-developed CodeComp software may be used to show compliance.
Commercial Code:
2019 Oregon Zero Energy Ready Commercial Code for non-residential buildings, based on the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2016, is mandatory statewide. COMcheck may be used to show compliance.
Code Change Cycle:
It begins every three years with the availability of new editions of or supplements to the International Code Council model codes.
Applicable Sectors:
Commercial, Residential
Last Updated:
06/12/2020

Summary

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 Oregon Energy Code amendments were most recently updated for both residential and non-residential construction in 2017 and 2019, respectively. 

The Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC), Chapter 11, contains energy efficiency requirements for one- and two-family dwelling construction. The Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC), Chapter 13, contains energy conservation requirements for buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings.

In 2006, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski mandated a 15% increase in energy performance by new residential construction by 2015. In response to this, the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) and Dept. of Energy cooperatively submitted an energy code change proposal. This proposal was enacted in March 2008 and became effective July 1, 2008. The residential code was updated in 2011, then updated again, effective October 1, 2017.

The state energy code provisions are mandatory for all heated and/or cooled residential and commercial construction, including state-owned and -operated buildings that are constructed, altered, and repaired within the state. The energy conservation requirements are a mandatory statewide minimum that cannot be modified by local government without state approval.


Authorities

NameEnacted DateEffective DateExpired Date
2019 Oregon Zero Energy Ready Commercial Code10/01/2019
2017 Oregon Residential Specialty Code10/01/2017