UPDATE ON NEW NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING CODE EFFECTIVE DATES

UPDATE: February 15, 2026: The effective date of the 2024 building code has been postponed several times by actions of the Governor and the General Assembly for various reasons. The effective date will be at least one year after the General Assembly approves the Governor’s nominees to the Residential Code Commission, which has not yet happened. The earliest possible date is March 1, 2027, but that has not been set and may be further delayed.

Until the new codes become effective, all exams for plumbing, heating, fuel piping and fire sprinkler licensing will be based on the 2018 edition of the codes as shown in the Book Reference List and Requirements link on the Exam Information page of our website at https://nclicensing.org/exam-information/.

This includes the following codes: Administration, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Energy Conservation, and Residential, as well as the NFPA Standards referenced in the 2018 code to include the 2013 Edition of NFPA 13 and 13D, and the 2011 Edition of NFPA 25.

Please note that 2018 Code Books are not eligible for returns.