International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)

Austin City Council will review the proposed changes for the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). All input received will be submitted to the Austin City Council by September 2024.

Responses to feedback made during the comment period will be posted in the Documents section. Please contact DSDCommunications@austintexas.gov for general questions or if you require further assistance.

The IECC is a model building code developed by the International Code Council to establish minimum requirements for energy-efficient buildings. Both prescriptive and performance-based provisions are available in the IECC to allow flexibility in compliance. The IECC uses building science to protect public health and safety through the increased energy efficiency of buildings. The Energy Code also works with other model codes to contribute to individual and community resilience by supporting affordability, durability, moisture management, safety, health, and reduced carbon emissions.

The IECC is separated by residential (four stories or less) and commercial provisions. Listed below are separate pages for the residential and commercial provisions, please share your thoughts, comments, and suggestions using the comment section on each page.

Public input dates for this code depend on the date of final publication of the 2024 IECC. All input received will be submitted to the Austin City Council by September 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

When a page is open for public comment, you will notice the button on the project indicates "learn more." The "learn more" button will take you to the individual project page. There, you can provide your feedback and questions about the proposed Code changes. Provide your comment in the available box and select "comment." After a comment period has ended, you can still view the page and access the presentation/documents by selecting "view results". We appreciate your participation.

Adopting the most recent codes help protect the health, safety and welfare of Austin residents by

  • Responding to new findings from building science research, field experience or changes in community expectations
  • Responding to building performance assessments following catastrophic events to increase resilience in new structures
  • Introducing new and innovative technologies and construction methods
  • Aligning with other current accepted codes and standards

Additionally, adopting and implementing revised codes within two years of publication date is required to maintain our ISO Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) classification or ISO rating (currently at a class 3 for Commercial and class 4 for Residential). The BCEGS classification and ISO rating affect the insurance rating for the City of Austin.

Although each Code follows the same process, the process occurs at different times for some Codes. Certain Codes also require more steps than others during review. Consequently, not all Codes will be adopted at the same time. Please check each page for more detail about the expected timeline for each Code change.

Visit the DSD Public Meetings webpage to access the Technical Code Changes Webinar recording and slide deck from May 20, where some of the proposed changes anticipated for this code were discussed.