Code Adoption History for City of Charleston

As a historic city, Charleston has seen significant changes over the decades in several ways.  One of these is the changes in Building, Fire, Residential, and Electrical codes that have been adopted.

To help building owner, occupants, and design professionals below is a list of the dates when a specific code was adopted by either the City of Charleston or the State of South Carolina.  Since 1976, the Building, Fire, Residential Codes have been adopted by the South Carolina State Legislature for enforcement throughout the South Carolina.

Building Code Adoption

1895                       Chapter XIII, Section 482 of City Ordinances

1929                       Section 684 of City Code, National Board of Fire Underwriters, in addition to requirements prescribed by City Ordinance

1952                       Section 9-13, Adopted National Building code, 1949 Edition

1964                       Section 10-14, Adopted National Building Code 1955 Edition

1975                       Section 10-18, Adopted National Building Code 1967 Edition

1977, 1/11            Adopted Standard Building Code in place of the National Building Code (1977-2)

1980, 6/24            Adopted Standard Building Code 1979 Edition, with 1980 amendments (1980-73)

1981, 6/23            Adopted Bulletin No. 81-01 Code Ref. SBCC-1206 Seismic Design Requirements (in accordance with the Standard Building Code)

1984                       Adopted Standard Building Code, 1982 Edition (1984-55)

1986, 9/9               Adopted Standard Building Code, 1985 Edition (1986-97)

1989, 7/18            Adopted Standard Building Code, 1988 Edition (1989-61)

1991, 9/10            Adopted Standard Building Code, 1991 Edition (1991-93)

1994, 12/6            Adopted Standard Building Code, 1994 Edition

2000, 1/1               Adopted Standard Building Code, 1997 Edition – (Hydraulic Calculations for Fire Sprinkler Systems Required)

2001, 7/1               Adopted International Building Code, 2000 Edition

2005, 7/1               Adopted International Building Code, 2003 Edition

2008, 7/1               Adopted International Building Code, 2006 Edition

2013, 7/1               Adopted International Building Code, 2012 Edition

2016, 7/1               Adopted International Building Code, 2015 Edition

2020, 1/1               Adopted International Building Code, 2018 Edition

Fire Code Adoption

1986, 9/9               Adopted Standard Fire Code, 1985 Edition (1986-97)

1989, 7/18            Adopted Standard Fire Code, 1988 Edition (1989-61)

1991, 9/10            Adopted Standard Fire Code, 1991 Edition (1991-93)

1994, 12/6            Adopted Standard Fire Code, 1994 Edition

2000, 1/1               Adopted International Fire Code, 1997 Edition 

2001, 7/1               Adopted International Fire Code, 2000 Edition

2005, 7/1               Adopted International Fire Code, 2003 Edition

2008, 7/1               Adopted International Fire Code, 2006 Edition

2013, 7/1               Adopted International Fire Code, 2012 Edition

2016, 7/1               Adopted International Fire Code, 2015 Edition

2020, 1/1               Adopted International Fire Code, 2018 Edition

Residential Code Adoption

1986, 9/9               Adopted CABO, 1983 Edition

1991, 9/10            Adopted CABO, 1989 Edition

1992, 12/15          Adopted CABO, 1992 Edition

1995, 12/19          Adopted CABO, 1995 Edition

2002, 4/1               Adopted IRC, 2000 Edition

2005, 7/1               Adopted IRC, 2003 Edition

2009, 7/1               Adopted IRC, 2006 Edition

2013, 7/1               Adopted IRC, 2012 Edition

2016, 7/1               Adopted IRC, 2015 Edition

2020, 1/1               Adopted IRC, 2018 Edition

Electrical Code Adoption

2002-03*, 7/1      Adopted NEC, 2002 Edition

2007, 7/1               Adopted NEC, 2005 Edition

*Note! The 2002 National Electrical Code was adopted during the time period when local jurisdictions were allowed one year to implement the codes by local ordinance