Guide to the Minnesota State Building Code

MINNESOTA

Guide to the

State Building Code

• Administraon

• Special Provisions

• Commercial Building

• Elevators and Related Devices

• Residenal Building

• Exisng Buildings

• Electrical

• Flood-proong

• Energy Conservaon

• Accessibility

• Mechanical and Fuel Gas

• Plumbing

• High Pressure Piping Systems

• Manufactured Homes

• Prefabricated Structures

• Industrialized/Modular Buildings

• Storm Shelters

GUIDE TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE

For nearly 50 years, the Minnesota

State Building Code has been the

standard by which buildings have

been constructed to provide our

cizens with safe, energy ecient

and accessible buildings.

From the many buildings built during

those years, no one will know the

countless lives saved from re,

structural collapse and hazardous

materials; the injuries prevented

from falls, shaered glass and

electric shock; or the prevenon

of damage to buildings from roof

ice, frost heave or water leakage.

In addion, many hundreds of

buildings are now fully accessible

and usable for our family members

and friends with disabilies while

much less fossil fuel has had to be

burned to heat and cool these same

buildings.

This Guide looks back to the original intent of the legislature to provide safe and

aordable housing, places to work, shop, eat, congregate, do business, recreate and

worship. It reviews where these protecons currently exist in the state and what codes

are in place to ensure this occurs.

The purpose of this Guide is to inform and educate regulators, government ocials

and policy makers about the State Building Code and how it serves the public’s interest

by providing for the safe use of buildings. Because one of the most important roles of

government is to protect its cizens, it is our responsibility to ensure this occurs in the

construcon of buildings.

Sco D. McLellan

State Building Ocial

INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

History

Legislave Intent

Purpose

Federal Impact

Uniformity

Benets

Requirements

Enforcement Areas

Chapters

Minnesota Building Code Administraon

Minnesota Provisions to the State Building Code

Minnesota Building Code

Minnesota Elevator and Related Devices Code

Minnesota Residenal Code

Minnesota Conservaon Code for Exisng Buildings

Minnesota Energy Code

Minnesota Accessibility Code

Minnesota Mechanical and Fuel Gas Code

Minnesota Plumbing Code

High Pressure Piping Code

Naonal Electrical Code

Industrialized Modular Buildings

Minnesota Manufactured Home Code

Prefabricated Buildings

Flood-Proong Regulaons

Storm Shelters

Code Book Fact Sheets

G uide to the State Building Code | 5

HISTORY

A State Building Code was established that

applied only to state-owned buildings.

The rst State Building Code was enacted

into law that applied to all areas of

Minnesota that enforced a building

code. Up to this point, each municipality

maintained its own unique building code

or had none at all.

The State Building Code became eecve

on July 1. If a municipality enforced a

building code, it now had to be the State

Building Code.

Legislaon established that the State Building Code would be enforced statewide beginning Jan. 1,

1977, but no later than Jan. 1, 1978. Subsequent legislaon passed in 1978 extended the date for

mandatory state-wide enforcement of the State Building Code to Jan. 1, 1979.

Legislaon provided that a non-metropolitan county may by negave referendum rescind

enforcement of the State Building Code (except provisions for accessibility). This enabled county

residents and those residing in cies that had not already adopted the code by January 1977 to

parcipate in the vote.

• If the vote was negave, the code no longer applied to townships or cies located within the

county.

• As a result of the referendums, only eight counes voted to retain the State Building Code.

These were in addion to the seven mandatory metropolitan counes.

Legislaon allowed municipalies having a populaon of less than 2,500 to decide whether or not

the State Building Code will apply in their jurisdicon. If these municipalies had already adopted

the code, they can now rescind their ordinance adopng the State Building Code (unless they were

located in one of the seven metropolitan counes mandated to enforce the State Building Code).

Legislaon established for the rst me that the State Building Code is the standard that applies

statewide for the construcon and remodeling of buildings. This means that the State Building

Code now applies to all work, regardless of whether or not the State Building Code is required to

be enforced by a municipality. This applies to everyone who constructs or remodels buildings, both

homeowners and contractors.

Legislaon established that as of Jan. 1, 2008, if a municipality had in eect an ordinance adopng

the State Building Code, that municipality must connue to enforce the State Building Code and may

not repeal its adopng ordinance. The excepon is for those municipalies having a populaon of less

than 2,500 (as permied by the 1981 legislaon).

1965

1971

1972

1977

1979

1981

2008

Photo credit: Ben Franske - Own work, GFDL,

hps://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4390505

6 | G uide to the State Building Code

LAWS 1971 – REGULAR SESSION

Be in enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota:

Secon 1. Minnesota Statutes 1969, Secon 16.83, is amended to

read:

16.83 STATE BUILDING CODE; POLICY AND PURPOSE;

APPROPRIATING MONEY. Secons 1 to 17 of the act are enacted

to enable the commissioner of administraon to promulgate and

administer a state building code in accordance with the provisions

hereof, which code shall govern the construcon, reconstrucon,

alternaon, and repair of state-owned buildings and other structures

to which the code is applicable. It is necessary that building codes be

adopted and enforced to protect the health, safety, welfare, comfort,

and security of the residents of this state. However, the construcon

of buildings should be permied at the least possible cost consistent

with recognized standards of health and safety.

Many cizens of the state are unable to secure adequate housing at prices or rentals which they can

aord. Such a situaon is contrary to the public interest and threatens the health, safety, welfare,

comfort, and security of the people of the state. Other persons in commerce and industry are also

aected by the high cost of construcon. Construcon costs for buildings of all types have risen and

are connuing to rise at unprecedented rates.

A multude of laws, ordinances, rules, regulaons, and codes regulang the construcon of buildings

and the use of materials therein is a factor contribung to the high cost of construcon. Many such

requirements are obsolete, complex, and unnecessary. They serve to increase costs without providing

correlave benets of safety to owners, builders, tenants, and users of buildings.

It is the purpose of this act to prescribe and provide for the administraon and amendment of a state

code of building construcon which will provide basic and uniform performance standards, establish

reasonable safeguards for health, safety, welfare, comfort, and security of the residents of this state

who are occupants and users of buildings, and provide for the use of modern methods, devices,

materials, and techniques which will in part tend to lower construcon costs.

LEGISLATIVE INTENT

Below is an excerpt from the 1971 Session Laws when the legislature rst authorized creaon of a State

Building Code. The purpose of the code, as shown in the rst and fourth paragraphs, sll appears today

in Minnesota Statute 326B.101. The second and third paragraphs describe factors facing the construcon

industry and society at the me that likely contributed to the establishment of the rst State Building Code.

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PURPOSE

The purpose of the State Building Code is described in Minnesota Statutes 326B.101 where it reads:

In other words:

• Basic – minimum

• Uniform – everyone designs and builds to comply with the same requirements

• Performance standards – requirements should focus on the outcome not specic methods

• Reasonable safeguards – not overly complex, costly or dicult

• Health – safe clean water, proper sewer, sanitaon, air quality, light, venlaon

• Safety – protecon from re, smoke, falling, wind, snow, frost, extreme temperature, electrocuon,

hazardous materials, panic, breaking glass, structural collapse

• Welfare – accessibility, conserves energy resources, peace of mind, habitability

• Comfort – heang facilies, soundproong between apartments, room size

• Security – school safety, nursing home demena units, correconal facilies

• Provide for the use of modern methods, devices, materials and techniques which will in part tend to

lower construcon costs – encourage and recognize innovaon and technologies that provide cost savings

in labor, equipment, and building materials

• The construcon of buildings should be permied at the least possible cost consistent with recognized

standards of health and safety – manage adopon of naonally recognized safety and health codes to

keep construcon costs as low as possible

The commissioner shall administer and amend a state code of building construcon which will

provide basic and uniform performance standards, establish reasonable safeguards for health,

safety, welfare, comfort, and security of the residents of this state and provide for the use of

modern methods, devices, materials, and techniques which will in part tend to lower construcon

costs. The construcon of buildings should be permied at the least possible cost consistent with

recognized standards of health and safety.

””

8 | G uide to the State Building Code

FEDERAL IMPACT

Energy

Minnesota is obligated to review and adopt a new

commercial energy code when recommended by

the U.S. Department of Energy. However, when a

new, more ecient residenal energy code becomes

available, Minnesota is only required to review and

consider adopng the new code.

Manufactured Homes

Since 1976, Minnesota has been a State

Administrave Agency (SAA) for the U.S. Department

of Housing and Urban Development for the

installaon of manufactured homes. As a condion of

being an SAA, Minnesota must adopt installaon and

dispute-resoluon programs compable with federal

regulaons for manufactured homes.

Prefabricated Structures

Since 1995, Minnesota has been part of an interstate

compact for the regulaon of prefabricated

structures and modular buildings. This compact

obligates Minnesota and partner states to follow specic state codes as well as uniform model rules and

regulaons when construcng prefabricated structures.

Accessibility

Although Minnesota is not required by the federal

government to administer an accessibility code, the

Americans with Disabilies Act (ADA) established both the

requirement and standard that all new and remodeled

buildings are required to follow. To simplify compliance

for architects and building owners, Minnesota adopted a

model accessibility code that is compable with ADA.

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UNIFORMITY

Uniformity is important for several reasons:

Reduced cost

Contractors only have to learn one code. This

enables them to become more ecient in

their design and construcon methods, thus

minimizing construcon costs. Building product

manufacturers are able to reduce their costs as

they can design their materials to meet just one

standard.

Levels the compeon

As the enre construcon industry uses the

same standard, esmang construcon costs

will be equitable.

Consistent code enforcement

Building ocials throughout Minnesota are

trained to understand and enforce a single

standard. This promotes uniform applicaon

and enforcement of the code, thus minimizing

errant interpretaons, construcon delays and

addional construcon cost.

Statutory requirements for uniformity

Minnesota Statute 326B.121 Subd. 1(a):

The State Building Code is the

standard that applies statewide for the

construcon, reconstrucon, alteraon,

repair, and use of buildings and other

structures of the type governed by the

code.

Minnesota Statute 326B.121 Subd. 1(b):

The State Building Code supersedes the

building code of any municipality.

Minnesota Statute 326B.121 Subd. 2(c):

A municipality must not by ordinance,

or through development agreement,

require building code provisions

regulang components or systems of

any structure that are dierent from any

provision of the State Building Code.

The State Building Code preempts and supersedes local regulaon for the construcon of buildings. A key

purpose of the legislature establishing a single State Building Code was to promote uniformity of construcon

standards throughout Minnesota.

10 | G uide to the State Building Code

BENEFITS

• Provides safe and healthy buildings

• Provides peace of mind that buildings are safe to be used

as intended

• Provides accessible buildings for all people, regardless of

ability

• Provides energy ecient buildings

• Provides buildings that are resilient to weather extremes

• Provides reduced property loss in the event of re, ood,

wind and snow

• Provides consistency in building design, bidding process

and building construcon

• Provides nancial instuons with an assured value of

quality and safety. Most require evidence of this through

the Cercate of Occupancy

• Provides insurance companies with permit, inspecon and occupancy approvals to verify insurability

• Provides prospecve property owners with documented improvement records that are somemes

necessary for real estate transfers and tax purposes

• Provides the Insurance Services Oce (ISO) with a measurable industry standard to determine cost-

eecve statewide insurance rangs

• Provides FEMA with a responsible safety standard to base reconstrucon costs to replace or repair disaster-

destroyed property

• Provides the public with a way to verify that work is done by licensed contractors, architects and engineers

• Provides a standard for consumer protecon through Minnesota’s Contractor Licensing program and

Contractor Recovery Fund

• Provides compability with the State Fire Code

• Provides quality community development through the construcon of buildings that meets the needs of

society, municipalies, building owners and residents

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REQUIREMENTS

Model codes

Minnesota law requires the State Building Code to conform as much as possible to model building codes

generally accepted and in use throughout the United States. A model code is a book of published construcon

regulaons developed by members of an organizaon having subject-maer experse. Model codes are

intended for adopon into law by local governments, states and even countries. Because wring codes

requires a great deal of work by many experienced and varied industry experts, this is usually beyond the

capacity of a local government to produce on its own.

The preferred way to eciently regulate building safety, accessibility for the disabled and energy eciency

is through the adopon and enforcement of model codes. However, because model codes are produced for

widespread use throughout all parts of the country, state government must usually amend or change some

provisions in order to address its own parcular geography, climate and legislave mandates.

Minnesota rules

Minnesota law states that the commissioner [of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry] shall by

rule and in consultaon with the Construcon Codes Advisory Council establish a code of building standards.

A rule is a type of Minnesota law that is produced by a state agency through a legally prescribed process.

Although authority for making a rule must be granted by the legislature, the legislature is not directly involved

in the process. Adopng a model code into the State Building Code is done by rule. Another example of a rule

is when the changes are made to specic requirements of the model code. Usually these are referred to as

amendments or amending the model code.

Minnesota statutes

Even though the State Building Code is established by rule using model codes, the legislature can sll enact

specic requirements into law to regulate the construcon of buildings. Most oen, this occurs as a result of

a tragedy or string of accidents where the State Building Code may not have provided adequate protecons.

Examples of some of the special provisions passed into law by the legislature include:

• bleacher safety,

• window-fall protecon,

• required safety devices for automac garage door openers,

• window-cleaning safety anchorages,

• radon control, and

• smoke detecon devices.

The State Building Code is a set of documents that regulate the construcon of

buildings so they are safe, energy ecient and accessible. The specic regulaons

contained in the State Building Code appear in one of three forms: model codes and

standards, Minnesota Rules and Minnesota Statutes.

12 | G uide to the State Building Code

ENFORCEMENT AREAS

Minnesota State

Building Code is

enforced throughout

these 21 counes.

Minnesota State

Building Code is

enforced by certain

cies and townships.

Throughout Minnesota, 507

municipalies enforce the State

Building Code.

This includes:

• 432 of 852 cies

• 59 or 1,790 townships

• 16 of 87 counes

217 designated building ocials serve

the 507 municipalies.

54 of the 217 designated building

ocials serve mulple municipalies.

The State Building Code is enforced

throughout 21 counes, 16 of which

have their own county building ocial.

12 | G uide to the State Building Code G uide to the State Building Code | 13

CHAPTERS

The Minnesota State Building Code consists of 18 chapters. Most of them adopt by reference a model code

or standard that has been developed by a naonal code-making organizaon. The remaining chapters contain

subject maer that has been wrien specically for Minnesota.

1300 – Minnesota Building Code Administraon

1303 – Special Provisions

1305 – Minnesota Commercial Building Code

1307 – Elevators and Related Devices

1309 – Minnesota Residenal Code

1311 – Minnesota Conservaon Code for Exisng Buildings

1315 – Minnesota Electrical Code

1322/23 – Minnesota Energy Code

1335 – Flood-proong Regulaons

1341 – Minnesota Accessibility Code

1346 – Minnesota Mechanical and Fuel Gas Code

1350 – Manufactured Homes

1360 – Prefabricated Structures

1361 – Industrialized/Modular Buildings

1370 – Storm Shelters (Manufactured Home Parks)

4714 – Minnesota Plumbing Code

5230 – Minnesota High Pressure Piping Systems

14 | G uide to the State Building Code

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 MINNESOTA BUILDING CODE ADMINISTRATION

• Regulates the administraon of all Minnesota adopted codes.

• Contains detailed provisions governing building ocial dues, building department operaons, permits,

plan review, violaons, fees, inspecons, board of appeals and cercate of occupancy.

• Located in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1300. This rule chapter replaces the administrave chapters in each of

the 2018 Internaonal Code Council (ICC) model codes adopted by Minnesota.

EFFECTIVE DATE

• Updates to Minnesota Building Code Administraon became eecve March 31, 2020.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 Minnesota Building Code Administraon is incorporated into custom code books published for

Minnesota by the Internaonal Code Council (ICC). There is no longer a need to separately purchase the

ICC model code and Minnesota amendments and refer to them both. Now they are contained in a single

reformaed Minnesota-specic code book.

The Minnesota Building Code Administraon is available for free online viewing or can be purchased in so-

cover format as part of Minnesota’s other

published codes.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-

laws/2020-minnesota-state-building-codes to

view the code.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Code Council

hps://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-

codes/minnesota.html

701-931-4533

2020 MINNESOTA BUILDING CODE

ADMINISTRATION

14 | G uide to the State Building Code G uide to the State Building Code | 15

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 MINNESOTA PROVISIONS TO THE

STATE BUILDING CODE

2020 MINNESOTA PROVISIONS TO THE STATE BUILDING CODE

• Addresses a number of subjects related to Minnesota’s climac condions and other provisions not

appropriately regulated in the Internaonal Residenal Code (IRC) or Internaonal Building Code (IBC).

• Contains Minnesota provisions addressing restroom facilies in public buildings, parking spaces for

commuter vans, automac garage door opening systems, recycling space, foong frost protecon,

ground snow load, radial ice on towers, wood for exterior decks, paos and balconies, bleacher safety,

simplied wind loads and radon.

• Located in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1303. This rule chapter contains special code provisions required by

Minnesota statutes.

EFFECTIVE DATES

• Updates to Minnesota Provisions to the State Building Code became eecve July 31, 2020.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 Minnesota Provisions to the State Building Code is incorporated into both the Minnesota Building

Code and Minnesota Residenal Code published for Minnesota by the Internaonal Code Council (ICC). There

is no longer a need to separately purchase the ICC model code and Minnesota amendments and refer to them

both. Now they are contained in a single reformaed Minnesota-specic code book.

The Minnesota Provisions to the State Building Code is available for free online viewing or can be purchased as

part of the Minnesota Building or Minnesota Residenal codes in so-cover format.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-

laws/2020-minnesota-state-building-codes to view

the code.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Code Council

hps://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-codes/

minnesota.html

701-931-4533

16 | G uide to the State Building Code

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 MINNESOTA BUILDING CODE

• Regulates the design, construcon, addion, alteraon, repair, use and locaon of all buildings and

structures other than those regulated by the 2020 Minnesota Residenal Code.

• Contains detailed provisions governing building construcon. These include requirements for structural,

means of egress, sanitaon, life-safety, re-safety, and moisture protecon.

• Located in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1305. This rule chapter adopts by reference Chapters 2 through 35 of

the 2018 Internaonal Building Code (IBC) and includes amendments to the IBC.

EFFECTIVE DATES

• Minnesota Building Code became eecve March 31, 2020.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 Minnesota Building Code is a custom code book published for Minnesota by the Internaonal

Code Council (ICC). It includes Minnesota's amendments into the body of changed secons and reads as a

unied code book. It also includes Minnesota chapters about Administraon and Radon. There is no longer

a need to separately purchase the ICC model code and Minnesota

amendments and refer to them both. Now they are contained in a

single reformaed Minnesota-specic code book.

Code books are available for purchase and free, online viewing is

available.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-laws/2020-minnesota-

state-building-codes to view the code.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Code Council

hps://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-codes/minnesota.html

701-931-4533

16 | G uide to the State Building Code G uide to the State Building Code | 17

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 MINNESOTA ELEVATOR AND

RELATED DEVICES CODE

2020 MINNESOTA ELEVATOR AND RELATED DEVICES CODE

• Regulates the design, construcon, installaon, alteraon, repair, removal, operaon and maintenance

of elevators and related devices.

• Contains detailed provisions governing passenger elevators, freight elevators, hand-powered elevators,

dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks, vercal reciprocang conveyors, stage and orchestra lis,

endless belt lis, wheelchair lis and other related devices.

• Located in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1307. This rule chapter incorporates certain standards of the American

Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

EFFECTIVE DATE

• Minnesota Elevator and Related Devices Code became eecve Sept. 28, 2020.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 Minnesota Elevator and Related Devices Code incorporates several ASME codes and standards with

Minnesota amendments.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Minnesota Rules Chapter 1307, Elevators and Related Devices,

www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/1307/

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• The American Society of Mechanical Engineers at www.asme.org/

codes-standards/publicaons-informaon/safety-codes-standards

18 | G uide to the State Building Code

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 MINNESOTA RESIDENTIAL CODE

• Regulates the design, construcon, addion, alteraon, repair, use, and locaon of detached one- and

two-family dwellings, certain townhouses and their accessory structures.

• Contains detailed provisions governing dwelling construcon including requirements for structural, life-

safety, re-safety and moisture protecon.

• Located in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1309. This rule chapter adopts by reference Chapters 2 through 10,

44, Secon P2904, and Appendix K and Q from the 2018 Internaonal Residenal Code (IRC) as amended

in Minnesota.

EFFECTIVE DATES

• Residenal Code became eecve March 31, 2020.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 Minnesota Residenal Code is a custom code book published for Minnesota by the Internaonal

Code Council (ICC). It includes Minnesota's amendments into the body of changed secons and reads as a

unied code book. It also includes Minnesota chapters about Administraon, Radon and Energy. There is no

longer a need to separately purchase the ICC model code and Minnesota

amendments and refer to them both. Now they are contained in a single

reformaed Minnesota-specic code book.

The Minnesota Residenal Code is available for free online viewing or can

be purchased in so-cover format (English and Spanish versions).

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-laws/2020-minnesota-

state-building-codes to view the code.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Code Council

hps://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-codes/minnesota.html

701-931-4533

18 | G uide to the State Building Code G uide to the State Building Code | 19

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 MINNESOTA CONSERVATION CODE

FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS

2020 MINNESOTA CONSERVATION CODE FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS

• Regulates the design, alteraon, repair, addion, change of occupancy and relocaon of exisng buildings

and structures, including historic buildings. This code does not apply to buildings or structures regulated

by the 2020 Minnesota Residenal Code.

• Contains regulaons for building conservaon using both prescripve and performance-based provisions

with emphasis on performance. These regulaons may oen be less restricve than the IBC, making

building conservaon and reuse of exisng buildings more cost eecve while maintaining building

safety.

• Located in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1311. This rule chapter adopts by reference Chapters 2 through 16 of

the 2018 Internaonal Exisng Building Code (IEBC) and includes amendments to the IEBC.

EFFECTIVE DATE

• Conservaon Code for Exisng Buildings became eecve March 31, 2020.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 Minnesota Conservaon Code for Exisng Buildings is a custom code book published for Minnesota

by the Internaonal Code Council (ICC). It includes Minnesota’s amendments into the body of changed secons

and reads as a unied code book. It also includes a Minnesota chapter about Administraon. There is no longer

a need to separately purchase the ICC model code and Minnesota amendments and refer to them both. Now

they are contained in a single reformaed Minnesota-specic code book.

The Minnesota Conservaon Code for Exisng Buildings is available for

purchase in so-cover format. Free online viewing is also available.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-laws/2020-minnesota-

state-building-codes to view the code.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Code Council

hps://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-codes/minnesota.html

701-931-4533

20 | G uide to the State Building Code

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 MINNESOTA ENERGY CODE

• Provides energy-conserving standards for the design, construcon, alteraon, renovaon and repair of

residenal and commercial buildings.

• Contains design and construcon standards regarding heat-loss control, illuminaon and climate

control.

• Located in Minnesota Rules Chapters 1322 and 1323. This rule chapter adopts by reference Chapters 2(RE)

through 5(RE) of the 2012 Internaonal Energy Conservaon Code (IECC) for residenal, 2(CE) through

4(CE) and 6(CE) of the 2018 IECC for commercial, and oponal AHSRAE Standard 90.1-2016, the 2012

IECC and Minnesota amendments to the IECC. The IECC includes requirements for both residenal and

commercial buildings.

EFFECTIVE DATE

• Commercial Energy Code with ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2016 became eecve March 31, 2020.

• Residenal Energy Code became eecve Feb. 14, 2015.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 Minnesota Energy Code is a custom code published for Minnesota by the Internaonal Code Council

(ICC). It includes Minnesota’s amendments into the body of changed secons and reads as a unied code book.

It also includes a Minnesota chapter on Administraon. There is no longer a need to separately purchase the

ICC model code and Minnesota amendments and refer to them both.

Now they are contained a single reformaed Minnesota-specic code

book.

Code books are available for purchase and free, online viewing is also

available.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-laws/2020-minnesota-

state-building-codes to view the code.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Code Council

hps://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-codes/minnesota.html

701-931-4533

20 | G uide to the State Building Code G uide to the State Building Code | 21

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 MINNESOTA ACCESSIBILITY CODE

• Provides standards for the design and construcon of buildings to be accessible for all persons.

• Contains detailed scoping requirements from IBC Chapter 11 and detailed technical provisions from ICC/

ANSI A117.1-2009 to ensure that buildings and facilies are designed and constructed to be accessible.

• Located in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1341. This rule chapter adopts by reference Chapter 11 of the 2018

Internaonal Building Code (IBC), Secon 305 of the 2018 Internaonal Exisng Building Code (IEBC), ICC/

ANSI A117.1-2009, and Minnesota amendments.

EFFECTIVE DATE

• Minnesota Accessibility Code became eecve March 31, 2020.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 Minnesota Accessibility Code is a custom code published for Minnesota by the Internaonal Code

Council (ICC). It includes Minnesota’s amendments into the body of

changed secons and reads as a unied code book. It also includes a

Minnesota chapter about Administraon. There is no longer a need to

separately purchase the ICC model codes and Minnesota amendments

and refer to them both. Now they are contained in a single reformaed

Minnesota-specic code book.

The Minnesota Accessibility Code is available for purchase in

so-cover format. Free online viewing is also available.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-laws/2020-minnesota-

state-building-codes to view the code.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Code Council

hps://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-codes/minnesota.html

701-931-4533

22 | G uide to the State Building Code

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 MINNESOTA MECHANICAL AND

FUEL GAS CODE

2020 MINNESOTA MECHANICAL AND FUEL GAS CODE

• Regulates the design, installaon, maintenance, alteraon and inspecon of building mechanical systems

that are used to provide control of environmental condions and related processes.

• Contains d ons governing mechanical and fuel gas systems using prescripve and

performance-based provisions with emphasis on performance.

• Located in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1346. This rule chapter adopts by reference Chapters 2 through 15

of the 2018 Internaonal Mechanical Code, Chapters 2 through 8 of the 2018 Internaonal Fuel Gas Code

(including amendments to both), chapters 1 through 9 of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 154-2016, Venlaon

for Commercial Cooking Operaons, and ANSI/ASHRAE 62.2-2016, Venlaon and Acceptable Indoor Air

Quality in Residenal Buildings.

EFFECTIVE DATE

• Minnesota Mechanical and Fuel Gas Code became eecve

April 6, 2020.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 Minnesota Mechanical and Fuel Gas Code is a custom code

published for Minnesota by the Internaonal Code Council (ICC). It

includes Minnesota’s amendments into the body of changed secons

and reads as a unied code book. It also includes a Minnesota chapter

about Administraon. There is no longer a need to separately purchase

the ICC model codes and Minnesota amendments and refer to them

both. Now they are contained in a single reformaed Minnesota-

specic code book.

The Minnesota Mechanical and Fuel Gas Code is available for free

online viewing or can be purchased in so-cover format.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-laws/2020-minnesota-state-building-codes to view the code.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Code Council

hps://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-codes/minnesota.html

701-931-4533

22 | G uide to the State Building Code G uide to the State Building Code | 23

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 MINNESOTA PLUMBING CODE

• Regulates the design and installaon of plumbing systems statewide for all buildings including new,

addion, alteraon, repair and replacement.

• Contains requirements for drain, waste, and vent systems, water supply and distribuon systems, backow

prevenon, water condioning equipment, roof drainage systems, plumbing xtures, materials and non-

potable rainwater catchment systems.

• Minnesota Rules, Chapter 4714. The rule incorporates by reference Chapters 2 to 11, 16, and 17 of the

2018 edion of the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), and UPC Appendices A, B, and I, with Minnesota

amendments.

EFFECTIVE DATE

• Minnesota Plumbing Code became eecve Dec. 17, 2021.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 Minnesota Plumbing Code is published by the Internaonal

Associaon of the Plumbing and Mechanical Ocials (IAPMO) for

Minnesota in a single, reformaed custom code book. It incorporates

Minnesota amendments and reads as a unied code book. It also

includes Chapter 4716, Plumber Licensing and Apprence Registraon,

and Chapter 1300, Minnesota Administraon Code.

The 2020 Minnesota Plumbing Code is available for free online viewing

or can be purchased in so-cover format or eBook.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit hp://epubs.iapmo.org/2020/MPC/

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Associaon of the Plumbing and Mechanical Ocials Online Bookstore

hps://iapmomembership.org/store/2020-minnesota-plumbing-code/1126/

909-472-4208

Email: publica[email protected]g

24 | G uide to the State Building Code

2019 HIGH PRESSURE PIPING CODE

• Regulates the design, construcon and installaon of high-pressure steam and other heang mediums,

ammonia refrigeraon and bioprocess piping systems.

• Contains detailed material and pressure requirements for pipe, ngs and valves as well as procedure,

qualicaon and producon welding requirements on high pressure piping (HPP) systems.

• The Board of High Pressure Piping Systems has adopted ve model codes, with Minnesota amendments:

ASME B31.1-2016 for high pressure steam and other heang mediums; ANSI/IIAR2-2014 and ASME B31.5-

2016 for ammonia refrigeraon; ASME BPE-2016 for bioprocess; and ASME Secon IX-2017 for welding

requirements on all high-pressure piping systems.

EFFECTIVE DATE

• Minnesota Rules Chapter 5230, containing the Minnesota High Pressure Piping Code, became eecve

May 14, 2019.

CODE BOOK

Minnesota High Pressure Piping Laws and Rules is available for free

online viewing or can be purchased as part of the Minnesota Building

Code in so-cover format.

The four American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) codes

adopted by reference as part of the Minnesota High Pressure Piping

Code are available for purchase online through ASME or other third-party

vendors.

The Internaonal Instute of Ammonia Refrigeraon Standard ANSI/

IIAR2-2014 is available for purchase online through IIAR.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-laws/2020-minnesota-

state-building-codes to view the code.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• American Society of Mechanical Engineers

www.asme.org/shop/standards or 800-843-2763

• Internaonal Instute of Ammonia Refrigeraon

www.iiar.org or 703-312-4200

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2019 HIGH PRESSURE PIPING CODE

24 | G uide to the State Building Code G uide to the State Building Code | 25

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

2020 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE

• The 2020 Naonal Electrical Code (NEC) provides the minimum installaon criteria for electrical wiring for

commercial, residenal and industrial occupancies. The original code document was developed in 1897 as

a result of united eorts of various insurance, electrical, architectural and allied interests.

• The purpose of the code is the praccal safeguarding of persons and property from hazards arising from

the use of electricity. Contains prescripve installaon requirements for premises wiring systems but is not

intended to be a design specicaon or an instrucon manual for untrained persons.

• The code is adopted by the Minnesota Board of Electricity as required by Minnesota Statutes 326B.32

Subd. 2 (3) pursuant to Chapter 14.

EFFECTIVE DATE

• The 2020 NEC became eecve Nov. 17, 2020.

CODE BOOK

The 2020 NEC is published by the Naonal Fire Protecon Associaon

(NFPA) and is adopted in Minnesota without amendment.

The NEC is available for purchase from the NFPA and free online

viewing is available with user registraon, membership is not required.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Visit www.dli.mn.gov/business/codes-and-laws/2020-minnesota-

state-building-codes to view the code.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Naonal Fire Protecon Associaon

One Baerymarch Park

Quincy, Massachuses 02169-7471

1-800-344-3555

26 | G uide to the State Building Code

INDUSTRIALIZED MODULAR BUILDINGS

• Regulates the construcon, review process and approval for industrialized modular buildings built away

from the site of occupancy by approved modular builders. Modular buildings may be any occupancy or

construcon type allowed by code.

• Provides for Minnesota to become member of the Interstate Industrialized Building Commission.

• Contained in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1361. The rule incorporates parts of the 2007 Model Rules

and Regulaons and 2007 Uniform Administrave Procedures of the Model Rules and Regulaons for

Industrialized/Modular Buildings as adopted by the

Industrialized Buildings Commission.

• Regardless of where it is manufactured, the building

must be constructed to the Minnesota State Building

Code when it is to be installed in Minnesota.

• Industrialized Modular Buildings must be constructed

in accordance with the 2020 Minnesota Building

Code.

EFFECTIVE DATES

• Interstate Industrialized Building Commission, 2007

Model Rules and Regulaons and 2007 Uniform

Procedures became eecve July 1, 2007.

• Minnesota Rule Chapter 1361, Industrialized Modular Buildings, became eecve in 1995.

CODE BOOK

• The 2007 Model Rules and Regulaons and 2007 Uniform Administrave Procedures are available online.

TO VIEW CODE ONLINE FREE

• Minnesota Rule Chapter 1361, Industrialized Modular Buildings

www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=1361

• 2007 IIBC Model Rules and Regulaons and Uniform Administrave Procedures

www.interstateibc.org/forms

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Code Council

hps://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-codes/minnesota.html or 701-931-4533

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

INDUSTRIALIZED MODULAR BUILDINGS

26 | G uide to the State Building Code G uide to the State Building Code | 27

MINNESOTA MANUFACTURED HOME CODE

• Regulates the installaon and sales of manufactured homes and licensing of manufacturers, dealers and

installers of manufactured homes built and installed to Code of Federal Regulaons.

• Contains detailed regulaons for installaon and cercaon of manufactured homes, applicaon forms to

sell manufactured homes and record keeping of the sales and installaons.

• Is contained in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1350 and the Code of Federal Regulaons CFR 3280, 3282, 3285,

3286 and 3288.

• Manufactured homes are required only to be

constructed to the Manufactured Home Code, CFR

3280 and 3282.

EFFECTIVE DATES

• Minnesota Rule 1350 became eecve Jan. 4, 2010.

• CFR 3280 and 3282 became eecve June 15, 1976.

• CFR 3288 became eecve Feb. 8, 2008.

• CFR 3285 and 3286 became eecve Jan. 1, 2009.

CODE BOOK

• Code of Federal Regulaons is available at

hp://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_oces/housing/rmra/mhs/csp

TO VIEW CODE ONLINE FREE

• Minnesota Rule Chapter 1350, Manufactured homes

www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=1350

• Code of Federal Regulaons

hps://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_oces/housing/rmra/mhs/csp

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• The Instute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) at www.ibts.org/publicaons.html

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

MINNESOTA MANUFACTURED HOME CODE

28 | G uide to the State Building Code

PREFABRICATED BUILDINGS

• Governs the construcon of prefabricated buildings. These buildings are intended for use as one- and

two-family dwellings or accessory buildings of closed construcon built away from the site of occupancy

typically by vocaonal schools or lumber yards.

• Contains detailed regulaons for the submial of documents to be reviewed and approved prior to

construcon. Includes requirements for inspecons to determine compliance with the Minnesota State

Building Code.

• Is contained in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1360.

• Prefabricated buildings must be constructed in

accordance with the 2020 Minnesota Residenal Code.

EFFECTIVE DATES

• Minnesota Rule Chapter 1360 became eecve in 1995.

TO VIEW CODE ONLINE FREE

• Minnesota Rule Chapter 1360, Prefabricated Buildings,

is available at www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=1360.

TO PURCHASE CODE BOOKS

• Internaonal Code Council

hps://shop.iccsafe.org/state-and-local-codes/minnesota.html

701-931-4533

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

PREFABRICATED BUILDINGS

28 | G uide to the State Building Code G uide to the State Building Code | 29

MINNESOTA FLOOD-PROOFING CODE

• Ensures that buildings and structures located in a ood hazard zone are properly ood-proofed or elevated in

accordance with prescribed standards.

• These regulaons apply to the construcon, alteraon and repair of any building or parts of a building or

structure in the ood hazard area(s) of municipalies.

• Located in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1335. The rule adopts by

reference secons 100 to 1406 of the 1972 edion of the “Flood-

proong Regulaons” from the Oce of the Chief Engineers,

U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., and made part of the State Building

Code.

EFFECTIVE DATES

• Minnesota Rule Chapter 1335, Flood-proong, became eecve

Jan. 14, 1974.

CODE BOOK

• 1972 Flood-proong Regulaons by the Oce of the Chief

Engineers, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• 1972 Flood-proong Regulaons by the Oce of the Chief

Engineers, U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., available at

www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/watermgmt_secon/oodplain/

oodproong.html.

• Minnesota Rule Chapter 1335, Flood-proong, is available at www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=1335.

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

MINNESOTA FLOOD-PROOFING CODE

30 | G uide to the State Building Code

STORM SHELTERS

• Ensures that buildings or porons of buildings intended to shelter manufactured home park residents from

tornadoes and extreme winds are constructed to provide required protecon.

• Provides minimum standards of design and construcon of manufactured home park storm shelters.

• Is contained in Minnesota Rules Chapter 1370, Storm Shelters. The rule adopts by reference FEMA 361, the

Design and Construcon Guidance for Community Shelters, July

2000, published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency,

Washington, D.C.

EFFECTIVE DATES

• Minnesota Rule Chapter 1370, Storm Shelters, became eecve

March 1, 1988.

CODE BOOK

• It is available in the Minnesota State Law Library and the

Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency

Management, 85 State Capitol, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155.

TO VIEW CODES ONLINE FREE

• Minnesota Rule Chapter 1370, Storm Shelters, is available at

www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/?id=1370.

• www.fema.gov/fema-p-361-safe-rooms-tornadoes-and-

hurricanes-guidance-community-and-residenal-safe-rooms

CODE BOOK FACT SHEET

STORM SHELTERS

30 | G uide to the State Building Code

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

Construction Codes and Licensing Division

443 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155

1-800-657-3944