Building Energy Code
Georgia's building energy code requires all new residential buildings constructed in the state to comply with the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with state-specific amendments, effective January 1, 2020. This mandatory standard ensures your new home meets minimum energy efficiency requirements for insulation, HVAC systems, windows, and other building envelope components. Georgia also offers an optional National Green Building Standard with state amendments if you want to exceed minimum code requirements.
All residential and commercial building projects in Georgia must comply with the 2015 IECC with state amendments as of January 1, 2020. The state allows use of the COM/REScheck compliance tool to demonstrate code adherence. Contact Georgia's Department of Community Affairs, Construction Codes & Industrialized Buildings (Ted Miltiades at 404-679-3106 or Jim Reynolds at 404-679-1739) for clarification on amendments and compliance pathways.
Georgia's mandatory building energy code applies statewide regardless of local enforcement and covers all commercial and residential structures built in the state. The current standard is the 2015 IECC (residential) and 2015 IECC with ASHRAE 90.1-2013 (commercial), both effective January 1, 2020, with state-specific amendments administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The state also offers a voluntary National Green Building Standard option (adopted January 1, 2011) for projects seeking above-code performance.
Program details
- Program ID
- 1813
- Last updated
- 6/18/2023
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial residential
- Technologies
- comprehensive measures/whole building
Program 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.
Georgia's Department of Community Affairs periodically reviews, amends and/or updates the state minimum standard codes. Georgia has "mandatory" and "permissive" codes. Georgia State Energy Code for Buildings (International Energy Conservation Code) is a mandatory code and requires any structure built in Georgia to comply with these codes, whether or not the local government chooses to locally enforce them.
For Georgia's state supplements and amendments to the IECC, click here.
In July 2009, the Georgia State Codes Advisory Committee created a task force to review options for a green building standard. The committee adopted the National Green Building Standard with Georgia-specific Amendments as a voluntary optional code effective January 1, 2011.
Effective January 1, 2020, Georgia requires all commercial and residential buildings to meet 2015 IECC requirements with state specific amendments.
Contact & resources
- Contact email
- dgipson@gefa.ga.gov
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
