Building Energy Code

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. The West Virginia State Fire Commission is responsible for adopting and promulgating statewide construction codes. These codes may be voluntarily adopted at the local level. Local jurisdictions must adopt the statewide requirements in order to enforce them at the local level. For jurisdictions that adopt the statewide codes, compliance is determined by plan review and inspection by local building officials. If local jurisdictions do not adopt the statewide codes, contractors, builders, and architects are responsible for complying with the provisions of the codes. The Fire Commission most recently updated the voluntary building energy codes in 2019. The residential code took effect on 9/30/22; the commercial code took effect on 4/30/19.