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Search the building code.

Every 2024 IRC section and the IBC as it loads, by number or topic, plus the local rules for your city. Free to search.

Detached houses, duplexes and townhouses up to 3 stories with their own exits use the IRC; every other building uses the IBC (IBC 101.2).

A random sample from 1,598 sections for San Antonio, TX, the 2024 IRC

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  • R602.12

    Simplified Wall Bracing

    • Simple wall bracing works for up to three stories on concrete or masonry, walls 10 ft or less, roofs 15 ft eave-to-ridge, 130 mph or less in B or C, SDC A-C (A-B townhouses), with 1/2 in interior gypsum.

    International Residential Code, 2024 · Chapter 6, Wall ConstructionRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

  • R302.1

    Exterior Walls

    Used in checks
    • An unsprinklered house's exterior walls closer than 5 ft to the lot line need a 1-hour rating, tested from both sides.
    • Unsprinklered: no projections within 2 ft of the line; 1-hour underside from 2 to under 5 ft; unrated at 5 ft or more.
    • Unsprinklered: no wall openings within 3 ft; up to 25% of the wall at 3 ft to under 5 ft; unlimited at 5 ft or more.
    • Penetrations within 3 ft of the lot line are protected per R302.4.
    • A fully sprinklered house only needs rated walls (tested from outside) under 3 ft; openings are unlimited from 3 ft and projections can be rated from 2 ft.
    • In a fully sprinklered subdivision, the separation distance can drop to 0 ft where the neighbouring lot keeps an open yard of 6 ft or more.
    • Two homes on one lot measure to an imaginary line between them; townhouses measure to the lot line or an imaginary line.
    • Exempt: walls perpendicular to the line, the owner's own accessory buildings, permit-exempt sheds, and foundation vents. A detached garage within 2 ft of the line may have eaves of up to 4 in.

    International Residential Code, 2024 · Chapter 3, Building PlanningRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

  • R602.12.1

    Circumscribed Rectangle

    • Draw one rectangle around each floor, enclosed garages and sunrooms included; no side over 60 ft and no more than 3:1.

    International Residential Code, 2024 · Chapter 6, Wall ConstructionRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

  • R507.5.1

    Deck Beam Bearing

    • Deck beam plies are continuous between bearings, cantilever no more than a quarter of the span, and bear 1-1/2 in on wood or 3 in on concrete.

    International Residential Code, 2024 · Chapter 5, FloorsRead the full text (opens UpCodes in a new tab)

Searches all 4,276 IRC 2024 sections, 5,532 IBC 2024 sections and defined terms (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 so far) and each city's local rules as they are added. Section numbers and titles from the International Residential Code and International Building Code, 2024 editions, copyrighted by the International Code Council; the IRC's electrical chapters (34 to 43) follow NFPA 70, the National Electrical Code. Requirements are summarized in our words (IRC Chapters 3 to 43, IBC Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33); read the full text at the link on each result. Local values come from each city's published documents.

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