Building Energy Code

June 18, 2023

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.

The Oregon Energy Code amendments were most recently updated for both residential and non-residential construction in 2017 and 2019, respectively.

The Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC), Chapter 11, contains energy efficiency requirements for one- and two-family dwelling construction. The Oregon Structural Specialty Code (OSSC), Chapter 13, contains energy conservation requirements for buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings.

In 2006, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski mandated a 15% increase in energy performance by new residential construction by 2015. In response to this, the Oregon Building Codes Division (BCD) and Dept. of Energy cooperatively submitted an energy code change proposal. This proposal was enacted in March 2008 and became effective July 1, 2008. The residential code was updated in 2011, then updated again on October 1, 2017.

The state energy code provisions are mandatory for all heated and/or cooled residential and commercial construction, including state-owned and -operated buildings that are constructed, altered, and repaired within the state. The energy conservation requirements are a mandatory statewide minimum that cannot be modified by local government without state approval.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	State
Category:	Regulatory Policy
State:	Oregon
Incentive Type:	Building Energy Code
Web Site:	https://www.energycodes.gov/status/states/oregon
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Solar Water Heat Solar Photovoltaics Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building
Residential Code:	2022 Oregon Residential Specialty Code (ORSC) for 1-2 family residential dwellings, based on the 2021 International Building Code. Some provisions are better than the 2020 IECC. State-developed CodeComp software may be used to show compliance.
Commercial Code:	2019 Oregon Zero Energy Ready Commercial Code for non-residential buildings, based on the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019, is mandatory statewide. COMcheck may be used to show compliance.
Code Change Cycle:	It begins every three years with the availability of new editions of or supplements to the International Code Council model codes.

Authorities

Name:	2019 Oregon Zero Energy Ready Commercial Code
Date Enacted:	10/01/2019

Name:	2017 Oregon Residential Specialty Code
Date Enacted:	10/01/2017

Contact

Name:	Shane R. Sumption
Organization:	Department of Consumer and Business Services
Address:	1535 Edgewater Dr, NW Salem OR 97310
Phone:	(503) 378-4635
Email:	shane.r.sumption@state.or.us

This information is sourced from DSIRE; the most comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States. Established in 1995, DSIRE is operated by the N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University.