Building Energy Code

June 18, 2023

Summary

NOTE: 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.

Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has the authority to upgrade commercial and residential energy standards through the regulatory process. The current code, the 2022 UCC, became effective February 14, 2022.

Over 90% of Pennsylvania's 2,563 municipalities have elected to administer and enforce the UCC locally, using their own employees or via certified third party agencies (private code enforcement agencies) that they have retained. In these municipalities, the Department has no code enforcement authority, except where the municipality lacks the services of a person certified as an "Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner." If a municipality has "opted out," the Department is responsible for all commercial code enforcement in that municipality.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector:	State
Category:	Regulatory Policy
State:	Pennsylvania
Incentive Type:	Building Energy Code
Web Site:	https://www.energycodes.gov/status/states/pennsylvania
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:	Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building
Residential Code:	The 2022 Uniform Construction Code is based on the 2018 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2016. The residential code applies to 1- and 2-family detached homes and townhouses and is mandatory statewide. REScheck may be used to show compliance.
Commercial Code:	The 2022 Uniform Construction Code is based on the 2018 IECC. The commercial code applies to nonresidential buildings and is mandatory statewide. COMcheck may be used to show compliance.
Code Change Cycle:	Generally reviewed every three years with the publication of the new editions of the International Code Council's series of model codes. Most recent code update effective February 14, 2022.

Contact

Name:	Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety
Address:	990 Spring Garden St. Philadelphia PA 19123
Phone:	(717) 787-3806

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.