Governor Albert Bryan Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands recently approved legislation that requires the adopted 2018 International Building Code® (IBC), International Residential Code® (IRC), International Energy Conservation Code® (IECC), International Fire Code® (IFC) and International Mechanical Code® (IMC) be updated to the 2024 editions. This also requires the territory to update all codes within six months of any new I-Code edition being published.

“Implementing updated International Codes® facilitates the modernization of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ building regulatory framework and enhances the well-being of its communities,” said International Code Council Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sims, CBO. “We commend this commitment to leveraging building codes to maximize public safety. This sets an example for other territories to evaluate current building codes and construction practices as they relate to the safety, resiliency and sustainability of buildings in the region.”

The I-Codes are base codes that establish the minimum requirements to ensure safe and resilient structures, and the benefits of adopting modern building codes include cost reduction and casualty prevention. Learn more about building code advocacy here.

Learn more about the new legislature here.