Building Codes and Regulatory Resources: Names, History, and Guidebooks

Code names can be confusing if not understood correctly.

California Building Standards Law: This name refers to the body of state law within California Health and Safety Code, Division 13, Part 2.5, commencing with Section 18901. The provisions of Part 2.5 govern the work of the California Building Standards Commission and how the codes adopted and published by the CBSC apply. The provisions of Part 2.5 are state laws enacted through the legislative process involving the state legislature and Governor. See Health and Safety Code Section 18901.

California Building Standards Code: This name refers to the building standards located in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations as published by the California Building Standards Commission. The building standards in the California Building Standards Code are state regulations adopted by various state agencies in the Executive Branch of state government. State laws require various state agencies to develop building standards for specific types of buildings, building equipment and features. See Health and Safety Code Section 18902.

California Building Code: This name refers to Part 2 of the California Building Standards Code in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. It should not be confused with the California Building Standards Code, which is the name given to the entire body of building standards in Title 24. Again, the California Building Code is just Part 2 within Title 24, the California Building Standards Code.

(California Deptartment of General Services 2022 Guide to Title 24.)

The Uniform Building Code was first enacted by the Pacific Coast Building Officials (now International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO)) on October 18-21, 1927. Revised editions of this code are published approximately every 3 years.

• Uniform Building Code (Historic): the early years.  Whittier, Calif. : International Conference of Building Officials, 1927-1964. 
• Uniform Building Code Standards (Historic).  Whittier, Calif. : International Conference of Building Officials, 1967-1994.
• The California Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24) was created in 1978 as an amalgamation and reorganization of existing codes.
• California Building Standards Commission Guidebooks and Other Publications including Guide to Title 24
• The new national code is the International Building Code (IBC) first produced in 2000 by the International Code Council (ICC). It combines the three model building codes published by BOCA (Building Officials Code Administrators), ICBO (International Conference of Building Officials) and SBCCI (Southern Building Code Congress International). Check with the specific community planning or building department to find out which codes apply to your project.
• The 2022, 2019, 2016 and 2013 triennial editions of the California Code of Regulations, Title 24 (California Building Standards Code).
• A 13 minute video explainer of the California Title 24 codes from the California Building Standards Commission.
• A timeline overview of the history of building code adoption in San Jose, California through 2016 (pdf)

• 2021 International Building Code Illustrated Handbook / Douglas W. Thornburg, Chris Kimball. New York: Mcgraw-Hill, 2022.
• 2018 International Building Code Illustrated Handbook / Douglas W. Thornburg, Chris Kimball, William Bracken. New York: Mcgraw-Hill, 2018.
• 2015 International Building Code Illustrated Handbook / Douglas W. Thornburg, John R. Henry. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2015.
• An Architect's guide to building codes & standards /produced by the American Institute of Architects Building. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: AIA, 1990.
• Building codes illustrated : a guide to understanding the 2021 international building code / Francis D.K. Ching, Steven R. Winkel, FAIA. Hoboken, NJ.  John Wiley & Sons. 2022.
• Code check : an illustrated guide to building a safe house / Douglas Hansen and Redwood Kardon ; illustrated by Paddy Morrissey. Newtown, CT : Taunton Press, 2009.
• Code check building: a field guide to the building codes / Michael Casey, Redwood Kardon and Douglas Hansen. Newtown, CT. Taunton Press, 2003.
• Code check building for California : an illustrated guide to the building code / by Douglas Hansen & Redwood Kardon.. Newtown, CT. Taunton Press, 2008.
• Code check complete : an illustrated guide to building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical codes. / Redwood Kardon. Newtown, CT. Taunton Press, 2012.
• The codes guidebook for interiors / Sharon Koomen Harmon, Katherine E. Kennon. 6th ed. Hoboken, NY: Wiley, 2014.
• DeWalt building code reference / American Contractors Exam Services. 4th ed. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2018.
• DeWalt residential construction codes complete handbook / written by Lynn Underwood. Boston: Cengage Learning. 2018.
• Fundamentals of residential construction / Edward Allen. Hoboken, NJ : Wiley. 2022.
• Handbook to the uniform building code. Whittier, Calif.: International Conference of Building Officials, 1998. Includes figures, drawings, a subject index and references for each chapter.
• HVAC code reference : the ultimate code reference for heating, ventilation and air conditioning installations / written by American Contractor's Exam Services. Boston: Cengage Learning. 2019.
• CBSC - California Building Standards Commission. the BSC reviews and approves building standards proposed and adopted by state agencies, Administers California's building code adoption processes, resolves conflict, duplication, and overlap in building standards. see the web site for more detailed information.
• CALBO - California Building Officials. California Building Officials (CALBO) a nonprofit organization promotes public health & safety in building construction through legislation, education and building code development. CALBO's focus is on state issues.
• ICC - International Code Council.
• UBC-IBC structural (1997-2000) comparison & cross reference. Whittier, CA: ICBO, 2000. Compares the 1997 UBC to the 2000 IBC, include comparative analysis and a cross reference directory.