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.

Georgia's Department of Community Affairs periodically reviews, amends and/or updates the state minimum standard codes. Georgia has "mandatory" and "permissive" codes. Georgia State Energy Code for Buildings (International Energy Conservation Code) is a mandatory code and requires any structure built in Georgia to comply with these codes, whether or not the local government chooses to locally enforce them.

For Georgia's state supplements and amendments to the IECC, click here.

In July 2009, the Georgia State Codes Advisory Committee created a task force to review options for a green building standard. The committee adopted the National Green Building Standard with Georgia-specific Amendments as a voluntary optional code effective January 1, 2011.

Effective January 1, 2020, Georgia requires all commercial and residential buildings to meet 2015 IECC requirements with state specific amendments.

Program Overview

Implementing Sector: State
Category: Regulatory Policy
State: Georgia
Incentive Type: Building Energy Code
Web Site: https://www.energycodes.gov/status/states/georgia
Administrator:
Start Date:
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies:
  • Comprehensive Measures/Whole Building
Residential Code: 2020 Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code; includes 2015 IECC and ASHRAE90.1-2013 with Georgia-specific amendments, mandatory statewide. REScheck is available to show compliance.
Commercial Code: 2020 Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code; includes 2015 IECC with Georgia-specific amendments, mandatory statewide. COMcheck is available to show compliance.
Code Change Cycle: New editions of codes are reviewed as soon as practicable after publication. Supplements and amendments are updated annually.

Contact

Name: David Gipson
Organization: Georgia Environmental Finance Authority
Address: 233 Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta GA 30303-1911
Phone: (404) 584-1007
Email: dgipson@gefa.ga.gov

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.