Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. ch. 214 (subchs. A, B, C, G, H, I, Z) § 214.216
INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE.
Operative Text
Sec. 214.216. INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE. (a) To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the International Building Code, as it existed on May 1, 2012, is adopted as a municipal commercial building code in this state.(b) The International Building Code applies to all commercial buildings in a municipality and to any alteration, remodeling, enlargement, or repair of those commercial buildings.(c) Subject to Subsection (f), a municipality may establish procedures:(1) to adopt local amendments to the International Building Code that may add, modify, or remove requirements set by the code; and(2) for the administration and enforcement of the International Building Code.(d) A municipality may review and consider amendments made by the International Code Council to the International Building Code after May 1, 2012.(e) A municipality that has adopted a more stringent commercial building code than a commercial building code required by this section is not required to repeal that code and may adopt future editions of that code.(f) A municipality may not adopt a local amendment under Subsection (c) unless the municipality:(1) holds a public hearing on the local amendment before adopting the local amendment; and(2) adopts the local amendment by ordinance. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 389 (S.B. 1458), Sec. 4, eff. January 1, 2006.Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 315 (H.B. 738), Sec. 2, eff. January 1, 2022.
Section 214.216 of the Texas Local Government Code establishes the International Building Code (IBC), as it stood on May 1, 2012, as the baseline commercial building code for municipalities across Texas. The code applies to all commercial buildings and any work done to alter, remodel, enlarge, or repair them. Municipalities retain the authority to amend, administer, and enforce the IBC locally, provided they hold a public hearing and adopt any changes by ordinance; cities that already had stricter codes in place are not required to roll them back.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 214.216, operators of commercial properties in Texas are generally expected to ensure that construction, renovation, and repair work on those properties meets at least the IBC standards as adopted on May 1, 2012. Because individual municipalities may have adopted local amendments that add to or modify those baseline requirements, compliant operators typically verify the specific code version and any local amendments in effect in the relevant city before beginning any project. Checking with the local building or permitting department is a standard step in confirming which requirements apply to a given commercial property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
While Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 214.216 primarily governs commercial buildings rather than residential rental units, tenants in commercial spaces—such as retail or office tenants—may have an interest in whether their building meets the IBC standards adopted under this provision. If a commercial tenant has concerns about building code compliance, they can inquire with the local municipal building or code enforcement office, which is responsible for administering and enforcing the code under § 214.216. Tenant-rights organizations or legal aid resources may be able to help identify whether any local amendments to the IBC affect a particular situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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