Washington Administrative Code

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.045, 19.27A.160, and 19.27.074. WSR 16-02-127, § 51-11R-50000, filed 1/6/16, effective 7/1/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.045 and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 13-04-055, § 51-11R-50000, filed 2/1/13, effective 7/1…

R501.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall control the alteration, repair, addition and change of occupancy of existing buildings and structures.R501.1.1General. Except as specified in this chapter, this code shall not be used to require the removal, alteration, or abando…

R502.1 General. Additions to an existing building, building system or portion thereof shall conform to the provisions of this code as those provisions relate to new construction without requiring the unaltered portion of the existing building or building system to comply with thi…

R503.1 General.Alterations to any building or structure shall comply with the requirements of the code for new construction, without requiring the unaltered portions of the existing building or building system to comply with this code. Alterations shall be such that the existing …

R504.1 General. Buildings, structures and parts thereof shall be repaired in compliance with Section R501.3 and this section. Work on nondamaged components that is necessary for the required repair of damaged components shall be considered part of the repair and shall not be subj…

R505.1 General. Any space not within the scope of Section R101.2 which is converted to space that is within the scope of Section R101.2 shall be brought into full compliance with this code.Spaces undergoing a change in occupancy that would result in an increase in demand for eith…

This chapter lists the standards that are referenced in various sections of this document. The standards are listed herein by the promulgating agency of the standard, the standard identification, the effective date and title, and the section or sections of this document that refe…

Building owners may choose to use this appendix to achieve an additional 6 percent savings in building energy use. The number of additional energy efficiency credits required by Section R406.3 would be increased by the following amounts:1.0 credit for each new single-family, two-…

Building owners may choose to use this appendix to achieve an additional 12 percent savings in building energy use. The number of additional energy efficiency credits required by Section R406.3 would be increased by the following amounts:2.0 credit for each new single-family, two…

As required by Section R302.2, the heating or cooling outdoor design temperatures shall be selected from Table RC-1.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27A.020, 19.27A.045, 19.27A.160 and chapter 19.27 RCW. WSR 20-01-047, § 51-11R-60000, filed 12/9/19, effective 7/1/20. Statutory Author…

TABLE RC-1OUTDOOR DESIGN TEMPERATURESLocationOutdoorDesign Temp Heating (°F)OutdoorDesign Temp Cooling (°F)Aberdeen 20NNE2583Anacortes2472Anatone-489Auburn2584Battleground1991Bellevue2483Bellingham 2N1978Blaine1773Bremerton2983Burlington1977Chehalis2187Chelan1089Cheney494Chesaw-1…

These guidelines are adopted under the authority of chapter 19.27 RCW.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.074, chapter 19.27 RCW and 1991 c 139. WSR 92-01-069, § 51-16-010, filed 12/13/91, effective 7/1/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.074. WSR 88-24-018 (Order 88-11), § 51-16-010,…

The purpose of these guidelines is to provide local governments with amendatory language for specific applications. The guidelines are not required to be adopted and enforced by local governments.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.074, chapter 19.27 RCW and 1991 c 139. WSR 92-01-069…

Cities and counties are permitted the option of adopting exemptions from the state building code requirements for buildings whose character of use or occupancy has been changed in order to provide housing for indigent persons. The adoption of an ordinance or resolution by cities …

Cities and counties are permitted the option of adopting a one thousand five hundred dollar building permit exemption for certain construction and alteration activities for Group R, Division 3 and Group M, Division 1 Occupancies. To adopt the permit exemption guideline, the follo…

These rules are adopted under the authority of chapter 19.27 RCW.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 04-01-108, § 51-50-001, filed 12/17/03, effective 7/1/04.]

The purpose of these rules is to implement the provisions of chapter 19.27 RCW, which provides that the state building code council shall maintain the State Building Code in a status which is consistent with the purpose as set forth in RCW 19.27.020. In maintaining the codes the …

The 2021 edition of the International Building Code, including Appendix E, published by the International Code Council is hereby adopted by reference with the exceptions noted in this chapter of the Washington Administrative Code.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074.…

Chapter 11 and other International Building Code requirements for barrier-free access, including ICC A117.1-2017 and Appendix E, are adopted pursuant to chapters 70.92 and 19.27 RCW.Pursuant to RCW 19.27.040, Chapter 11 and requirements affecting barrier-free access shall not be …

The exceptions and amendments to the International Building Code contained in the provisions of chapter 19.27 RCW shall apply in case of conflict with any of the provisions of these rules.The provisions of this code do not apply to temporary growing structures used solely for the…

The International Building Code adopted under chapter 51-50 WAC shall become effective in all counties and cities of this state on March 15, 2024.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 23-23-102, § 51-50-008, filed 11/15/23, effective 3/16/24; WSR 22-13-094, 23-12…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 22-13-094, 23-12-103, and 23-20-023, § 51-50-009, filed 6/14/22, 6/7/23, and 9/25/23, effective 3/15/24; WSR 16-03-064, § 51-50-009, filed 1/19/16, effective 7/1/16; WSR 04-01-108, § 51-50-009, filed 12/17/03, effective 7/1/0…

107.2 Construction documents. Construction documents shall be in accordance with Sections 107.2.1 through 107.2.9.107.2.9 Nonstructural components. Construction documents shall indicate if structural support and anchoring documentation for nonstructural components is part of the …

108.1 General. The building official is authorized to issue a permit for temporary structures and temporary uses. Such permits shall be limited as to time of service, but shall not be permitted for more than 180 days. The building official is authorized to grant extensions for de…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 22-13-094, 23-12-103, and 23-20-023, § 51-50-0110, filed 6/14/22, 6/7/23, and 9/25/23, effective 3/15/24; WSR 20-21-021, § 51-50-0110, filed 10/9/20, effective 11/9/20.]

SECTION 202—DEFINITIONS.ADULT FAMILY HOME. A dwelling, licensed by the state of Washington department of social and health services, in which a person or persons provide personal care, special care, room and board to more than one but not more than six adults who are not related …

303.4 Assembly Group A-3. Group A-3 occupancy includes assembly uses intended for worship, recreation or amusement and other assembly uses not classified elsewhere in Group A including, but not limited to:• Amusement arcades;• Art galleries more than 3,000 square feet (279 m2);• …

305.2.4 Family home child care. Family home child care licensed by Washington state for the care of 16 or fewer children shall be classified as Group R-3 or shall comply with the International Residential Code.[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 26-07-066, s 51…

306.2 Moderate-hazard factory industrial, Group F-1. Factory industrial uses that are not classified as factory industrial F-2 low hazard shall be classified as F-1 moderate hazard and shall include, but not be limited to, the following:Aircraft (manufacturing, not to include rep…

308.2 Institutional Group I-1. Institutional Group I-1 occupancy shall include buildings, structures or portions thereof for more than 16 persons, excluding staff, who reside on a 24-hour basis in a supervised environment and receive custodial care. Buildings of Group I-1 shall b…

309.1 Mercantile Group M. Mercantile Group M occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure or a portion thereof for the display and sale of merchandise, and involves stocks of goods, wares or merchandise incidental to such purposes and where the public has …

310.3 Residential Group R-2. Residential occupancies containing sleeping units or more than two dwelling units where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature, including:Apartment housesCongregate living facilities (nontransient) with more than 16 occupantsBoarding houses (…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 20-01-090, § 51-50-0312, filed 12/12/19, effective 7/1/20; WSR 16-06-108 and 16-03-064, § 51-50-0312, filed 3/1/16 and 1/19/16, effective 7/1/16.]

403.4.8.3 Standby power loads. The following are classified as standby power loads:1. Ventilation and automatic fire detection equipment for smokeproof enclosures.2. Elevators.3. Where elevators are provided in a high-rise building for accessible means of egress, fire service acc…

405.7.2 Smokeproof enclosure. Every required stairway serving floor levels more than 30 feet (9144 mm) below the finished floor of its level of exit discharge shall comply with the requirements for a smokeproof enclosure as provided in Sections 909.20 and 1023.12. Where interior …

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 10-03-097, § 51-50-0406, filed 1/20/10, effective 7/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.074, 19.27.020, and chapters 70.92, 19.27, and 34.05 RCW. WSR 07-01-091, § 51-50-0406, filed 12/19/06, effective 7/1/07.]

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 22-13-094, 23-12-103, and 23-20-023, § 51-50-0407, filed 6/14/22, 6/7/23, and 9/25/23, effective 3/15/24; WSR 20-01-090, § 51-50-0407, filed 12/12/19, effective 7/1/20; WSR 16-03-064, § 51-50-0407, filed 1/19/16, effective 7/…

412.2.2.1 Stairways. Stairways in airport traffic control towers shall be in accordance with Section 1011. Exit stairways shall be smokeproof enclosures complying with one of the alternatives provided in Section 909.20. Where interior exit stairways and ramps are pressurized in a…

420.2 Separation walls. Walls separating dwelling units in the same building, walls separating sleeping units in the same building and walls separating dwelling or sleeping units from other occupancies contiguous to them in the same building shall be constructed as fire partition…

422.3.1 Means of egress. Where ambulatory care facilities require smoke compartmentation in accordance with Section 422.3, the fire safety evacuation plans provided in accordance with Section 1002.2 shall identify the building components necessary to support Sections 403 and 404 …

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.077, 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 21-14-074 and 21-16-063, § 51-50-0427, filed 7/6/21 and 7/29/21, effective 8/6/21 and 8/29/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 16-03-064, § 51-50-0427, filed 1/19/16, effective 7/1/16.]

429.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply to the construction of new buildings and accessory structures, including parking lots and parking garages.Electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) shall be installed in accordance with applicable requirements of chapter 19…

430.1 Recyclable materials, compost, and solid waste storage. Space shall be provided for the storage of recycled materials, compost, and solid waste for all new buildings.EXCEPTION:Group R-3 and Group U Occupancies.The storage area shall be designed to meet the needs of the occu…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 10-03-097, § 51-50-0502, filed 1/20/10, effective 7/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.074, 19.27.020, and chapters 70.92, 19.27, and 34.05 RCW. WSR 07-01-091, § 51-50-0502, filed 12/19/06, effective 7/1/07.]

503.1.4.1 Enclosure of occupied roof areas. Elements or structures enclosing the occupied roof areas shall not extend more than 48 inches (1220 mm) above the surface of the occupied roof.EXCEPTIONS:1. Penthouses constructed in accordance with Section 1511.2 and towers, domes, spi…

Table 504.3Allowable Building Height in Feet Above Grade PlaneaOccupancy ClassificationType of ConstructionSeeFootnotesType IType IIType IIIType IVType VABABABABCHTABA, B, E, F, M, S, UNSbUL16065556555656565655040SUL1808575857527018085857060H-1, H-2, H-3, H-5NSc,dUL16065556555120…

505.1 General.Mezzanines shall comply with Section 505.2. Equipment platforms shall comply with Section 505.3.EXCEPTION:Lofts in Group R occupancy dwelling units and sleeping units shall be permitted to comply with Section 420.14, subject to the limitations in Section 420.14.1.[S…

[Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. WSR 22-13-094, 23-12-103, and 23-20-023, § 51-50-0506, filed 6/14/22, 6/7/23, and 9/25/23, effective 3/15/24; WSR 20-01-090, § 51-50-0506, filed 12/12/19, effective 7/1/20; WSR 19-02-038, § 51-50-0506, filed 12/26/18, effective 7…

508.5.1 Limitations. The following shall apply to live/work areas:1. The live/work unit is permitted to be not greater than 3,000 square feet (279 m) in area.2. The nonresidential area is permitted to be not more than 50 percent of the area of each live/work unit.3. The nonreside…

Table 509.1Incidental UsesRoom or AreaSeparation and/or ProtectionDry type transformers over 112.5 kVA and required to be in a fire resistant room per NEC (NFPA 70) Section 450.21 (B)11 hour or provide automatic sprinkler system1Dry type transformers rated over 35,000 volts and o…