Confirm whether the permit application falls under the 2024 subcodes effective August 17, 2026, or under the preceding codes during the grace period, then check that the code summary names the right referenced code for each subcode and that the drawings agree with it. Existing buildings use the state’s rehabilitation subcode. AI can flag conflicts; the design professional and the subcode officials decide compliance.
What does the New Jersey UCC cover?
The Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23, is administered by the Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards. Its subcodes each adopt a model code with New Jersey amendments. After the 2026 adoption, the Department lists the building subcode as the IBC/2024, New Jersey edition; the one- and two-family dwelling subcode as the IRC/2024, New Jersey edition; the plumbing subcode as the National Standard Plumbing Code/2024; the electrical subcode as the 2023 National Electrical Code; the mechanical subcode as the IMC/2024; the fuel gas subcode as the IFGC/2024; and the energy subcode as the IECC/2024 for low-rise residential buildings and ASHRAE 90.1-2022 for commercial and other residential buildings. Barrier-free provisions use IBC/2024 Chapter 11 with ICC A117.1-2017, and the fire protection subcode is made up of listed portions of the other subcodes rather than a separate model code.
The Department’s adoption notice for the 2024 model codes states an effective date of August 17, 2026, and its current codes page lists each subcode with that adoption date. Under N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.6, for six months after a subcode revision takes effect, an applicant may submit a complete permit application to be reviewed under the code in force immediately before the revision. All checked October 7, 2026. Record which code the application uses.
Existing buildings follow the Rehabilitation Subcode, N.J.A.C. 5:23-6, New Jersey’s own subcode rather than the IEBC. It sorts work into repair, renovation, alteration, reconstruction, change of use, and addition, and its requirements follow the category of work. State permit steps are on the New Jersey page, and the model codes have their own guides: IBC, IRC, NEC, and ASHRAE 90.1.
Gather the code summary and each subcode’s drawings
Collect the code summary with the subcodes and editions cited, the architectural plans, sections, and life safety plans, the plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and fuel gas drawings, the energy compliance documents, the barrier-free plans and details, the fire protection drawings, and, for existing buildings, the rehabilitation work category and scope description.
Plumbing and energy cite different model codes from the building subcode. Upload the full set so each discipline’s notes can be checked against its own subcode.
Check each subcode citation against the set
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Code cycle | Code summary, application date, cover sheet | Confirm whether the project uses the 2024 subcodes or the preceding codes under the grace period. |
| Building and dwelling subcodes | Code summary, architectural plans, life safety plans | Check the IBC or IRC New Jersey edition is cited and the analysis matches the plans. |
| Plumbing | Plumbing notes, fixture schedule, riser diagrams | Find plumbing notes citing a model code other than the National Standard Plumbing Code. |
| Electrical and energy | Electrical notes, energy compliance documents | Confirm the NEC edition and the energy path (IECC or ASHRAE 90.1) for the building type. |
| Barrier-free | Accessibility plans, details, code summary | Check accessible elements cite the adopted accessibility standard and agree with the plans. |
| Rehabilitation category | Scope description, demolition and new work plans | Ask the designer to confirm the work category where the plans show more than the stated scope. |
Accessible details follow the ICC A117.1 guide, mechanical work the IMC guide, fuel gas the IFGC guide, and low-rise residential energy the IECC guide.
Example: the plumbing notes cite the wrong model code
Hypothetical example. A mixed-use building’s code summary cites the 2024 New Jersey subcodes. The plumbing general notes, carried over from a project in another state, cite the International Plumbing Code, and the energy notes cite the IECC for the whole building, including the commercial floors.
The code summary cites the 2024 New Jersey subcodes, while the plumbing notes cite the International Plumbing Code and the energy notes apply the IECC to the commercial floors. Please confirm the plumbing and energy codes for each part of the building and coordinate the notes.
The engineers revise their notes to the subcodes that apply, and the plumbing and energy designs are checked against them. The subcode officials decide compliance.
Review a New Jersey set with Groundbook
Upload the current drawings and specifications to Groundbook, and state the edition, amendments, and review scope in your instructions. Upload the Uniform Construction Code subchapters from the Department’s site, the model code editions each subcode adopts from copies you are licensed to use, where the license permits uploading them, and any local requirements. See how Groundbook works with local and licensed codes.
Compare the code summary and its subcode citations with the architectural, life safety, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fuel gas, energy, barrier-free, and fire protection documents. Flag notes that cite a model code or edition other than the one the cited New Jersey subcode adopts, energy paths that do not match the building type, and existing-building scopes that differ from the stated rehabilitation category. Use the supplied UCC subchapters and model codes and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the note or sheet and the subcode you uploaded.
Document review does not decide which code cycle or rehabilitation category applies, or replace the design professional or the subcode officials.