Confirm whether the permit uses the 2026 ORSC or the 2023 edition still allowed during the phase-in, remembering that Chapter 1 of the 2026 code is mandatory from October 1, 2026. Then trace the structural, egress, fire separation, energy, and wildfire items through the plans, sections, and notes. AI can flag conflicts; the designer and building official decide compliance.
What does the ORSC cover?
The Oregon Residential Specialty Code is Oregon’s statewide code for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, adopted by the Building Codes Division. Residential energy provisions are in its Chapter 11, rather than in a separate energy code.
The Oregon Building Codes Division states that the 2026 ORSC is based on the 2024 International Residential Code. Chapter 1 is effective and mandatory October 1, 2026; Chapters 2 through 44 and the appendices are effective October 1, 2026 with a six-month phase-in and become mandatory April 1, 2027, and during the phase-in either the 2023 or the 2026 ORSC may be used except for Chapter 1. It also notes that one Chapter 1 section tied to Chapter 11 is not mandatory until Chapter 11 is, and that the integrated codebook is being published with ICC. Checked October 15, 2026. Interim amendments and errata are posted on the same pages; confirm which edition the permit was applied for under.
Model code checks are in the IRC guide. Commercial and multifamily work is reviewed under the Oregon Structural Specialty Code, and wildfire provisions are compared with the model approach in the IWUIC guide.
Gather the house plans and the energy path
Collect the floor plans, elevations, building sections, foundation and framing plans, the structural notes and any engineered elements, window and door schedules, the energy compliance documentation for Chapter 11, and any wildfire hazard map determination for the lot.
Write down which ORSC edition the cover sheet cites. During the phase-in, plans and energy forms sometimes cite different editions.
Trace ORSC items through the house plans
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Edition | Cover sheet, general notes, energy forms | Confirm one ORSC edition for Chapters 2 to 44 and the 2026 Chapter 1. |
| Structural | Foundation and framing plans, sections, engineered element data | Match bracing, beams, and foundations across plans and sections. |
| Emergency escape openings | Floor plans, window schedule, elevations | Check sleeping rooms have escape openings shown consistently. |
| Dwelling separation | Plans, wall types, sections | Confirm separations between units or the garage are detailed and continuous. |
| Energy | Chapter 11 compliance documents, wall sections, schedules | Match insulation, windows, and equipment to the selected energy path. |
| Wildfire | Site plan, hazard determination, exterior details | Record whether wildfire provisions apply and where they are shown. |
The residential projects page covers house plan review workflows, and the Oregon page lists the state’s specialty codes.
Example: energy forms on the earlier edition
Hypothetical example. A house submitted in October 2026 cites the 2026 ORSC on the cover sheet. The energy compliance form attached to the set references the 2023 ORSC Chapter 11, and the wall section insulation does not match either document.
The cover sheet cites the 2026 ORSC, while the energy compliance form references the 2023 ORSC Chapter 11, and the wall section insulation matches neither. Confirm the edition for the energy path and coordinate the form and wall sections.
The designer chooses the edition allowed during the phase-in and aligns the documents. The building official decides the code basis.
Review Oregon house plans with Groundbook
Upload the current drawings and specifications to Groundbook, and state the edition, amendments, and review scope in your instructions. Add the Oregon Residential Specialty Code edition the project uses from a copy you are licensed to use, where the license permits uploading it, and the jurisdiction’s published amendments. See how Groundbook works with local and licensed codes.
Compare the cover sheet, floor plans, elevations, sections, foundation and framing plans, window schedule, energy compliance documents, and site plan. Flag mixed ORSC editions, structural elements that differ between sheets, sleeping rooms without consistent escape openings, and energy measures that disagree. Use the supplied ORSC and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the sheets involved.
Document review does not perform structural or energy calculations or approve a permit. Those remain with the designer and the building official.