Building Codes Assistance Project

On May 7, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed SB 625 into law (now Annotated Code of Maryland Chapter 294) establishing the 2009 IECC in as the standard of building energy efficiency in the state, effective October 1, 2009.

SB 625 requires the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to adopt the IECC and to consider changes to the International Building Code (IBC) to enhance energy conservation and efficiency before adopting a subsequent version of the Maryland Building Performance Standard (MBPS). The Department may also adopt energy conservation requirements that are more stringent than in the IECC. DHCD must adopt subsequent versions of the MBPS within 12 months of publication.

Local governments must implement and enforce the most current MBPS within six months of adoption by DHCD. The bill also allows local jurisdictions to adopt modifications to MBPS as long as they do not weaken any energy conservation and efficiency provisions in MBPS.

The final version of the bill also removed language containing goals for energy savings above the 2006 IECC of 30% and 50% by 2013 and 2019, respectively.

SB 625: Bill Home | Text (enrolled) | Analysis

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