Code Watch

The 2021 to 2024 code cycle changed more than the headlines suggest. The quiet changes that trip up inspectors and exam takers, with code references.

A fire alarm is only effective if its warning reaches the people who need it. That is why fire-alarm notification

On July 21, 2026, nine members of a U.S. Marshals Service task force lined up outside an apartment door in

CODE WATCH That open area in front of an electrical panel is not extra storage. It is working space, and

If you work in commercial construction, Chapter 17 of the IBC is one of the most consequential chapters in the

When the agency that writes building energy codes and the federal department that evaluates them start trading public accusations, the

You’re standing on a site where a builder wants to put a detached accessory dwelling unit 4 feet from the

On May 15, 2026, Governor McMaster signed Act 157 (H5097) — exempting farmer-operated roadside markets from building codes, permits, and inspections. We read the law, checked the codes, and examined this from three different perspectives: the farm property owner, the jurisdiction, and ours.

The date is set. The process is underway. And if you are a residential inspector, a builder, or a code