At the time the house plans are drawn, each Designer puts great care into making sure that plans conform to national building codes. Please remember that this does not mean that they will meet your local building codes. Each municipality has its own zoning requirements and regulations that work best in that area. It is a good idea to check with a local building official to see what is required in the area where you plan to build. You may need to work with a local contractor or Residential Designer to modify your house plans to comply with codes in your specific area. Depending where you build, you may need an Architect or Engineer to review and stamp your house plans. This type will work for a building permit.

Building codes are regulations and safety guidelines dictating how a building should be constructed in a particular area. They range from nationally recognized guidelines to city and county building laws. Building codes are set forth and adhered to as a means of protecting the builder and the buyer of a new home. Many of the codes in a particular region are based on elements specific to that area such as soil and weather conditions. All of the house plans published on this website were designed to meet or exceed the requirements of the nationally recognized building code in effect at the place and time each plan was drawn. Generally, the house plans designed after the year 2000 conform to the International Residential Code.

Typically, house plans drawn before 2000 conform to one of the building codes listed below that was in effect at the time creation.

• UBC (Uniform Building Code)
• BOCA (Building Officials and Code Administrators)
• CABO (Council of American Building Officials)
• ICBO (International Conference of Building Officials)
• SBCCI (Southern Building Code Congress International)
• Each state, city, county or municipality follows some form of one or any combination of these residential building codes. To learn more about the building codes in your area, please consult a local building official.

A site plan shows where your house is located on your property. You will need one, and you can get it through your builder.