Codes by State, Province & City

Window requirements are set state by state, province by province, and in many places city by city. This page summarizes the rules that matter most for windows in the markets where we work: the energy code in force, local stretch or reach codes, Passive House policy and incentives, affordable housing requirements, and the wind and structural conditions that drive design pressure.

Codes change constantly. This is a guide to where each jurisdiction stands and what to ask, current to late 2026. Always confirm with the building department and the funding agencies on your project.

How to read this page

• Energy code. Most U.S. states adopt the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), often with amendments; commercial buildings may comply through ASHRAE 90.1 instead. A few states have no statewide code, leaving it to cities and counties. In every U.S. jurisdiction with a code, window ratings come from NFRC. Residential provisions apply to houses and to apartment buildings three stories or fewer; everything else is commercial. See Which Rating Applies?
• Stretch and reach codes. Optional, stricter codes that cities can adopt.
• Building performance standards (BPS). Laws that cap energy use or emissions of existing large buildings over time. They do not regulate new windows directly, but they make envelope performance a long-term financial issue for owners, and new buildings must be designed to comply once occupied.
• Affordable housing. State housing finance agencies set green building requirements in their Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs). Many require a certification such as Enterprise Green Communities, LEED, the National Green Building Standard or ENERGY STAR, and several award points for Passive House.
• Wind. Design pressures for windows come from the wind map, exposure and building height. See Structural & Weather Ratings.

New England

Massachusetts.

• Energy code: Statewide base code in the 10th edition building code, based on the 2021 IECC with Massachusetts amendments; an 11th edition based on the 2024 I-codes is in development. Cities and towns choose one of three tiers: Base, Stretch (about 240 municipalities) or the Specialized Opt-in Code (about 60, including Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, Newton, Somerville, Brookline and Lexington). Revisions to Stretch and Specialized were proposed in 2026.
• Passive House: In Stretch towns, Passive House certification (Phius or PHI) is a compliance path for any building type or size. Multifamily buildings over 12,000 ft² that do not pursue Passive House or a HERS rating must meet thermal energy demand intensity (TEDI) limits, which in practice call for Passive House-level windows. In Specialized towns, multifamily buildings over 12,000 ft² must meet Passive House standards. Labs and hospitals can use a modeled performance path. Mass Save pays per-unit incentives for certified multifamily projects of five units or more.
• Existing buildings: Boston's BERDO and Cambridge's BEUDO set emissions limits for large buildings.
• Affordable housing: The state QAP requires Enterprise Green Communities.
• Wind: Design wind speeds are set town by town. Parts of Cape Cod and the Islands fall in the wind-borne debris region, requiring impact glazing or protection.

Connecticut.

• Energy code: 2022 Connecticut State Building Code, based on the 2021 IECC. The 2026 code, based on the 2024 I-codes, is in final adoption.
• Passive House: Energize Connecticut supports Passive House training and projects, and the state housing agency awards points for high-performance certification.
• Wind: Coastal sites along Long Island Sound see elevated design pressures; check the wind-borne debris map for shoreline locations.

Vermont.

• Energy code: Vermont writes its own Residential and Commercial Building Energy Standards (RBES and CBES). The 2024 versions took effect July 1, 2024; a 2026 rule, effective July 14, 2026, lets projects comply with either the 2020 or 2024 versions.
• Stretch code: Required for residential projects under Act 250 review, and adoptable by municipalities for residential and commercial buildings.
• Passive House: Efficiency Vermont offers incentives for high-performance new construction, and Vermont has an active Passive House community.

New Hampshire.

• Energy code: Statewide code based on the IECC, with state amendments set by the legislature. New Hampshire has historically adopted energy code updates later and with more amendments than its neighbors; confirm the current edition with the State Building Code Review Board.
• Passive House: No statewide policy; projects are driven by owners and utility programs.

Maine.

• Energy code: The Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) moved to the 2021 IECC effective April 7, 2025. Enforcement is optional in towns under 4,000 people.
• Stretch code: Portland and South Portland enforce the state stretch code, requiring buildings to exceed the 2021 IECC by 15%.
• Passive House: MaineHousing has financed numerous Passive House affordable projects and studied their cost.

New York and New Jersey

New York State.

• Energy code: The 2025 Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State, based on the 2024 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2022. NYStretch is available to municipalities.
• All-electric: The state's All-Electric Buildings Act was paused in late 2025 pending a court appeal.
• Passive House and funding: NYSERDA programs, including Buildings of Excellence, have funded many Passive House and low-carbon multifamily projects. The state QAP requires a green building certification.

New York City.

• Energy code: The 2025 NYC Energy Conservation Code builds on the state code with stricter amendments, including lower window U-factors for low-rise residential, thermal bridging documentation and air barrier commissioning for commercial buildings. Enforcement began March 30, 2026.
• Electrification: Local Law 154 bans fossil fuel combustion in new buildings under seven stories from 2024, and in taller buildings from July 2027.
• Existing buildings: Local Law 97 sets carbon caps for buildings over 25,000 ft², with limits tightening in 2030. Envelope performance, including windows, is a major lever for compliance.
• Passive House: New York City has one of the largest concentrations of Passive House multifamily buildings in North America.
• Wind: NYC sets its own wind provisions: 117 mph for ordinary buildings, with Exposure D mapped along shorelines facing open water and extending 600 ft or 20 times the building height inland. Waterfront and tall buildings need markedly higher design pressures. See Structural & Weather Ratings.

New Jersey.

• Energy code: New Jersey adopted the 2024 Uniform Construction Code in August 2026, with the 2024 IECC as its energy subcode, replacing the 2021 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2019. A grace period applies to projects already permitted.
• Passive House and funding: The state housing agency awards incentives for Phius certification, and New Jersey's Clean Energy Program has offered high-performance new construction incentives.
• Wind: Shore communities face higher design pressures and, in some areas, impact requirements.

Mid-Atlantic

Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.

• Energy code: The Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code moved to the 2021 I-codes, including the 2021 IECC, effective January 1, 2026. Philadelphia adopts the same generation of codes with city amendments.
• Passive House: The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency pioneered Passive House points in its LIHTC plan in 2015, which led to dozens of certified affordable buildings across the state.
• Existing buildings: Philadelphia's Building Energy Performance Policy requires benchmarking and tune-ups for large buildings.

Maryland.

• Energy code: The Maryland Building Performance Standards are based on the 2021 IECC, and state law requires adopting each new IECC. A 2024 IECC adoption with Maryland amendments was proposed in 2026 and is under review.
• Existing buildings: Maryland's statewide Building Energy Performance Standards cover buildings of 35,000 ft² and up, and Montgomery County has its own BPS.
• Affordable housing: The state QAP offers incentives for green certification.

Washington, D.C.

• Energy code: The current DC Construction Codes are based on the 2015 and 2018 generation of I-codes with strong DC amendments, including a Green Construction Code for commercial projects of 10,000 ft² and more. The District is preparing to adopt the 2024 I-codes, with final rules expected in late 2027.
• Existing buildings: DC's Building Energy Performance Standards were among the first in the nation.
• Affordable housing: DC requires Enterprise Green Communities Plus or LEED, and the District has a growing Passive House affordable portfolio.

Southeast

North Carolina.

• Energy code: A 2023 state law blocks updates to the residential energy code until at least 2031, keeping North Carolina among the least stringent states for houses. Commercial and multifamily buildings above the residential scope follow the North Carolina commercial energy code.
• Affordable housing: The QAP requires ENERGY STAR certification for new construction.
• Wind: The Outer Banks and coastal counties are in hurricane-prone and wind-borne debris regions, requiring impact glazing or protection near the shore.

Georgia.

• Energy code: The Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code, based on the 2015 IECC with state amendments; an update to the 2021 IECC has been under consideration.
• Affordable housing: The QAP requires a green certification.
• Wind: Coastal Georgia has elevated design pressures; north and west Georgia are tornado-prone, which affects Risk Category III and IV buildings under the 2024 IBC.

Tennessee.

• Energy code: Statewide code based on the 2018 IECC with state amendments. Nashville and Memphis administer and enforce codes locally; confirm the edition with each city.
• Wind: Tornado-prone; tornado loads apply to schools, hospitals and emergency facilities where the 2024 IBC is adopted, and storm shelters follow ICC 500.

Florida.

• Energy code: The 8th edition (2023) Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, based on the 2021 IECC. The 9th edition (2026), based on the 2024 I-codes, is expected to take effect around December 31, 2026.
• Product approval: Every window needs Florida Product Approval or local approval. Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, design for about 175 and 170 mph and in practice require a Miami-Dade NOA.
• Wind: Most of the coast is in the wind-borne debris region, requiring impact glazing or shutters.
• Affordable housing: The QAP requires a green certification.

Gulf Coast and Texas

Louisiana.

• Energy code: The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code applies statewide; its energy provisions have historically lagged the national model codes.
• Wind: New Orleans and the coastal parishes are in hurricane-prone and wind-borne debris regions; impact glazing or protection is required near the coast.

Texas: Houston, Austin, Dallas.

• Energy code: The state sets a minimum, the 2015 IECC, and larger cities adopt newer codes with local amendments. Houston, Dallas and Austin have moved to newer IECC editions with local amendments, Austin being the most stringent and moving to the 2024 IECC. Austin also runs Austin Energy Green Building, often required for projects receiving city entitlements.
• Wind: In the 14 coastal counties covered by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, and parts of Harris County, buildings need windstorm certification, and from March 1, 2026 new construction there must meet the 2024 IBC and IRC. Coastal sites require impact glazing. North Texas, including Dallas, is tornado-prone.
• Affordable housing: The QAP offers incentives for green certification.

Midwest and Plains

Illinois and Chicago.

• Energy code: Illinois requires the 2021 IECC with state amendments, and is one of the few states to write a Phius path into its base code. A state stretch code took effect January 1, 2025 for municipalities that adopt it, also with a Phius path.
• Chicago: The Chicago Energy Transformation Code, based on the 2021 IECC, also recognizes Phius certification.
• Affordable housing: The state QAP requires Enterprise Green Communities criteria and offers points for Phius, ENERGY STAR and DOE programs.

Kansas City and Missouri/Kansas.

• Energy code: Neither Missouri nor Kansas has a mandatory statewide energy code. Kansas City, Missouri adopted the 2021 IECC with local amendments for residential construction. Suburban jurisdictions on both sides of the state line vary widely.
• Affordable housing: Kansas requires ENERGY STAR or code-based efficiency in its QAP; Missouri requires a green certification for new construction.
• Wind: Tornado-prone; schools and critical facilities may need tornado design and storm shelters.

Mountain West and Southwest

Colorado: Denver and Boulder.

• Energy code: Colorado has no single statewide code, but state law requires any jurisdiction that updates its codes to adopt at least the 2021 IECC with electric-ready and solar-ready provisions, and from July 1, 2026, the Colorado Model Low Energy and Carbon Code, based on the 2024 IECC. Denver and Boulder adopt their own stricter codes, with Denver targeting net-zero energy new buildings and updating its code in 2026.
• Existing buildings: Energize Denver and a statewide BPS for buildings of 50,000 ft² and up.
• Passive House: The state housing agency offers incentives for Phius, PHI and DOE certification, and Xcel Energy offered rebates of up to $37,500 for certified Passive House rebuilds after the Marshall Fire.
• Wind and elevation: Parts of the Front Range, including Boulder County, are special wind regions with very high local design speeds. At high elevation, insulating glass needs pressure equalization or vacuum glass.

Arizona: Phoenix and Tucson.

• Energy code: No statewide energy code. Phoenix, Tucson and other cities adopt their own IECC editions, generally the 2018 or 2021 generation, and both Phoenix and Tucson update on their own schedules.
• Climate: Cooling-dominated: low solar heat gain glass and shading matter as much as U-factor.
• Affordable housing: The QAP offers points for Phius and DOE certification.

Nevada: Las Vegas and Reno.

• Energy code: The state sets the 2021 IECC as a minimum that local codes cannot weaken; Clark County, including Las Vegas, has adopted the 2024 IECC with local amendments.
• Climate: Hot and dry; SHGC, shading and dust-resistant seals are key.

West Coast

California.

• Energy code: California writes its own Building Energy Efficiency Standards, Title 24 Part 6. The 2025 standards took effect January 1, 2026. Windows need NFRC ratings or California Energy Commission default values, and site-built fenestration uses NFRC label certificates.
• Local codes: Many cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, require all-electric new buildings, and others adopt energy reach codes.
• Passive House: The state tax credit committee offers incentives that include Phius certification. California has a strong Passive House professional community.
• Structure: Seismic design, not wind, usually governs; windows and curtain wall must accommodate interstory drift.

Washington State and Seattle.

• Energy code: The 2021 Washington State Energy Code is among the most stringent in the country and strongly favors heat pumps. The 2024 edition is expected to be adopted in late 2026 with an effective date in 2027. Seattle adopts its own Seattle Energy Code with additional amendments.
• Passive House: The residential energy code offers an alternative path for certified projects.
• Existing buildings: Washington's Clean Buildings Performance Standard covers buildings of 20,000 ft² and up, and Seattle has its own Building Emissions Performance Standard.
• Affordable housing: State-funded housing must meet the Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard.

Oregon and Portland.

• Energy code: Commercial buildings follow the 2025 Oregon Energy Efficiency Specialty Code, based on ASHRAE 90.1-2022, effective July 1, 2025. Houses follow the Oregon Residential Specialty Code; a 2026 edition is expected to take effect April 1, 2027.
• Existing buildings: Oregon has a statewide BPS for large commercial buildings.
• Affordable housing: The QAP requires a green certification.

Canada

Toronto, Ontario.

• Energy code: The 2024 Ontario Building Code, with Supplementary Standard SB-12 for houses and SB-10 for larger buildings. Window values come from CSA A440.2 or NFRC.
• Toronto Green Standard: Version 4 makes energy and emissions intensity targets mandatory (Tier 1) for mid- and high-rise buildings, with development charge refunds for higher tiers. Version 5, planned for May 2026, was paused indefinitely, and the province has moved to limit municipal green standards, so check current status at the start of each project.

Montréal, Québec.

• Energy code: Québec Construction Code, Chapter I.1, Energy Efficiency of Buildings, based on an amended NECB 2020, with a separate part for houses.
• Electrification: Montréal bans combustion heating in new buildings: from October 1, 2024 for buildings up to three storeys and 600 m² per floor, and from April 1, 2025 for larger buildings. Dozens of other Québec municipalities have followed.

Vancouver, British Columbia.

• Energy code: Vancouver writes its own Vancouver Building By-law with energy and emissions intensity targets and zero-emission requirements for new buildings, among the most demanding in North America. Elsewhere in B.C., the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code set tiered targets for Part 9 and Part 3 buildings, with Passive House recognized at the top steps.
• Passive House: Vancouver required Passive House or an equivalent standard for city-owned buildings and city-funded affordable housing, and accepts Passive House certification as a compliance path. B.C. also regulates the energy performance of windows sold for houses.
• Wind and rain: Coastal B.C. has high driving-rain wind pressures, so water test pressures under the Canadian Supplement are often higher than in the rest of Canada.

Questions to ask on every project

• Which energy code edition applies at permit filing, and is the project under residential or commercial provisions?
• Has the municipality adopted a stretch, reach or specialized code, or an all-electric requirement?
• Does any funding source (housing finance agency, utility, city) require a certification such as Enterprise Green Communities, ENERGY STAR or Passive House?
• What are the design pressures for each façade zone, and is the site in a wind-borne debris region, Exposure D, a special wind region or a tornado-prone area?
• Will the building be subject to a building performance standard once occupied?

We track these requirements for every project we quote. Send us your location and building type and we will confirm what your windows need. Contact us.

Compiled from state and city code agencies, housing finance agencies, utility programs and industry trackers as of late 2026. Adoption dates, amendments and program rules change frequently and some jurisdictions administer codes locally; confirm current requirements with the authority having jurisdiction before design and procurement.