Dealing with laws and regulations is an important step in purchasing a new modular structure.
In truth, if you’re working with the team at Good Manufacturing, you can reach out to our team of experts to get help with this process. But if you wanted to do the research yourself, we’ve created this resource to help you get started.
Table of Contents
Is there such a thing as a modular building code?
There is no building code which adheres, specifically, to modular structures.
There are:
- Industry guidelines and standards which modular building manufacturers like GoodMFG® work to follow.
- Applicable building codes which cover both modular structures and site-built structures.
Learn Your IBC's
Most building codes are state-adopted versions of the International Building Code (IBC).
They are then enforced by the authority having jurisdiction, or AHJ.
Your city or county will also oppose local regulations which may go above and beyond what’s offered at the state level.
Thus, you’ll research your permitting needs in three steps.
- Gather as much information about your modular structure project as possible, including sizes, dimensions, and insulation.
- Visit your city or county Building Department to understand the building codes and permit processes. If you’re struggling to understand what you’re looking at, contact the building inspector or ask your expert at GoodMFG®.
- Find the AHJ for your state, and get in touch with them to find out whether your proposed purchase meets local code requirements. Your GoodMFG® expert can help with this part of the process as well.
It’s a good idea to contact a construction lawyer if some part of your project seems to fall into a “grey area” or if you have concerns you might have missed something.
Start With Your City and County Websites
No matter which state you live in, you’ll start with your own city’s Building Department. In most cities, this website will outline the building codes, permit processes, and contact information for all relevant building inspectors.
You can either search the website for “modular structures,” or “factory-assembled” structures, or you can call the building inspector to find out what you’ll need to do before placing a modular structure on-site.
You might also want to check with your local county to make sure there are no county codes which might impact you. In fact, in some states, you’ll always be working at the local level.
Washington State
Since we’re headquartered in Marysville, WA, we’ll start with what you’ll need to investigate your permitting needs in Washington State.
In Washington State, the Department of Labor and Industries (Special Compliance Services Division) is the appropriate AHJ.
1-800-705-1411 Option 3
Washington Department of Labor & Industries
PO Box 44430
Olympia, WA 98504-4430
The Other States:
Here are the AJHs for the other 49 states.
Alabama
Alabama is an exception to the rule in that there is no Authority Having Jurisdiction in the state. However, the State Fire Marshal handles code enforcement by default.
This resource covers the state building code.
Here is the contact information for the Fire Marshal’s Office:
201 Monroe Street, Suite 1790, Montgomery, AL 36104
P.O. Box 303352, Montgomery, AL 36130
Alaska
The Alaska State Fire Marshal manages the state-wide fire codes, but Alaska law allows local jurisdictions to be designated as deferred jurisdiction, allowing codes to be handled at the local level. If you live in Alaska, you’ll want to check both with your city and your county.
State of Alaska Department of Fire Safety
5700 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, AK 99507
(907) 269-5511
All of the email addresses and phone numbers for the various building plans examiners are available at this link.
Arizona
Arizona handles a great deal of its code enforcement at the local level, but the Arizona Department of Housing maintains special codes for factory built buildings like Good Modular Structures.
1110 W. Washington, Suite 280
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Licensing: (602) 364-1094
Plan Review: (602) 364-1051
Certification & Inspection: (602) 364-1059
Arkansas
The State Fire Marshal’s office is the AHJ in Arkansas. You may reach them at (501) 683-6740. They are part of the broader Arkansas Department of Public Safety.
California
California tends to handle code enforcement at the local level, either at the city level or the county level. However, code enforcement is a little more complex in California than it is in other states. You may also need to speak with the California Building Standards Commission (CBSC).
2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 130
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 263-0916
Colorado
Colorado’s Division of Oil and Public Safety oversees building codes, but has used deferred jurisdiction to send all of its enforcement down to the local level.
Connecticut
In Connecticut, you’d be dealing with the Office of the State Building Inspector.
450 Columbus Blvd., Suite 1304
Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 713-5900
Connecticut also maintains a list of local building inspectors’ offices, and you may start there instead. Here is the list, which includes the town or city name, the building inspector, the address, the email, and the phone number.
Delaware
In Delaware, the State Fire Prevention Commission handles the building codes. You’ll find all of the department’s email addresses at this link.
Delaware State Fire Commission
Office of the Director
1463 Chestnut Grove Road
Dover, Delaware 19904
(302) 739-3160
Florida
Florida gives local governments the power to enforce, interpret, and regulate the Florida Building Code. Check with your county or city.
Georgia
The AHJ in Georgia is the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
(404) 679-4840
60 Executive Park South, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Hawaii
While the State Building Code Council (SBCC) establishes the State Building Code, the county or the city will be responsible for issuing permits and conducting inspections.
Idaho
Idaho is a little bit complex, but you’ll want to start with the Idaho Division of Public Safety, which is the state-level organization that enforces energy codes for modular buildings. You’ll then want to check at the city and the county level.
5 Brookside Drive
Wallingford, CT 06492
Illinois
Illinois handles code enforcement at the local level. You can download a list of local codes and find the name and number of your contact person at this link.
Indiana
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security is the AHJ for building codes in Indiana, through the Indiana Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission.
Indiana Government Center South
302 W. Washington St., Room E208
Indianapolis, In 46204
(317) 232-2222
Iowa
In Iowa you would work with the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. They have a Dial A-Z index to help you get to the appropriate phone numbers.
6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50321
Kansas
In Kansas, you’ll work with the State Fire Marshal’s office.
(785) 296-0151
800 SW Jackson Street, Suite 104
Topeka, KS 66612
Kentucky
The Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction governs the statewide standards for building construction in the state of Kentucky.
(502) 573-0365
500 Mero Street
Frankfort, KY 40601
Louisiana
The AHJ in Louisiana is the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council.
(225) 922-0817
8181 Independence Blvd.,
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
If you’re new to Louisiana and are looking for local offices, remember you’ll be looking for a Parish office, rather than a County office.
Maine
In Maine you’ll work with the Office of the State FIre Marshal, Building Codes Division.
(207) 441-0996
Office of the State Fire Marshal
52 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
Maryland
In Maryland, the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) serves as the AHJ.
(410) 653-8980
1201 Reistertown Road
Pikesville, MD 21208
Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, you’d work with the Department of Fire Services.
(978) 567-3375
There are three addresses, one in Stow, one in Springfield, and one in Bridgewater.
Michigan
In Michigan, you’ll go to the local building department or zoning board, usually at the county level. They enforce the state-mandated codes which are set by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Bureau of Construction Codes.
Minnesota
Building codes in Minnesota are administered by the Department of Labor and Industry. Minnesota DLI also has special regulations governing manufactured structures.
(651) 284-5034
Mississippi
Mississippi only enforces codes at the local level, so you’ll start either with your local building department or your local fire marshal’s office.
Missouri
Missouri is one of the few states that doesn’t have a statewide building code, only codes at the local level. However, this could change. In March of 2025, Rep. David Casteel introduced the Missouri Building Codes Act to the state legislature to attempt to rectify what one media outlet described as a “patchwork of standards.”
As it is exceptionally difficult to determine which standards apply to a project, and as there have been cases where contractors and companies have guessed wrong, we recommend going to a local construction lawyer prior to launching your modular structure project, just in case.
Montana
In Montana you’ll work with the Montana Department of Labor and Industries. They recommend contacting the inspector in your area to discuss specific projects. You can search by county or by city.
Nebraska
Nebraska generally works at the local level. You can find a full list of Municipal Codes by following this link. However, you might require additional inspections at the state level. The Nebraska ASHRAE Chapter Grassroots Government and Advocacy Committee maintains a list which includes the State Fire Marshal and the State Electrical Inspector.
Nevada
In Nevada you’ll work with the Nevada Fire Marshal Division.
(775) 684-7400
107 Jacobsen Way
Carson City, NV 89711
New Hampshire
The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office administers the state building permit program.
(603) 223-4289
Division of Fire Safety
NH Department of Safety
33 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305
For an in-person appointment, visit 110 Smokey Bear Blvd., Concord, NH 03301.
New Jersey
In New Jersey you’ll be working with the Department of Community Affairs.
(609) 376-0802
101 South Broad Street
Trenton, NJ 08625
New Mexico
In New Mexico, you’d go to the Construction Industries Division (CID) of the New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department.
In Albuquerque: (505) 222-9800
Santa Fe: (505) 476-4700
Las Cruces: (575) 524-6320
New York
In New York, you’ll be working with the Division of Standards and Codes. They have their own Factory Manufactured Buildings Division.
(518) 473-0657
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Avenue,
Albany, NY 12231
North Carolina
In North Carolina you’ll work with the State Fire Marshal’s office.
(919) 647-0000
1429 Rock Quarry Road, Suite 105
Raleigh, NC 27610
North Dakota
The Department of Commerce, Division of Community Services, updates and amends local building codes in North Dakota. However, for the most part these codes are enforced by cities, townships, and counties.
Ohio
In Ohio, the Ohio Board of Building Standards oversees municipal, county, and township building departments. Start with your local authorities.
Oklahoma
The AHJ in Oklahoma is the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission.
(405) 521-6501
2401 N.W. 23rd Street, Suite 82
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Oregon
The AHJ in Oregon is the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services.
(503) 378-4100
350 Winter Street NE
P.O. Box 14480
Salem, OR 97309
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, the Department of Labor and Industry serves as the AHJ.
(717) 787-5279
1700 Labor & Industry Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, the AHJ is the Building Code Commission (BCC). You can apply for modular building permits right on their website.
(401) 921-1590
560 Jefferson Blvd., Suite 100
Warwick, RI 02886
South Carolina
The South Carolina Building Codes Council is the AHJ in this state.
(803) 896-4688
110 Centerview Dr., Columbia, SC 29210
South Dakota
The State Fire Marshal administers the building codes.
(605) 773-3178
118 West Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Tennessee
The AHJ in Tennessee is the State Fire Marshal’s Office. They have a special Section for Manufactured Housing and Modular Building.
(615) 741-7192
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
Division of Fire Prevention
Manufactured Housing Section
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Texas
Thanks to Texas’ status as a “home rule” state, local jurisdictions such as cities and counties handle building code implementation and enforcement.
Utah
In Utah the Utah State Legislature has retained the authority for adopting building codes. If you’re building a state-owned or funded building you’d work with the Division of Facilities and Construction Management. Otherwise, you’d work with the State Fire Marshal, or, more commonly, with your local county or municipal authority.
Vermont
The Division of Fire Safety is the Authority Having Jurisdiction in Utah.
(802) 479-7561
45 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671
Virginia
The AHJ in Virginia is the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
(804) 371-7000
600 East Main Street, Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23219
West Virginia
In West Virginia, the AHJ is the State Fire Commission. You can contact them here.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, the AHJ is the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
(608) 266-2112
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53075
Wyoming
The Wyoming State Fire Marshal is the AHJ for this state.
(307) 777-7288
320 West 25th St, 3rd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002
Plan Your Next Big Project with Good Modular Structures
We hope this guide has made the process of dealing with local codes seem far less overwhelming than it otherwise might have.
Good Modular Structures make it easy to construct all sorts of buildings such as classrooms, retail stores, construction site temporary offices, disaster relief centers, portable warehouses, and more. And while the permit process may seem daunting, with GoodMFG®, cutting through the red tape can be the hardest part. After that, you can get your building up and ready to go so much faster than most of the other solutions on the market.
Ready to get started? Contact our team of experts to start your project today!
See also:
Interior Fabrication Options for Your Good Trailer or Good Modular Structure
How to Build the Perfect Studio Shed with a GoodMFG® Modular Structure
