Code Change Process

The 2006 IECC was adopted by the SC Legislature as the minimum standard for compliance with the State Energy Standard, thus removing it from the normal adoption process. The legislature updated the energy code to the 2009 IECC during the 2012 legislative session (Act 143). Future updated versions must also be adopted by statutory amendment.

South Carolina Building Energy Efficiency Act

Code Change Cycle

Regulatory and Legislative Process: While the South Carolina Building Codes Council (BCC) is charged with adopting and amending most statewide construction codes, including the IRC and IBC, the ultimate authority to adopt and update the South Carolina Energy Standard is left to the South Carolina General Assembly. A group of technical experts and other stakeholders comprises the Energy Advisory Council (EAC), which is part of the South Carolina Public Utility Review Commission (PURC). The EAC reviews code proposals and develops amendments which it may recommend to the PURC. Should the full Commission approve the proposals, they are then submitted to the Public Utility Review Committee of the South Carolina General Assembly, where legislative language is drafted and the bill then proceeds through regular legislative order. If passed into law, a code update will generally become effective on the first day of January or July, whichever date is sooner but not less than six months from the adoption date of the new code.

Next Code Update

No set schedule.