(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted today announced that the 2024 Ohio Building (OBC), Mechanical (OMC), and Plumbing Codes (OPC) rules go into effect on Friday, March 1, 2024.

The new rules adopted by the Ohio Board of Building Standards reflect significant reductions in both overall word count as well as regulatory restrictions. In total, the new code rules reflect an overall reduction of more than 610,000 words, which will help to streamline processes and make it easier for Ohio businesses to comply.

This is part of an overall plan announced by the Administration in January 2023 to eliminate one-third of the Ohio Administrative Code. Under the direction of Lt. Governor Husted, Ohio’s Common Sense Initiative (CSI) was tasked with identifying sections of the OAC that are duplicative, unnecessary, or no longer used.

"A streamlined administrative code is easier to comply with, meaning business can save resources while providing better service and enhanced safety," said Governor DeWine. "I commend the Ohio Board of Building Standards for their work with the Common Sense Initiative to improve the building, mechanical, and plumbing codes."

"This is a step forward in the Common Sense Initiative's goal to make it easier for people and businesses to comply in Ohio," said Lt. Governor Husted. "Through the passage of the recent budget, we have been able to remove 1.5 million total words from the Ohio Administrative Code in addition to the 610,000 here, saving people more time and money when they do business in Ohio."

Reductions within the code rules include:

• Ohio Building Code Rules: 90 percent fewer words and 10,000 fewer regulatory restrictions.
• Mechanical Code Rules: 85 percent fewer words and 2,500 fewer regulatory restrictions.
• Plumbing Code Rules: 75 percent fewer words and 1,800 regulatory restrictions.

“The 2024 codes will continue to help protect the public, while the elimination of duplicative provisions, outdated sections, and unnecessary requirements will simplify the codes and make it easier for Ohioans to understand them and is consistent with how all other states adopt the model code,” Board Chair Timothy Galvin said.

The entire 2024 Ohio Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Existing Building Codes, which were updated based on the 2021 International Model Codes, are available online. The Board of Building Standards is also making training resources available that highlight code updates. A one-hour recording video briefing is now available to the public that reviews the code changes. The program covers the new OAC format, online resources, and a summary of major content changes in the technical requirements, including new rules, new references, and new and revised content of significance.

The Board of Building Standards formulates and adopts rules governing the Ohio Residential and Non-Residential Building Codes. The Board also certifies municipal, county, and township building departments to enforce the Ohio Residential and Non-Residential Codes.