Find the building code section that answers your question
Building codes are long, heavily cross-referenced and amended locally, so the rule you need is rarely where you first look. Upload the code chapters and local amendments you are working under, ask a question in plain language, such as how wide a required exit must be, and open the cited section to read the requirement and the exceptions that follow it.
Creating an account needs no payment.
Last updated October 2026
How to search a building code with Search+
- Upload the edition and the amendments you work under
Add the relevant code chapters and your jurisdiction's amendments, up to 10 files at a time, whether they are PDFs or Word files. Codes are adopted and changed locally, so the amendments can be as important as the base text.
- Set the project facts once
In Workspace Context, describe the project, for example "Two-story retail building, sprinklered, occupancy group to be confirmed; always mention exceptions and cross-referenced sections." Every question in the workspace uses that context.
- Ask, then follow the cross-references
Ask one requirement at a time. Answers cite the section they rely on; if the section points to another chapter or a table, ask about that reference so its citation is in front of you too.
Questions people ask of a building code
What is the minimum clear width of an exit access corridor, and which exceptions apply?
What are the riser height, tread depth and handrail requirements for a stairway in this occupancy?
What fire-resistance rating is required between these two occupancies, and does sprinklering change it?
When is a guard required at a raised floor or deck, and how high must it be?
Which sections of this chapter does our local amendment modify or delete?
How does the code define a story above grade plane?
What working with a building code involves
Jurisdictions adopt a particular edition and amend it. The same section number can say different things in different places, so confirm which edition and amendments apply to your project.
Many requirements are followed by numbered exceptions. A rule read without its exceptions can be wrong for your case.
Sections point to definitions, tables and other chapters. Following them is part of reading the requirement correctly.
Ordinary words such as story, occupancy or habitable space have defined meanings in a code. Ask about the definition when a term matters.
Local amendments often arrive as Word files or scanned council ordinances. Search+ accepts PDF and Word files and reads scanned pages with OCR, so the base code and its amendments can sit in one workspace.
Ask across every uploaded chapter and amendment, or narrow a question to one document. Answers cite the section they draw on.
Common building code topics and a question for each
| Code topic | What it usually covers | A question to ask Search+ |
|---|---|---|
| Definitions | The meaning of defined terms | How is occupant load defined? |
| Use and occupancy | Occupancy classifications | Which occupancy group fits a small assembly room? |
| Building heights and areas | Limits by construction type | What is the allowable area for this construction type? |
| Fire protection | Sprinklers, alarms, separations | When is an automatic sprinkler system required? |
| Means of egress | Exits, corridors, stairs, doors | How many exits does a floor with this occupant load need? |
| Accessibility | Accessible routes and facilities | Where is an accessible entrance required? |
| Energy and envelope | Insulation, air sealing, glazing | What are the envelope requirements for this climate zone? |
What is a building code?
A building code is a set of minimum requirements for the design, construction and alteration of buildings, adopted by a jurisdiction to protect health, safety and welfare. Most jurisdictions adopt a model code and amend it locally.
Building code questions
Can Search+ find the section that answers my code question?
Does it know which edition my city uses?
Will it include the exceptions?
Can it compare the model code with our local amendment?
Is an answer from Search+ a code interpretation?
The city sent its amendments as a scanned ordinance. Will that work?
Find the governing section and read it in full
Start a workspace, upload the code chapters you work under, and ask your question.
Start a workspace