Building & General Contractor Code Books

The model building codes general contractors, home builders and inspectors work and test against: the International Building Code for commercial work, the International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings, and the International Property Maintenance Code for existing-structure work.

Contractor licensing usually pairs these technical codes with a business and law component — most often the NASCLA Contractors’ Guide to Business, Law and Project Management, published in state-specific editions. A general contractor exam is frequently failed on the business half by someone who knows the building half cold.

Spanish editions

The IBC, IRC, IFC, IPMC and ISPSC are all published in Spanish and we stock them, including the full Virginia code collection.

Licence classes and reference lists vary more in general contracting than in any other trade. Tell us the state and the licence class and we will check what you need before you spend anything.