Lead paint rules, elevator maintenance, scaffold requirements, and structural safety regulations.
Building Safety rules vary widely between U.S. cities and counties. What is permitted in one jurisdiction may carry fines or require permits in another. These differences matter whether you are a homeowner, renter, landlord, or business owner.
We research each city's municipal code, official department guidelines, and council records to summarize the rules that affect daily life. Every entry links to the original source so you can verify the details yourself. Browse the topics below to explore specific building safety regulations by city.
Disclosure requirements, testing obligations, and remediation standards for lead-based paint in residential properties, especially pre-1978 buildings.
Inspection schedules, maintenance requirements, and safety certifications for residential and commercial elevators and escalators.
When scaffolding or sidewalk sheds are required on building facades, how long they can remain, and maintenance and lighting requirements.
Rat abatement, mosquito control, bed bug disclosure, and other pest management requirements for residential and commercial properties.
When residential and commercial buildings must install fire sprinkler systems, including new-construction triggers and major-renovation thresholds.
Building safety standards specific to family childcare homes and centers, including egress, sprinklers, lead and asbestos clearances, and outdoor play standards.
Code requirements for emergency-egress door hardware, including thumb-turn locks, panic bars, and one-action egress required by the building code.
Floor-area-ratio (FAR) and bulk limits added to single-family zones to prevent oversized rebuilds, including LA's Baseline Mansionization Ordinance updates.
CALGreen and equivalent state green building codes, plus reach codes that go further (electric-only new construction, EV-readiness, low-VOC materials).