Bloomington, IL Building Safety: Green Building Code (2026)
Key Facts
- Code adopted
- 2018 International Energy Conservation Code
- Governing section
- Bloomington City Code § 10-209
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Economic & Community Development
- Appeals body
- Building Board of Appeals, § 10-212
- Default penalty
- Up to $500, separate offense per day
Summary
In the City of Bloomington, energy-efficient construction runs on the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, adopted by ordinance under Bloomington City Code § 10-209. The code sets minimum standards for building envelopes and mechanical, lighting and power systems on every new building and major renovation permitted in the city.
§ 10-209. [Ch. 10, Sec. 20] Adoption of the International Energy Conservation Code - 2018. ... There is hereby adopted for the purpose of establishing minimum regulations governing energy efficient building envelopes and installation of energy efficient mechanical, lighting and power systems; providing for the issuance of permits, collection of fees and penalties, an energy code by the name of the International Energy Conservation Code, 2018 edition, as published by the International Code Council, Inc. ... The provisions of said Code are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length and provisions thereof shall be controlling in regard to all property, buildings and structures within the corporate limits of the City. ... § 10-211. [Ch. 10, ... Sec. 22] Violation - penalties. ... The penalty for violating any provision of any of the Codes adopted by reference into this chapter shall be as provided in the Code violated; if the Code violated fails to specify a penalty, the penalty shall be a fine not to exceed $500. ... A separate offense shall be deemed committed each day that a violation exists or continues.
Full Breakdown
" That means any contractor pulling a building permit for new construction or a covered alteration has to design the envelope, insulation, lighting and mechanical systems to the 2018 IECC's minimum efficiency thresholds, not just the base International Building Code. A copy of the code is kept on file with the City Clerk and a second copy at the Department of Economic & Community Development for public inspection, so builders can check the exact deleted, modified or amended sections before bidding a job. Appeals from a Code Official's or Building Official's ruling under the IECC go to the nine-member Building Board of Appeals created under § 10-212, the same board that hears disputes over the electrical, plumbing and property maintenance codes.
Because the IECC is adopted by reference rather than reprinted line by line in the city code, a builder who wants the granular R-values, U-factors or duct-sealing thresholds has to pull the actual 2018 ICC text on file with the Clerk; the ordinance itself only sets the adoption, scope and enforcement structure.
Violations & Fines
Bloomington City Code § 10-211 sets a single penalty rule across every International code the city has adopted, including the IECC: the fine is whatever the violated code itself specifies, and if that code is silent, the default fine is up to $500 per violation. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, so an uncorrected energy-code deficiency can compound quickly once the Department of Economic & Community Development issues a notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
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