Section 214.212 of the Local Government Code adopts the International Code Council's International Residential Code as it existed on May 1, 2012, as the municipal residential code for the state.

This law also allows a municipality to adopt local amendments to the code and to review and adopt any amendments made after May 1, 2012, by the International Code Council.

For the correct version of the code for your municipality, please contact your local government officials.

In larger cities, you can usually find this information on the city website. Otherwise you may need to contact your municipality in person or by phone. Each municipality is different so this could be a planning department, a code enforcement department, or some other permitting office.

Section 214.211 defines “residential” as:

"Residential" means having the character of a detached one-family or two-family dwelling or a multiple single-family dwelling that is not more than three stories high with separate means of egress, including the accessory structures of the dwelling, and that does not have the character of a facility used for the accommodation of transient guests or a structure in which medical, rehabilitative, or assisted living services are provided in connection with the occupancy of the structure.

For certain residential structures in unincorporated areas of certain counties, Section 233.153 of the Local Government Code adopts the International Code Council's International Residential Code published as of May 1, 2008, or the version of the IRC applicable in the county seat. Please read the text of the statute, the definitions in Local Government Code 233.151, and the applicability of the statute in Local Government Code 233.152 for more details.

Section 233.153 is only applicable if the county in question has adopted a resolution or order requiring it and meets certain other conditions. See Section 233.152 for details on its applicability.

Rule 70.100 adopts the International Code Council's International Residential Code, 2015 edition, for industrialized and modular residential buildings:

(a) Effective August 1, 2017, all industrialized housing and buildings, modules, and modular components, shall be constructed in accordance with the codes referenced in subsection (c) - (j).
[…]
(d) The International Residential Code, 2015 edition, published by the International Code Council, is adopted as the Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings of the Texas Industrialized Housing and Buildings Program.

See the full text of the Rule 70.100 for the complete list of adopted codes applicable to industrialized and modular residential buildings.

Rule 75.100 adopts the International Code Council's International Residential Code for certain residential buildings in municipalities where no code has been adopted. According to Rule 75.110 (Applicable Codes), the 2015 edition of the IRC may be used for work permitted or started before January 1, 2021. For work started after January 1, 2021, the 2018 edition of the IRC has been adopted.

Section 2210.251 of the Insurance Code adopts the International Code Council's International Residential Code for certain geographical areas with respect to eligibility for windstorm, hail, and catastrophe insurance. See Title 28, Chapter 5, Rule 5.4001 et seq. of the Texas Administrative Code for details.

Section 388.003 of the Health & Safety Code adopts the International Code Council's International Energy Conservation Code as it existed on May 1, 2001, for all residential construction other than single-family. But this law gives the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) the ability to adopt and substitute a later published edition.

As of September 1, 2016, the SECO has adopted the International Code Council's International Energy Conservation Code as it existed on May 1, 2015, as the energy code for all residential construction other than single-family in Rule §19.53 of the Texas Administrative Code.

As of September 1, 2016, section 388.003 of the Health & Safety Code adopts the energy efficiency chapter of the International Code Council's International Residential Code as it existed on May 1, 2015, as the energy code for single-family residential construction.

Prior to that, the energy efficiency chapter of the International Code Council's International Residential Code as it existed on May 1, 2001, was the state energy code for single-family residential construction.

After September 1, 2021, the State Energy Conservation Office may adopt and substitute a more recent edition of the energy efficiency chapter as the state energy code.

For some rehabilitation activities after January 5, 2017, of certain single-family homes involved in programs related to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Rule 21.6 of the Texas Administrative Code requires that various chapters of the International Code Council's 2015 International Residential Code apply. See the text of the rule for details.

Rule 80.26 adopts the International Code Council's International Residential Code regarding stabilizing components for manufactured homes. Please read the text of the rule for more details.

(e) The Department adopts the applicable standards and publications set forth in Chapter 43 of the International Code Council, latest edition of the International Residential Code for materials used to fabricate stabilizing components and systems. The Department adopts the stabilizing component destruction test failure criteria of the FMHCSS (24 CFR, Part 3280) or latest edition of the International Residential Code, Appendix E.

Rule 367.2 adopts the 2018 edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code and the International Code Council's 2018 International Residential Code as incorporated by reference in the 2018 International Plumbing Code.

(a) To protect the health and safety of the citizens of this state, the Board adopts the following plumbing codes:
(1) the 2018 Uniform Plumbing Code, as published by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials; and
(2) the 2018 International Plumbing Code, as published by the International Code Council and the codes incorporated by reference within the 2018 International Plumbing Code, including:
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(B) the 2018 International Residential Code.

Section 214.103 adopts the International Code Council's International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as it existed on May 1, 2019. This law also authorizes municipalities to adopt local amendments to the code.

This law states it applies “in a municipality that elects to regulate pools or spas.” Many larger cities publish their ordinances online. The city website may also have information. Otherwise, you may need to contact local city officials to find out whether this law applies where you live.