Nebraska Additional State Info

State Certification Letter for residential code determination has been received:
No

State Certification Letter for commercial code determination has been received:
No

Adoption Process:

No set schedule exists for modifying the current building and/or energy codes. The current energy code is referenced directly in legislation and can only be changed by the state legislature.

Although the state code is mandatory statewide, local jurisdictions are not required to adopt or enforce it.

Compliance Method:

In jurisdictions that have adopted a code, a plan review and inspection is required at the local level only if required by the local code authority.

Plans for houses using incentive financing are reviewed and approved by the Nebraska Energy Office.

State agencies are responsible for code compliance in their new and remodeled buildings.

Enforcement:

Currently, the energy code is not actively enforced at the state level. The city, county, or their designated enforcement agency may (but are not required to) adopt the MEC, or another code that is at least as stringent as the MEC, and provide the necessary enforcement at the local level.

Required features in houses using incentive financing are inspected by lenders, with spot inspections by Nebraska Energy Office staff.

State agencies are responsible for verifying that their new and remodeled buildings comply with the 1998 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The Nebraska Energy Office provides plan reviews technical assistance to support agencies and random inspections for compliance.

Background/History:

The first energy code in Nebraska was adopted in 1980, based on the ASHRAE/IES Standard 90-1975. This state code was modified in 1984 to require compliance with the 1983 MEC. Legislation was proposed in the winter of 1994-1995 to adopt the 1992 MEC statewide. The legislation did not pass and the code for general construction remains unchanged since 1984. In 1999 the legislature passed a bill requiring compliance with the 1998 IECC for all new and remodeled state-owned buildings and new state-funded buildings.

On May 5, 1999, Governor Mike Johanns signed into law Legislative Bill 755, requiring that all state owned or state funded buildings comply with the 1998 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) effective January 1, 2000.

This state energy code applies to all new additions and modifications to existing buildings that exceed 50% of the replacement cost of the structure. The state code does not apply to historical buildings and manufactured housing. Manufactured housing units are regulated by the Nebraska Department of Health.

The energy office has also operated an incentive program to reduce the mortgage interest rate for homes built at or above 1995 MEC levels. This program is currently being updated to a green building program which increases the minimum energy code requirement to the 2000 IECC.

On July 1, 2005, the 2003 IECC will be the new Nebraska Energy Code. The Nebraska Energy Code replaces the 1983 Model Energy Code which has been the state standard for the past 20 years.

Technical Assistance:

No data Available at this time.

Residential Construction (New Building Permits):

No data Available at this time.

Commercial Construction (Millions of Dollars):

No data Available at this time.