As of April 7, 2025, Maine has officially enacted an updated set of building codes aimed at improving safety, energy efficiency, and indoor air quality across the state’s residential and commercial construction sectors. The new codes, announced by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, represent a major step in modernizing building practices in line with national standards.

The update to the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) marks the state’s transition from the 2015 codes to the 2021 version for residential buildings and the 2019 version for commercial structures. The change fulfills a legal requirement passed in 2019, which mandates that the state stay within two editions of the most recent national building code updates.

“This code update is about more than compliance,” said Greg Gilbert, State Building Official with the Fire Marshal’s Office. “MUBEC establishes minimum design and construction requirements across communities, improving construction quality. Additionally, the new codes requirements will give smaller municipalities the reassurance that their new building stock will be built to the same safety standards and construction practices across the state.”

Municipalities with populations over 4,000 are required to enforce the new standards, while smaller towns may choose whether to participate. The updated codes apply to both new builds and significant renovations, impacting a wide range of projects statewide.

Among the most significant changes are enhanced requirements for insulation and new pathways for meeting energy efficiency targets. Buildings will also be expected to meet updated standards for ventilation and radon mitigation—efforts designed to support occupant health over the long term.

“The updated codes will improve Maine’s building stock to be more safe, comfortable, and efficient, reducing our energy consumption and delivering significant cost savings,” said Dan Burgess, Director of the Governor’s Energy Office. “We are committed to making the transition as seamless as possible by providing essential training and tools in partnership with other state agencies to help builders learn and implement the new codes.”

The updates are also expected to bring tangible financial benefits to homeowners and developers. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, utility bill savings could reach as high as $978 annually per household in the first year alone. Most of those savings will cover the cost of improvements in under five years.

“I’m glad to see the new codes taking effect, bringing with them lower heating and cooling bills for the building owners and tenants,” said Michael Stoddard, Executive Director of the Efficiency Maine Trust. “We expect these new buildings to be around for more than 100 years, so it’s important they are built to perform well today and for future generations of occupants.”

A new optional “stretch code” will also be available for municipalities looking to push energy performance even further. Adoption of this code is voluntary but is encouraged as a tool to accelerate the state’s clean energy goals.

The update process spanned 18 months and involved collaboration among architects, builders, code enforcement officials, and energy experts. As Randy Poulton, who represents commercial builders on the MUBEC Board, noted, “The new code was developed over a thorough 18-month process with input from industry experts and stakeholders. MUBEC applies to almost all construction projects everywhere in Maine, so I encourage builders, designers, and code officials to take advantage of the education opportunities the State of Maine provides to learn as much as possible as these codes take effect.”

David Matero, an architect and MUBEC board member, added that the new regulations are aligned with cutting-edge building science. “It’s good to see Maine adopting building codes that better align with current building science to improve our buildings’ energy efficiency and performance. These codes will better serve our state now and in the future with lower energy costs and healthier buildings.”

To assist with implementation, the Fire Marshal’s Office is offering training sessions and a comprehensive toolkit available online. Builders, designers, and code officials can sign up and access resources at https://www.maine.gov/dps/fmo/building-codes.

Originally reported by Penbay Pilot.