2020 New York State Residential Code

The 2020 Residential Code of New York State® (RCNYS®) establishes minimum requirements for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses using prescriptive provisions. This 2020 edition was developed as a derivative work of the 2018 edition of the International Residential Code® (IRC®) published by the International Code Council®). It is founded on broad-based principles that make possible the use of new materials and new building designs. The RCNYS was created to serve as a complete, comprehensive code regulating the construction of single-family houses, two-family houses (duplexes) and buildings consisting of three or more townhouse units. All buildings within the scope of the RCNYS are limited to three stories above grade plane. For example, a four-story single-family house would fall within the scope of the Building Code of New York State® (BCNYS®), not the RCNYS. The benefits of devoting a separate code to residential construction include the fact that the user need not navigate th