Dates and Editions of Massachusetts Building Code (780 CMR)

Effective Dates of Nine Editions

Current & Past Editions of the Massachusetts Building Code (780 CMR)
Building Code Editions – Effective and Expiration Dates
Edition Number	Effective Date	Expiration Date
1st Edition	January 1, 1975	January 9, 1975
2nd Edition	January 9, 1975	June 1, 1979
3rd Edition	June 1, 1979	September 1, 1980
4th Edition	September 1, 1980	March 1, 1991
5th Edition	March 1, 1991	August 27, 1997
6th Edition	February 28, 1997	March 1, 2009
7th Edition (Base Volume)	September 1, 2008	February 5, 2011
7th Edition (Residential Volume)	November 13, 2008	August 4, 2011
8th Edition (Base Volume)	August 6, 2010	December 31, 2017
8th Edition (Residential Volume)	February 4, 2011	December 31, 2017
9th Edition (Base & Residential Volumes)	October 20, 2017	Current Code
The disparity in effective vs. expiration dates is due to the fact that members of the Board of Building Regulations and Standards typically allow a concurrency period as we transition from one code to the next version.  For instance, the ninth edition code became first effective on October 20, 2017, but Board members allowed a two, plus month period for code users and enforcers to become acclimated to new code provisions.  During this period, practitioners could choose to use either the eighth or ninth edition of the code, without mixing provisions.  Permit applications for projects designed under the eighth edition code needed to be filed by the last day of 2017.  On January 1, 2018, the ninth edition code became in full force and effect.