On August 4, 2023 Mayor John Cooper signed BL2023-1994 into law, amending the Metro Building Code by adopting standards regulating mass timber construction set forth in the 2021 Edition of the International Building Code (IBC) and the 2021 Edition of the International Fire Code (IFC). Current Metro Code allows for a maximum building height of 6 stories for mass timber developments. The standards adopted from the 2021 IBC will allow certain subtypes of mass timber developments a maximum height of 18 stories, further increasing capacity for builders who choose mass timber as a structural component for their development.
The passage of this legislation was welcomed news for the department, with Metro Codes Interim Director Byron Hall stating “As the need for residential and commercial space continues to grow in Nashville, it is vital that Metro’s Building Code continue to adapt and create an environment that gives builders more innovative, cost effective, and environmentally friendly options for structural components.”
For more information on mass timber construction regulations in Davidson County, please contact the Metro Codes Department at 615-862-6500.