Rehab Code

The Rhode Island Rehabilitation Building and Fire Code for Existing Buildings and Structures was adopted by the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal & Review and the Building Code Standards Committee on January 22, 2002. The Rehab Code provides a single, uniform, statewide code with fire code and building code elements applicable to covered existing buildings and structures. 

The Rehab Code encourages the continued use or reuse of existing buildings and structures. It is intended to permit repairs, renovations, alterations, reconstructions, additions, and/or changes of occupancy that maintain or improve the health, safety and welfare in existing buildings, without requiring full compliance with the construction requirements of the Building Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, RI Fire Safety Code, RI Fire Prevention Code, Electrical Code, Boiler Safety Code, Energy Code, Elevator Code, or Accessibility Code, except for proportional additional work as specified in this code. This code shall only apply to buildings in existence for at least ten (10) years prior to the application for a permit under this code.

In order to be eligible for provisions of the Rehab Code, a building must meet one of four criteria that defines a building as historic, as certified by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission. And the historic building must be equipped with an approved fire alarm system installed in accordance with provision of RIGL Chapter 23-28.25 as amended. 

For more information on the Rehab Code, please visit the Rehabilitation Building and Fire Code website.