CHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 101. Title

 The Decree is known as the “National Building Code of the Philippines” or the “Code”.

SECTION 102. Declaration of Policy

 The Code aims to safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare with standards for building and structure regulation.

SECTION 103. Scope and Application

 Applies to design, location, construction, use, occupancy, and maintenance of buildings and structures, excluding traditional
indigenous family dwellings.
 Affects existing buildings only for alterations, additions, conversions, or repairs.

SECTION 104. General Building Requirements

 Buildings must be safe, suited for their intended purpose, observe environmental safeguards, and be maintained in good
condition.

SECTION 105. Site Requirements

 Sites must be sanitary and safe, with habitations at a safe distance from polluted areas, fire, or explosion hazards.

SECTION 106. Definitions

 Words, terms, and phrases are defined in Annex “A”.

CHAPTER 2: ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

SECTION 201. Responsibility for Administration and Enforcement

 Vested in the Secretary of Public Works, Transportation, and Communications.

SECTION 202. Technical Staff

 Secretary authorized to have a staff of qualified architects, engineers, and technicians.

SECTION 203. General Powers and Functions of the Secretary

 Formulate policies and standards, issue rules and regulations, evaluate amendments to codes, and prescribe fees.

SECTION 204. Professional and Technical Assistance

 Secretary to provide necessary services and may engage consultants and experts.

SECTION 205. Building Officials

 Responsible for field enforcement, may be designated from incumbent engineers, and handle regular enforcement duties.

SECTION 206. Qualifications of Building Officials

 Must be Filipino, of good moral character, registered architect or engineer, professional organization member, and have five
years of experience.
SECTION 207. Duties of a Building Official

 Enforce the Code, issue permits, inspect buildings, order work stoppage or building vacating if in violation.

SECTION 208. Fees

 Building Official to keep records of fees; 20% for office expenses, 80% to the General Fund.

SECTION 209. Exemption

 Public buildings and traditional indigenous family dwellings exempt from permit fees.

SECTION 210. Use of Income from Fees

 Secretary authorized to use 20% of income from fees for operating expenses.

SECTION 211. Implementing Rules and Regulations

 Secretary to formulate rules and regulations, effective after publication in a newspaper.

SECTION 212. Administrative Fines

 Fines for violations up to ten thousand pesos.

SECTION 213. Penal Provisions

 Violations punishable by fines up to twenty thousand pesos or two years imprisonment, with stricter penalties for
corporations and aliens.

SECTION 214. Dangerous and Ruinous Buildings or Structures

 Declared buildings unsafe or a hazard must be addressed.

SECTION 215. Abatement of Dangerous Buildings

 Building Official may order repair, vacation, or demolition of dangerous structures.

SECTION 216. Other Remedies

 Additional rights and remedies are available under existing laws.

CHAPTER 3: PERMITS AND INSPECTION

SECTION 301. Building Permits

 No building or structure can be erected, constructed, altered, repaired, moved, converted, or demolished without a building
permit from the local Building Official.

SECTION 302. Application for Permits

 Applicants must file a written application including:

1. Description of the work.
2. Certified true copy of the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT).
3. Use or occupancy of the work.
 4. Estimated cost.

o Five sets of plans and specifications signed by registered professionals are required.

SECTION 303. Processing of Building Permits

 The Building Official and technical staff oversee the processing, ensuring compliance with zoning, structural, sanitary,
environmental, electrical, and mechanical standards.

SECTION 304. Issuance of Building Permits

 Building permits are issued within 15 days of fee payment if all requirements are met. Partial permits can be issued, and any
changes to approved plans must be approved by the Building Official.

SECTION 305. Validity of Building Permits

 A building permit does not authorize violation of the Code. It expires if work does not commence within a year or is
suspended/abandoned for 120 days.

SECTION 306. Non-Issuance, Suspension, or Revocation of Building Permits

 Permits may be denied, suspended, or revoked for errors, inaccurate information, or non-compliance. Notices must be in
writing, stating reasons.

SECTION 307. Appeal

 Appeals against permit decisions can be filed within 15 days to the Secretary, who must decide within 15 days. The decision
is final, subject to review by the Office of the President.

SECTION 308. Inspection and Supervision of Work

 Permit holders must engage a licensed architect or civil engineer for full-time inspection and supervision. The progress of
construction must be recorded in a logbook, which is submitted upon completion with a Certificate of Completion.

SECTION 309. Certificate of Occupancy

 No building can be used or occupied without a Certificate of Occupancy issued within 30 days of final inspection and
submission of the Certificate of Completion. This certificate must be displayed on the premises and is subject to the same
appeal procedures as building permits.

CHAPTER 4: TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

SECTION 401. Types of Construction

Buildings are classified as follows:

1. Type I: Wood construction. Structural elements may use any permitted materials.
2. Type II: Wood construction with protective fire-resistant materials, one-hour fire-resistive throughout. Permanent non-
bearing partitions may use fire-retardant treated wood.
3. Type III: Masonry and wood construction, one-hour fire-resistive throughout. Exterior walls must be fire-resistive.
4. Type IV: Steel, iron, concrete, or masonry construction. Walls, ceilings, and permanent partitions must be incombustible
fire-resistive construction, but non-bearing partitions may use fire-retardant treated wood.
5. Type V: Fire-resistive construction. Structural elements, walls, ceilings, and permanent partitions must be of incombustible
fire-resistive construction.

SECTION 402. Changes in Types

  Changes in construction type are not allowed unless the building complies with the new type's requirements. Exceptions can
be made if the new construction is less hazardous.

SECTION 403. Requirements on Type of Construction

 The Secretary will prescribe standards for each type, including structural framework, exterior and interior walls, floors, exits,
stairs, and roofs.

CHAPTER 5: REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRE ZONES

SECTION 501. Fire Zones Defined

 Fire zones are areas where only certain types of buildings are permitted, based on use, construction type, and fire resistance.

SECTION 502. Buildings Located in More Than One Fire Zone

 A building in multiple fire zones is considered in the more restrictive zone if more than one-third of its floor area is in that
zone.

SECTION 503. Moved Building

 Buildings moved within or into any fire zone must comply with the fire zone requirements.

SECTION 504. Temporary Buildings

 Temporary buildings (e.g., reviewing stands, protection structures) may be erected with a special permit from the Building
Official for a limited time and must be removed after.

SECTION 505. Center Lines of Streets

 For fire zones, the center line of an adjoining street or alley may be considered an adjacent property line. Distances are
measured at right angles to the street or alley.

SECTION 506. Restrictions on Existing Buildings

 Existing buildings in fire zones that don't comply with new building requirements cannot be enlarged, altered, remodeled, or
moved, except under specific conditions: a. Demolition of the building. b. Moving the building to a compliant zone. c. Minor
changes/repairs within 12 months that do not exceed 20% of the building's value and do not increase fire hazard. d. Additions
separated by fire walls. e. Repairs due to fire or disaster, not exceeding 20% of the replacement cost.

SECTION 507. Designation of Fire Zones

 The Secretary will set specific restrictions for each Fire Zone. Cities and municipalities will be divided into Fire Zones per
local plans.

CHAPTER 6: FIRE-RESISTIVE REQUIREMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION

SECTION 601. Fire-Resistive Rating Defined

 Fire-resistive rating measures how long a material can withstand fire, as determined by accepted testing methods.

SECTION 602. Fire-Resistive Time Period Rating

 This rating indicates the length of time a material can withstand burning, measured in hours (e.g., one-hour, two-hours).

SECTION 603. Fire-Resistive Standards

  Construction materials and assemblies must be classified by their fire-retardant or flame-spread ratings, as determined by
accepted methods and/or the Secretary.

SECTION 604. Fire-Resistive Regulations

 The Secretary will set standards and rules for testing construction materials for flame-spread, fire damage, fire tests of
building materials, door and window assemblies, fire detectors, and fire-resistive protection for structural members, walls,
partitions, floors, ceilings, and roof coverings.

CHAPTER 7: CLASSIFICATION AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF ALL BUILDINGS BY USE OR

OCCUPANCY

SECTION 701. Occupancy Classified

(a) Buildings shall be classified by use or occupancy as follows:

1. Group A – Residential Dwellings

o Includes single-family dwellings.

2. Group B – Residentials, Hotels and Apartments

o Includes multiple dwelling units such as boarding or lodging houses, hotels, apartment buildings, row houses,
convents, monasteries, etc., each accommodating more than 10 persons.
3. Group C – Education and Recreation
o Includes buildings used for schools, day-care, instruction, education, or recreation, not included in Group I or
Divisions 1 and 2 of Group H Occupancies.
4. Group D – Institutional
o Division 1: Mental hospitals, jails, prisons, reformatories, and similar buildings where personal liberties are
restrained.
o Division 2: Nurseries, hospitals, sanitaria, nursing homes with non-ambulatory patients, and similar buildings
accommodating more than five persons.
o Division 3: Nursing homes for ambulatory patients, homes for children of kindergarten age or over, each
accommodating more than five persons.
5. Group E – Business and Mercantile
o Division 1: Gasoline filling stations, storage garages, boat storage structures with no open flame work.

o Division 2: Wholesale and retail stores, office buildings, small dining establishments, printing plants, police and fire
stations, non-hazardous factories, and workshops.
o Division 3: Aircraft hangars, open parking garages with no repair work involving open flames.

6. Group F – Industrial
o Includes ice plants, power plants, pumping plants, cold storage, creameries, factories using non-explosive materials,
and storage/sales rooms for non-explosive materials.
7. Group G – Storage and Hazardous
o Division 1: Storage and handling of highly flammable materials.

o Division 2: Storage and handling of flammable materials, dry cleaning plants using flammable liquids, bulk paint
stores.
o Division 3: Woodworking establishments, factories generating combustible dust, warehouses storing highly
combustible materials.
o Division 4: Repair garages.
 o Division 5: Aircraft repair hangars.

8. Group H – Assembly Other Than Group I

o Division 1: Assembly buildings with a stage and an occupant load of less than 1000.

o Division 2: Assembly buildings without a stage and an occupant load of 300 or more.

o Division 3: Assembly buildings without a stage and an occupant load of less than 300.

o Division 4: Stadia, reviewing stands, amusement park structures not in Group I or Divisions 1, 2, and 3.

9. Group I – Assembly Occupant Load 1000 or More

o Includes any assembly building with a stage and an occupant load of 1000 or more.

10. Group J – Accessory

o Division 1: Private garages, carports, sheds, and agricultural buildings.

o Division 2: Fences over 1.80 meters high, tanks, and towers.

(b) Other subgroupings or divisions may be determined by the Secretary. Any unmentioned or questionable occupancy shall be
classified based on its resemblance to existing groups.

SECTION 702. Change in Use

 Changing the use or occupancy of a building to a different division or group requires compliance with the new division or
group requirements. Approval by the Building Official is needed if the new use is less hazardous than the existing use.

SECTION 703. Mixed Occupancy

(a) General Requirements

 Buildings of mixed occupancy must comply with the most restrictive requirements of any occupancy present, except:
1. In one-storey buildings with multiple occupancies, each part must conform to the requirements of its specific
occupancy.
2. Minor accessory uses (less than 10% of floor area) are classified by the major use of the building.

(b) Forms of Occupancy Separation

 Separation may be vertical, horizontal, or another form providing complete separation.

(c) Types of Occupancy Separation

 One-Hour Fire-Resistive: At least one-hour fire-resistive construction with protected openings.

 Two-Hour Fire-Resistive: At least two-hour fire-resistive construction with protected openings.
 Three-Hour Fire-Resistive: At least three-hour fire-resistive construction with protected openings; openings in floors must
have vertical enclosures with two-hour fire-resistive construction.
 Four-Hour Fire-Resistive: No openings allowed, four-hour fire-resistive construction.

(d) Fire Rating for Occupancy Separation

 Occupancy separations between groups shall be at least one-hour fire-resistive. Horizontal separations must have structurally
supported fire-resistive construction.

SECTION 704. Location on Property

(a) General

 Buildings must adjoin or have direct access to public space, a yard, or a street on at least one side. Eaves over required
windows must be at least 750 millimeters from side and rear property lines.

(b) Fire Resistance of Walls

 Exterior walls must have fire resistance and opening protection per the Secretary's requirements. Projections must not exceed
one-third of the distance from where fire-resistive protection starts to the property line.

(c) Buildings on Same Property and Buildings Containing Courts

 Walls and opening protection for buildings on the same property or containing courts will assume a property line between
them. New buildings must comply with distance requirements based on the occupancy of existing buildings. Multiple
buildings on the same property may be considered one if their combined area is within allowable limits for a single building.

SECTION 705. Allowable Floor Areas

 The Secretary prescribes the maximum floor areas for buildings. Buildings separated by area separation walls may be
considered separate buildings if they meet the Secretary's requirements.

SECTION 706. Allowable Floor Area Increases

 Floor areas can be increased with approval from the Building Official based on the existence of public space, streets, or yards
on two or more sides of the building.

SECTION 707. Maximum Height of Buildings

 The maximum height and number of storeys depend on occupancy, construction type, population density, building bulk,
street widths, and parking requirements. Height is measured from the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface. Towers,
spires, and steeples made of incombustible materials are limited only by structural design, or may extend up to 6 meters
above height limits if made of combustible materials.

SECTION 708. Minimum Requirements for Group A Dwellings

(a) Dwelling Location and Lot Occupancy

 Dwellings must not occupy more than 90% of a corner lot or 80% of an inside lot, and must be at least 2 meters from the
property line.

(b) Light and Ventilation

 Adequate light and ventilation must be provided as per Sections 805 to 811 of this Code.

(c) Sanitation

 Each dwelling must have at least one sanitary toilet and adequate washing and drainage facilities.

(d) Foundation

 Footings must be at least 250 millimeters thick and 600 millimeters below ground surface, capable of supporting the dwelling
load.

(e) Post

 Wooden posts must conform to Table 708-A dimensions and be anchored by straps and bolts of adequate size.
(f) Floor

 The live load for the first floor must be at least 200 kg per square meter, and 150 kg per square meter for the second floor.

(g) Roof

 Roof wind load must be at least 120 kg per square meter for vertical projection.

(h) Stairs

 Stairs must be at least 750 millimeters wide, with a rise of 200 millimeters and a run of 200 millimeters.

(i) Entrance and Exit

 At least one entrance and one exit are required.

(j) Electrical Requirements

 Electrical installations must conform to the Philippine Electrical Code.

(k) Mechanical Requirements

 Mechanical systems/equipment must comply with the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code.

SECTION 709. Requirements for Other Group Occupancies

 The Secretary shall establish rules for other Group Occupancies covering construction, height, area, location, exits, light,
ventilation, sanitation, vertical openings, fire extinguishing systems, and special hazards.
 TABLE

CHAPTER 8: LIGHT AND VENTILATION

SECTION 801. General Requirements of Light and Ventilation

(a) Subject to the Civil Code of the Philippines on Easements of Light and View, and this Code, every building must provide adequate
light and ventilation. (b) All buildings must face a street, public alley, or an approved private street. (c) No building alterations should
reduce room size or window area below Code standards, nor create additional rooms unless they conform to Code requirements. (d)
No building enlargement should reduce the dimensions of required courts or yards below prescribed sizes.

SECTION 802. Measurement of Site Occupancy

(a) Site or lot occupancy measurements are taken at ground level, exclusive of courts, yards, and light wells. (b) Measurements for
courts, yards, and light wells must exclude projections from enclosing walls, except roof leaders, wall copings, sills, or steel fire
escapes not exceeding 1.20 meters in width.

SECTION 803. Percentage of Site Occupancy

(a) Minimum site occupancy is governed by the building's use, type of construction, height, site use, area, nature, location, and local
zoning requirements as per the Secretary's rules and regulations.

SECTION 804. Size and Dimensions of Courts

(a) Minimum court sizes and dimensions are based on building use, construction type, and height, with a minimum horizontal
dimension of 2.00 meters. (b) All inner courts must connect to a street or yard via a passageway with a minimum width of 1.20 meters
or through a room or rooms.
SECTION 805. Ceiling Heights

(a) Habitable rooms with artificial ventilation must have a minimum ceiling height of 2.40 meters. For buildings with more than one
storey, the first storey must have a minimum ceiling height of 2.70 meters, the second storey 2.40 meters, and subsequent storeys an
unobstructed clearance of at least 2.10 meters. Rooms with natural ventilation must have a minimum ceiling height of 2.70 meters. (b)
Mezzanine floors must have a minimum clear ceiling height of 1.80 meters above and below.

SECTION 806. Size and Dimension of Rooms

Minimum room sizes and horizontal dimensions are:

1. Human Habitation Rooms: 6.00 square meters with a minimum dimension of 2.00 meters.
2. Kitchens: 3.00 square meters with a minimum dimension of 1.50 meters.
3. Bath and Toilets: 1.20 square meters with a minimum dimension of 0.90 meters.

SECTION 807. Air Space Requirements for Room Size

Minimum air space requirements:

1. School Rooms: 3.00 cubic meters per person with 1.00 square meter of floor area.
2. Workshops, Factories, Offices: 12.00 cubic meters per person.
3. Habitable Rooms: 14.00 cubic meters per person.

SECTION 808. Window Openings

Every room without an artificial ventilation system must have windows with a total free area equal to at least 10% of the floor area,
opening directly to a court, yard, public street or alley, or open water courses.

SECTION 809. Vent Shafts

(a) Ventilation shafts must have a horizontal cross-sectional area of at least 0.10 square meter per meter of shaft height, with a
minimum area of 1.00 square meter and a minimum dimension of 600 millimeters. (b) Skylights must cover vent shafts unless open to
the outer air at the top for its full area, with net free area or fixed louver openings equal to the required shaft area. (c) Air ducts must
open to a street or court by a horizontal duct or intake with a minimum unobstructed cross-sectional area of 0.30 square meter and a
minimum dimension of 300 millimeters, with openings at least 300 millimeters above the shaft bottom and street surface or court
level.

SECTION 810. Ventilation Skylights

Skylights must have a glass area not less than the windows they replace and be equipped with movable sashes or louvers with a net
free area at least equal to the openable parts in the replaced windows, or provide equivalent artificial ventilation.

SECTION 811. Artificial Ventilation

(a) Industrial or heating equipment rooms must have artificial ventilation to prevent excessive hot and/or polluted air accumulation.
(b) Artificial ventilation equipment must provide the following minimum air changes:

1. Office, clerical, administrative rooms, stores, sales rooms, restaurants, markets, factories, workshops, or machinery rooms: at
least three air changes per hour.
2. Bakeries, hotel or restaurant kitchens, laundries not accessory to dwellings, and boiler rooms: at least ten air changes per
hour.
3. Auditoriums and assembly rooms: at least 0.30 cubic meters of air per minute per person.
4. Institutional building wards and dormitories: at least 0.45 cubic meters of air per minute per person.
 5. For other rooms or spaces not specifically covered, follow the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code.

CHAPTER 9: SANITATION
SECTION 901. General Requirements

All buildings erected, altered, remodeled, relocated, or repaired for human habitation must have:

 Adequate and potable water supply

 Plumbing installation
 Suitable wastewater treatment or disposal system
 Storm water drainage
 Pest and vermin control
 Noise abatement devices
 Other health protection measures as required by law

SECTION 902. Water Supply System

(a) Potable water for buildings should come from the municipal or city waterworks system whenever available. (b) Drinking water
quality from meteoric, surface, or underground sources must meet the latest National Standards for Drinking Water. (c) Deepwells for
groundwater abstraction must comply with the Water Code of the Philippines. (d) Independent waterworks systems in private housing
subdivisions or industrial estates must follow relevant laws. (e) Water piping installations must adhere to the National Plumbing Code
of the Philippines.

SECTION 903. Wastewater Disposal System

(a) Sanitary sewage and neutralized or pre-treated industrial wastewater must discharge into the nearest sanitary sewer main as per the
Code on Sanitation and National Pollution Control Commission criteria. (b) In areas without a sanitary sewerage system, sewage must
be disposed of using an “Imhoff” or septic tank and subsurface absorption field. (c) Plumbing installations for sanitary and industrial
purposes must conform to the National Plumbing Code.

SECTION 904. Storm Drainage System

(a) Rainwater must not discharge into the sanitary sewer system. (b) Provisions must be made to drain low areas in buildings and
premises adequately.

SECTION 905. Pest and Vermin Control

(a) Buildings with hollow and/or wood construction must be rat-proofed. (b) Garbage bins and receptacles must have cleaning
provisions and protection against pests and vermin. (c) Public dining rooms without artificial ventilation must be properly screened.

SECTION 906. Noise Pollution Control

Industrial establishments must have noise abatement devices to reduce equipment and machinery noise to acceptable levels as set by
the Department of Labor and the National Pollution Control Commission.

SECTION 907. Pipe Materials

All pipe materials used in buildings must conform to the Standard Specifications of the Philippine Standard Council.