Across the country, strong building codes are the backbone of safe, healthy, and resilient communities. Yet the workforce responsible for enforcing those codes is under growing strain. With many seasoned officials nearing retirement and too few new entrants joining the field, states and localities face a looming staffing shortfall that threatens public safety, slows progress on energy goals, and places added pressure on already stretched departments.
At the same time, the demands on code officials are expanding. New technologies, more complex energy codes, and an accelerating shift toward electrification and high performance buildings require deeper expertise and continuous learning. Meeting these challenges will take more than incremental fixes—it calls for a coordinated strategy to recruit, train, support, and retain the next generation of code enforcement professionals.
This report offers that roadmap. It identifies six priority areas for strengthening the building and energy code enforcement workforce and provides actionable strategies for state energy offices, departments of labor, local building departments, code official associations, and training partners. From widening entry pathways and improving retention, to expanding hands on training, supporting ongoing professional development, equipping officials for renovations and retrofits, and protecting institutional knowledge through succession planning, the roadmap lays out a practical framework tailored to each stakeholder.
Drawing on emerging practices and real world needs, the report illustrates how targeted investments in people—paired with modernized tools, clearer guidance, and stronger peer networks—can build a workforce capable of upholding safety, advancing energy efficiency, and supporting resilient, future ready buildings.
