Who is responsible for ensuring that a construction project complies with building codes?

The responsibility for ensuring that a construction project complies with building codes broadly falls on the contractor. The contractor is the party who executes the actual construction and is typically tasked with understanding and adhering to local building codes, zoning laws, and safety regulations throughout the construction process. This encompasses not only the physical construction activities but also the legal and procedural aspects of adhering to code requirements, ensuring that all work performed meets the established standards.

While architects play a significant role in design compliance and can provide specifications that adhere to building codes, the ultimate responsibility for implementation rests with the contractor. Similarly, the local building inspector is involved in reviewing and approving construction plans and conducting inspections, but they do not ensure compliance in the same active manner as the contractor who oversees the daily work on-site. The general contractor, which refers specifically to the contractor managing the overall project, has an essential role in this responsibility as well, but the term used in the answer highlights a broader scope encompassing all contractors involved in the construction.