Federal buildings within the local jurisdiction are:

• A. Federal buildings must comply with local codes
• B. Federal buildings in the local jurisdiction are not required to comply with local codes
• C. Federal buildings are exempt from all codes
• D. Federal buildings must follow only federal codes

Answer: (B)

Federal buildings inside a state operate under federal authority, so local building codes typically do not apply to that property. Instead, these facilities are governed by federal standards and agency requirements (such as GSA construction criteria and the federal fire and life-safety standards they adopt). This arrangement ensures consistency for federal facilities nationwide, regardless of local ordinances. Local authorities may still oversee permits and inspections to verify compliance with the federal standards, but the binding codes come from federal guidance rather than local codes.