MASSACHUSETTS · MSBC 10TH EDITION · ASCE 7-16
Massachusetts Wind Load Requirements
From the 10th Edition Massachusetts State Building Code to Cape Cod's high-wind shore — design speeds, debris rules, and solar PV provisions in one place.
ADOPTED CODE · 780 CMR
The 10th Edition MSBC governs wind
The 10th Edition Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR) took effect October 11, 2024, replacing the 9th edition and aligning with the 2021 ICC model codes. It references ASCE 7-16 for wind loads.
Base & Residential
2021 IBC and 2021 IRC, with Massachusetts-specific amendments.
2021 ICCWind Load Standard
ASCE 7-16, including Sections 29.4.3 & 29.4.4 for rooftop solar.
ASCE 7-16Effective Date
October 11, 2024. Concurrency with the 9th edition ran through June 30, 2025.
OCT 11 2024Lower Design Speeds
10th edition speeds (MSBC 1604.11) run lower — roughly a 5–15% load reduction vs. the 9th.
5–15% ↓Concurrency window. Project teams could apply the 9th or 10th MSBC from October 11, 2024 to June 30, 2025; applications on or after July 1, 2025 must comply with the 10th edition.
WIND SPEED · COAST VS INLAND
From the Cape to the Berkshires
Massachusetts wind speeds climb toward the southeast shore and the Cape and Islands, and ease moving inland and west. Values below are ultimate (Vult) with nominal (Vasd) ranges.
| Location | Vult (Ultimate) | Vasd (Nominal) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastham (Cape Cod) — highest | 140 mph | 108 mph |
| Cape Cod (general) | 120–140 mph | 93–108 mph |
| Martha's Vineyard / Nantucket | 120–130 mph | 93–100 mph |
| Boston Metro | 110–115 mph | 85–89 mph |
| Western Massachusetts | 100–110 mph | 77–85 mph |
Coast & Islands
Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and the southeast shore carry the state's highest speeds — up to 140 mph Vult.
UP TO 140 MPHInland & West
Boston metro and Western Massachusetts sit lower, easing toward 100–110 mph Vult in the Berkshires.
100–115 MPHWindborne debris. For high-wind locations — typically the southeast shore, Cape Cod, and the Islands — the residential code requires opening protection via impact-resistant glazing or a special shutter system. The full debris-region thresholds (Vasd ≥ 130 mph or Vult ≥ 170/180 mph) do not occur anywhere in Massachusetts.
LOCAL GUIDES
Massachusetts city & coast pages
Site-specific wind load guidance for the state's key locations.
REQUIREMENTS · SOLAR PV
Rooftop solar uplift provisions
The 10th Edition MSBC adopts ASCE 7-16 solar guidance for wind uplift on roof- and ground-mounted panels.
§ 29.4.3
Low-slope roofs (≤ 7°) — rooftop solar on flat or nearly flat roofs, all building heights.
LOW-SLOPE§ 29.4.4
Parallel-to-roof — flush-mounted panels on gable/hip roofs below 7°.
FLUSH-MOUNTChapter 27
Ground-mount (≤ 45°) — treated as an open building with a monoslope roof.
GROUND-MOUNTWind & snow together. Massachusetts solar must resist both nor'easter uplift and heavy snow. Solar C&C wind loads need not be applied simultaneously with the roof's own C&C loads, but the roof must still be designed as if the panels were removed. Site-specific values are available from the ASCE 7 Hazard Tool.
RISK CATEGORY · ASCE 7-16
Risk category sets the design map
ASCE 7-16 has no wind importance factor — instead, the building's risk category selects a different basic-wind-speed map (a longer return period), so higher-risk buildings read a higher design speed.
Category I
Low hazard to life — minor agricultural and storage structures.
300-YR MRICategory II
Standard occupancy — homes, offices, retail, most buildings.
700-YR MRICategory III
Substantial hazard — large assembly, schools, and similar.
1,700-YR MRICategory IV
Essential facilities — hospitals, fire/police, emergency operations.
3,000-YR MRIPermit note. Massachusetts is one of 40 states where building departments do not require PE-sealed wind load calculations by law to obtain a permit — but calculations are still commonly needed for insurance, manufacturer warranties, and engineering best practice, especially on Cape Cod and coastal sites.
RUN THE NUMBERS
Massachusetts wind loads, done right
ASCE 7 calculators tuned for the 10th Edition MSBC, Cape Cod high-wind zones, and solar-specific provisions — residential and commercial.
RELATED · OFFICIAL RESOURCES
Keep going
All State Requirements
Wind load rules state by state.
BROWSE STATES10 Mandatory States
Where PE-sealed wind calcs are required by law.
SEE THE LIST| Official Massachusetts & ASCE resources |
|---|
| MA Board of Building Regulations & Standards |
| 780 CMR — Massachusetts State Building Code |
| UpCodes — Massachusetts |
| Massachusetts Clean Energy Center |
| ASCE 7 Hazard Tool |