Building codes, in the US, are based off of the International Code Council (ICC) series of codes; energy, building, fire, and so on. With the exception of California, all states adopt these codes, though each have exceptions to their adoptions called amendments. Each county then adopts the state's adoptions and amendments to the international code and make amendments. Each city then adopts the county's adoptions and amendments to the state code and makes amendments. Subdivisions can elect to do the same. The amendments made, with the exception of those made by subdivisions and many leftist/jewish-run incorporated cities and towns, intend to adjust the code to fit the context of their geographical and cultural needs. For example, fire code varies between the pacific northwest rain forest and the pacific southwest desert, as does building code involving roofing snow loads.
The codes exist to ensure safety. In my experience, the only code limitations that I felt or thought were unreasonable or unfair, in that they went beyond safety, were the energy code requirements for heating; no heat simply isn't an option and it should be. The exception to this is in subdivisions, as the home owner associations often restrict or set a minimum house size, landscaping, mailbox type, and so on. Many leftist/jewish-run incorporated cities and towns do the same. However, I do not see code as the limiting factor but, instead, the concept people have for what a house is supposed to look and function like, which is both a cultural and educational failure.
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They are being taught [Quality=No Energy=Yes]
Note that the ICC adopts the requirements from other relevant parties as needed, for example, the International Residential Code (IRC) adopts relevant NFPA National Electrical Code requirements.
Also note that property owners, builders, and architects can request an exception, or variance, from the relevant public department to do something different; health, planning, and so on.
The one thing these codes overlook is large-scale planning. Although zoning classifications exist to limit population numbers and preserve natural landscapes in the country-side, and building, energy, and fire codes exist to limit the number of people per room depending on size and preserve life and property, there is little-to-no restriction on population density in large areas like towns, cities, and counties which cause the social and cultural decay of a society. Yet.