Addresses building regulations in the broadest sense. Rather than comparing specific requirements of various countries, it focuses on the similarities in the origins and intent of regulations, and on the problems of the historic structure when stringent requirements are imposed upon it. From this perspective, conclusions are drawn that can benefit historic buildings from different geographies or contexts. Many of the conclusions presented in this paper are derived from research conducted in 1986 at ICCROM, the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property in Rome. This research included review of literature and specific codes and standards as well as interviews with conservation architects practicing in all corners of the world.