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Buildings presently under construction are governed by the 2006 International Building Code.  Chapter 2 of the IBC includes over 600 definitions of terms used elsewhere in the Code.  Believe me when I tell you that, in any code, the devil is in the definitions.

Let me give you just one example.  "Approved", which is used over 800 times in the 2006 IBC, is defined as "Acceptable to the code official or authority having jurisdiction."  Translation: Something is approved if and only if the building department says it is.

Now theoretically the building department can get so off base that its definition of "accepted" is unacceptable.  Do you have any idea what it takes to get a court to say so?  Believe me, you don't want to spend the money to find out.  Make nice with your building inspector.