NAICS 236220

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to produce comparable economic statistics across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Developed under the auspices of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with the U.S. Economic Classification Policy Committee, Statistics Canada, and Mexico’s INEGI, it replaced the SIC in 1997. NAICS is updated on a five-year cycle; the most recent vintage is 2022. ¹

NAICS 236220 covers firms primarily responsible for the entire construction of commercial and institutional buildings—new work, additions, alterations, and repairs—typically acting as general contractors, design-builders, engineer-constructors, or construction managers. Illustrative facilities include offices, schools, hospitals, warehouses, restaurants, and retail centers. Agencies classify these activities under the 2022 NAICS structure when publishing current Economic Census and related program data. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Turnkey and design-build delivery for commercial and institutional buildings (e.g., offices, schools, hospitals). ³
• New construction, additions, alterations, and repairs of nonresidential buildings and related structures. ³
• Construction management at risk or as agent for commercial/institutional building projects. ³
• Build-out and tenant improvements within commercial or institutional buildings. ³
• Construction of public warehouses, shopping centers/malls, and restaurants. ³
• Construction of administrative/municipal buildings and other public service facilities. ⁴
• Construction of religious, educational, and health care buildings. ⁴

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Descriptors per official NAICS descriptions and the PSC Manual. ³

Boundaries and common exclusions

• Heavy and civil works (e.g., highways, bridges, utilities) fall under subsector 237, such as NAICS 237310 and 237990. ³
• Specialty trades performing components of building work (e.g., electrical, plumbing) are classified in subsector 238, such as NAICS 238210 and 238220. ³
• Construction of manufacturing/industrial buildings belongs in NAICS 236210, not 236220. ³
• Employer/Nonemployer program guidance groups 236220 under Nonresidential Building Construction, distinct from residential builders/remodelers. ⁵

Frequently asked questions

• What types of facilities are typical under NAICS 236220?
  Typical facilities include office and administrative buildings, schools, hospitals/clinics, warehouses, retail stores and malls, restaurants, and various municipal buildings. The industry encompasses new construction, additions, alterations, and repairs for these nonresidential buildings. ³

• How is NAICS 236220 different from NAICS 236210?
  NAICS 236220 focuses on commercial and institutional buildings, while NAICS 236210 covers manufacturing and other industrial buildings. Both include general contracting/design-build roles, but the facility types drive the distinction. ³

• Do design-build and construction management firms fit in 236220?
  Yes. Establishments identified as general contractors, design-builders, engineer-constructors, joint-venture contractors, turnkey contractors, or construction management firms for commercial/institutional buildings are included in 236220. ³

• Which PSC codes commonly align with 236220 building projects?
  Facility construction and sustainment often use PSC Y and Z series, such as PSC Y1AA (Construction of Office Buildings) for new work and PSC Z2AA (Repair/Alteration of Office Buildings) for renovations. Selection depends on the specific facility and action. ⁶

• What size standard applies for small-business set-asides under 236220?
  SBA assigns size standards by NAICS code in its Table of Small Business Size Standards. Refer to the current SBA table to determine the applicable receipts-based threshold for 236220. ⁷

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 236220 overview
• Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems (2022 guidance). ⁸
• Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and program adoption). ²
• Construction Spending — Definitions for nonresidential building categories. ⁴
• Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual (April 2025). ⁶

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. 2017 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Manual. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2017/econ/2017-naics-manual.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau. Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (Timeline). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS Sector 23 (archival description for Commercial and Institutional Building Construction with examples). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect23.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau. Construction Spending — Definitions (Nonresidential Buildings categories). https://www.census.gov/construction/c30/definitions.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau. Employer Categories and Corresponding Establishment NAICS Industries (Nonresidential Building Construction: 236210, 236220). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/esp/guidance/employer.html
6. General Services Administration. Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual, April 2025 (Y1/Z1/Z2 facility codes). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
7. U.S. Small Business Administration. Table of Small Business Size Standards. https://www.sba.gov/document/support--table-size-standards
8. U.S. Census Bureau. Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems (2022 Guidance). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics-redirect.html