Which historical codes are recognized as the first set of building codes?

The Code of Hammurabi is recognized as one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes, dating back to around 1754 BC in ancient Babylon. It is significant because it established a set of laws that governed various aspects of daily life, including trade, family, and property. Among its provisions, there are regulations related to construction and building practices. These rules mandated standards for safety and quality in building, effectively serving as a precursor to modern building codes.

The other options, while historically significant in their own contexts, do not specifically focus on building regulations in the manner that the Code of Hammurabi does. The Magna Carta primarily focused on governance and the rights of individuals; the Napoleonic Code, formulated in the early 19th century, addressed civil law rather than building standards; and the Building Act of 1666, established much later, specifically responds to the Great Fire of London, introducing regulations for safety and urban planning but is not as foundational as the Code of Hammurabi in terms of the historical development of building codes.