Final effective date of the 9th Edition is January 1, 2018, so if you have designed a project under the 8th Edition, you should file building permit applications on or before December 31, 2017.
Earlier this week the BBRS Board has indicated that the 9th Edition to the Mass. State Building Code was finally submitted to the Secretary of State on October 6th for the mandatory 2-week period and listing in the state register. At the end of that period, which is October 20th, the 9th Edition of the Code will be in effect concurrently with the 8th Edition Building Code. The BBRS will likely have the 9th Edition posted on its website prior to the 20th. The BBRS discussed expansion of the concurrency period but ultimately decided to keep the final effective date of the 9th Edition as January 1, 2018 so if you have designed a project under the 8th Edition, you should file building permit applications on or before December 31, 2017.
Note also that effective as of October 23, 2017, CSL exam candidates can take the exam under either the 8th or 9th Edition of the Building Code. Starting on January 1,2018, CSL candidates will only be allowed to test under the 9th Edition.