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Code Status: Virginia

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of Virginia. Information for all 50 States is also available. Virginia Code News.

Current State Codes

  • Residential Code: 2006 IECC mandatory statewide; enforcement is the responsibility of the local government's building inspections department. REScheck can be used to show compliance.
  • Commercial Code: 2006 IECC mandatory statewide; enforcement is the responsibility of the local government's building inspections department. COMcheck can be used to show compliance.
  • Code Change Cycle: Three-year review cycle concurrent with the publications of new editions of the model codes. Most recent update effective: May 1, 2008.
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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Regulatory

Code Change Process: The Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development (a Governor-appointed board) has authority to adopt changes to the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), and the adoption process for modifications may take up to 12 months. All meetings of the board and its three committees are open to the public, and there is a public comment session at the beginning of each business meeting to allow the public to address the board on any issue. The board generally meets monthly but there are some months that the board does not meet. Meeting dates and times are posted to the Department of Housing and Community Development website and the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website.

The General Assembly also promulgates requirements for the USBC, but these requirements apply only to state buildings. The scope of these provisions includes items such as asbestos removal and minimum temperature settings that are not addressed in the USBC.

State Code History: Virginia adopted the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) based on the BOCA Basic Codes in 1973. The statewide requirements cannot be altered by local jurisdictions. Prior to 1973, local governments were free to adopt codes. The previous USBC adopted the 2000 IECC by reference for energy efficiency criteria, effective October 1, 2003.

Effective May 1, 2008, the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development updated the USBC per its three year code change cycle to coincide with the 2006 editions of the International Code Council model codes. The 2006 Virginia codes incorporate the customized text of the Virginia administrative and technical amendments within the base text of the ICC model codes. Each code discipline will consist of a single volume, inclusive of the Uniform Statewide Building Code amended language, with no need for separate USBC pamphlets that historically accompanied the ICC model codes for enforcement regulations in Virginia.

The Codes and Standards Committee of the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development met on Monday, June 22 to review the 2009 I-Codes and code changes to make decisions on proposed building regulations. The Committee unanimously approved proposals that included updating the energy code to reference the 2009 IECC. The next meeting of the full Board is scheduled for Monday, July 27, for the consideration of proposed regulations for the Uniform Statewide Building Code. A 60-day comment period on the 2009 IRC and IECC is expected later this year. View the Virginia DHCD Calendar of Events for more information about these meetings. 

Enforcement: Enforcement of the USBC is the responsibility of the local government's building inspections department. The local governing body may charge fees to defray the costs of enforcement and appeals arising from the application of the code. The USBC contains enforcement procedures that must be used by the enforcing agency. An administrative appeals system exists to resolve disagreements that may occur between the enforcing agency and an aggrieved party before the State Building Code Technical Review Board.

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Energy Consumption Estimates

The consumption estimates below are derived from the total end use of residential and commercial energy consumption in the United States in 2006, and are not limited to energy consumption based on building code-related factors. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

  • Residential Sector: 591.2 Trillion BTU
  • Commercial Sector: 574.2 Trillion BTU
  • Total Energy Consumption: 1,165.4 Trillion BTU
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Construction Activity

Residential:

  • Population (2000 US Census)1: 7,078,515
  • Total Housing Units2: 3,006,877
  • 2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)3:
    • total units: 61,238
    • 1 unit: 48,313
    • 2 units: 560
    • 3 and 4 units: 1,161
    • 5+ units: 11,204
    • structures of 5+ units: 498

References:

  1. http://www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t2/tab01.xls
  2. http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/housing/sthuhh1.txt
  3. http://www.census.gov/const/C40/Table2/20k_t2yu200412.txt
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Green Building Initiatives

 

Code Funding Opportunities

There are two funding opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants and State Energy Program. Please reference the U.S. Department of Energy for Virginia's allocated amount and updated information. 

 

Web Links

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State Energy Code Contacts

Robin Jones
Energy Program Manager
Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy
Ninth Street Office Building, 8th Floor
202 North 9th Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Tel: (804) 692-3211/3224
Fax: (804) 692-3238

Email: robin.jones@dmme.virginia.gov

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