Reminder: 2018 Virginia Building Codes Significant Changes

September 3, 2021

Click here for an overview of the significant changes to the Virginia Construction Code, Virginia Existing Building Code, Virginia Maintenance Code, Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code, Manufactured Housing Safety Regulations, and Virginia Certification Standards.

In April of 2019, the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development (BHCD) initiated the 2018 Code Development Cycle to consider amendments to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC), and other codes. As we’ve written before, Virginia has received national recognition for its deliberate, inclusive, and transparent code development process which is due, in large part, to the staff at the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) who oversee the process. Despite the pandemic’s impact on our ability to meet in person, DHCD was able to quickly transition to a virtual platform to minimize delays to the code development process. In under two years, the Board and countless stakeholders reviewed more than 250 code proposals over approximately 50 meetings.

When do these codes become effective?
The new codes became effective on July 1, 2021. However, 13VAC5-63-30 Section 103 of the final regulation states that upon the effective date of the 2018 code (7/1/2021), an applicant for a permit shall have one year to choose whether to comply with the provisions of the 2018 code or the provisions of the 2015 code. In short, the 2018 code does not become mandatory until July 1, 2022.

Code Training?
FABA is working with Stafford, Spotsylvania, the City of Fredericksburg, and all of our local counties to keep you updated on local code training opportunities. These training sessions will review the major changes and specific building department and inspectors’ expectations as they relate to these changes. Look for these session to take place in the next 3-4 months, with a large cooperative session of the Fredericksburg region coming soon.

Fredericksburg Area Builder's Association

The Fredericksburg Area Builders Association (FABA), chartered in 1968 and incorporated in 1980 has hundreds of members both builders and associates. These members represent thousands of people whose livelihoods are directly tied to the building and building-related industries. FABA, a tax-exempt trade association, is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV). With its main purpose to create and maintain a favorable climate for the growth and development of the building industry, the Fredericksburg Area Builders Association seeks to develop and maintain high professional business standards with the ultimate goal of providing home ownership to all individuals and families in our area. Centrally located between Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital, and Richmond, Virginia, the state capital, FABA serves the historic City of Fredericksburg, VA area including the surrounding counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, Caroline, Culpeper and Orange.