Virginia — Code Adoption Summary
Adoption model: Statewide-mandatory Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC) (DHCD / Board of Housing & Community Development). Locals cannot be more or less stringent (strict uniformity).
Last verified: 2026-07-03
Confidence: verified
Primary sources: VA DHCD — https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/codes · ICC VA
Statewide adopted codes — 2021 VUSBC (effective 2024-01-18; full effect 2025-01-18)
| Code family | Adopted edition | Notes | Source |
|---|
| Building | 2021 Virginia Construction Code (2021 IBC base) | | dhcd.virginia.gov |
| Residential | 2021 Virginia Residential Code | | " |
| Electrical (NEC) | NEC 2020 | | dhcd.virginia.gov |
| Mechanical | 2021 Virginia Mechanical Code (2021 IMC) | | " |
| Plumbing | 2021 Virginia Plumbing Code (IPC 2021 base) | | " |
| Energy | 2021 Virginia Energy Conservation Code (2021 IECC base, VA amended — historically lags) | | " |
| Fuel Gas / Fire | 2021 VA Fuel Gas / Statewide Fire Prevention Code | | " |
Adoption model & precedence
- VUSBC is the exclusive building regulation statewide — localities may not adopt their own more/less stringent building codes (a hallmark of VA uniformity).
- AHJ = local building official enforcing the VUSBC.
Major cities / counties
| Jurisdiction | County/independent city | Notes | Building dept. |
|---|
| Virginia Beach | (independent city) | VUSBC | virginiabeach.gov |
| Norfolk / Richmond | (independent cities) | VUSBC | respective depts |
| Arlington | Arlington | VUSBC | arlingtonva.us |
AHJ fallback (when local adoption is unverified)
- State baseline (uniform): 2021 VUSBC, NEC 2020, IPC 2021 base, 2021 VECC.
- Action: VUSBC is uniform — confirm only the local building office contact; no local technical variance expected.
Change log
- 2026-07-03 — created; verified 2021 VUSBC (full effect 2025-01-18) + NEC 2020 + IPC 2021 base.
