2021 Code Development Cycle

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The Virginia Building Codes are updated on a three-year cycle through the code development process. Virginia is a leader in building and fire regulations, and stakeholder input is vital to Virginia's code development process. Participation is encouraged through cdpVA. Codes and regulations are adopted by the Board of Housing and Community Development and periodic amendments are utilized to update codes and incorporate new referenced standards.

The effective date of the 2021 Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2021 Statewide Fire Prevention Code, 2021 Industrialized Building Safety Regulations, and the 2021 Amusement Device Regulations is January 18th, 2024. 

Copies of these regulations can be found in the Building and Fire Regulations Archive here.

Workgroup Documents

General Workgroup Meeting Summaries - June 7-15, 2022

General Workgroup Meeting Agendas - June 7-15, 2022

General Workgroup Meeting Summaries - April 12-20, 2022

General Workgroup Meeting Agendas - April 12-20, 2022

General Workgroup Meeting Summaries - March 1-9, 2022

General Workgroup Meeting Agendas - March 1-9, 2022

Residential Sprinklers Study Group

Residential Sprinklers Study Group Final Report 

May 17, 2022 Residential Sprinklers Study Group Meeting Agenda | SummaryDocuments

March 25, 2022 Residential Sprinklers Study Group Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents 

January 11, 2022 Residential Sprinklers Study Group Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents

December 15, 2021 Residential Sprinklers Study Group Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents

Active Shooter and Hostile Threats in Public Buildings Study Group

Active Shooter and Hostile Threats in Public Buildings Study Group Final Report

January 26, 2022 Active Hostile Shooter Hostile Threats Study Group Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents

January 5, 2022 Active Hostile Shooter Hostile Threats Study Group Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents

December 8, 2021 Active Shooter Hostile Threats Study Group Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents

In-Building Emergency Communications Study Group

In-Building Emergency Communications Study Group Final Report

February 24, 2022 In-Building Emergency Communications Study Group Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents

January 18, 2022 In-Building Emergency Communications Study Group Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents

December 29, 2021 In-Building Emergency Communications Study Group Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents

December 1, 2021 In-Building Emergency Communications Study Group Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents

Resiliency Sub-Workgroup

July 28, 2022 Resiliency Sub-Workgroup Meeting
Summary

April 27, 2022 Resiliency Sub-Workgroup Meeting Agenda| Summary | Documents

March 16, 2022 Resiliency Sub-Workgroup Meeting Agenda | SummaryDocuments

February 23, 2022 Resiliency Sub-Workgroup Meeting Agenda | Summary | Documents

SFPC Sub-Workgroup

May 11, 2022 SFPC Sub-Workgroup Meeting Agenda | SummaryDocuments

April 18, 2022 SFPC Sub-Workgroup Meeting Agenda | SummaryDocuments

March 7, 2022 SFPC Sub-Workgroup Meeting Agenda | SummaryDocuments

February 16, 2022 SFPC Sub-Workgroup Meeting Agenda | SummaryDocuments

Energy Sub-Workgroup

May 19, 2022 Energy Sub-Workgroup Meeting
Agenda | Summary | Documents

May 12, 2022 Energy Sub-Workgroup Meeting
Agenda | SummaryDocuments

April 11, 2022 Energy Sub-Workgroup Meeting
Agenda | Summary | Documents

March 24, 2022 Energy Sub-Workgroup Meeting Agenda | SummaryDocuments

Memos

2021 Code Development Cycle Stakeholders Memo - Sept. 1, 2022

2021 Code Development Cycle Stakeholders Memo - Nov. 4, 2021

2021 Code Development Cycle Stakeholders Memo - Oct. 4, 2021

Base Documents

2021 IBSR Base Document

2021 SFPC Base Document

2021 VCC Base Document

2021 VADR Base Document

2021 VEBC Base Document

2021 VMC Base Documents

General Information

2021 Code Development Process Flow Chart

2021 Workgroup and Sub-Workgroups Schedule

2021 Regulatory Cycle Schedule​​​​​​​

Proposed Regulations

2021 USBC Proposed Regulation

2021 SFPC Proposed Regulation

2021 IBSR Proposed Regulation

2021 VADR Proposed Regulation

Board Documents

Book 1, Part 1 - SFPDC - October 3, 2022

Book 1, Part 2 - SFPDC - October 3, 2022

Book 2, Part 1 - CSC - October 3, 2022

Book 2, Part 2 - CSC - October 3, 2022

Book 2, Part 3 - CSC - October 3, 2022

Book 3 - SFPDC - December 12, 2022

Book 4 - CSC - December 12, 2022

Book 5 - SFPDC - July 17, 2023

Book 6 - CSC - July 17, 2023

2021 Code Development Cycle

August 28, 2023 Meeting

Book 5 – Final Regulations - Statewide Fire Prevention Code

Book 6- Final Regulations - Uniform Statewide Building Code, Industrialized Building Safety Regulations, Virginia Amusement Device Regulations

Additional Public Comment

Updated Memo – Editorial Corrections, Final Regulations

Proposed Phase Public Comment

Uniform Statewide Building Code

Statewide Fire Prevention Code

Virginia Amusement Device Regulations

Industrialized Building Safety Regulations

May 8 Public Hearing: Transcript | Recording

December 12, 2022 Board of Housing and Community Development Meeting Materials

Proposed Regulations Memo

Book 3 - Proposed Regulations: Statewide Fire Prevention Code 

Book 4 - Proposed Regulations:  Uniform Statewide Building Code, Industrialized Building Safety Regulations, and Virginia Amusement Device Regulations

Additional Public Comment (Updated 12/9/22)

October 3, 2022 Board of Housing and Community Development Meeting Materials

Board Materials Memo

Book 1 Part 1 - Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC) Base Document and Proposals

Book 1 Part 2 - Additional supplemental information related to SFPC Proposals

Book 2 Part 1 - Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) Base Document and Proposals (consensus for both approval and disapproval)

Book 2 Part 2 - USBC Proposals (non-consensus), Industrialized Building Safety Regulations (IBSR) Base Document and Proposals, and the Virginia Amusement Device Regulations (VADR) Base Document and Proposals 

Book 2 Part 3 - Additional supplemental information related to USBC, IBSR and VADR Proposals

Additional Public Comments (UPDATED 10/3/2022)

Book 2, Additional Items

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Board Policy # 2 Code Development Cycle: Stakeholder Code Change Proposal Submission

Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) - Public Comments

DHCD Building and Fire Regulation 2021 Code Development Cycle Page

March 21, 2022 Public Hearing Transcript