Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC)

Contact:

State Building Codes Office

SBCO@dhcd.virginia.gov

804-371-7150

The Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC) is a maintenance code which is enforced once a structure receives a certificate of occupancy and contains the regulations which must be complied with for the protection of life property from the hazards of fire and explosion.

The Board of Housing and Community Development and the Virginia Fire Services Board, through a cooperative agreement, adopt and amend the SFPC. The boards base the technical requirements of the SFPC on nationally recognized model codes and standards and make as few amendments as possible. The boards encourage anyone who believes that a technical amendment is needed to submit their proposal to the International Code Council. Amendments made by that organization will then be considered for inclusion in future editions of the SFPC.

CODE ENFORCEMENT

Enforcement of the SFPC is at the option of the local governments. The State Fire Marshal’s Office has the authority to enforce the SFPC in those localities in which there is no local enforcement. Fees may be charged by both the local enforcing agencies and the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The SFPC 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 agencies and an aggrieved party before the State Building Code Technical Review Board.