A. The General Assembly hereby declares that (i) there is an urgent need to improve the housing conditions of low and moderate income individuals and families, many of whom live in substandard housing, particularly in the older cities of the Commonwealth; (ii) there are large numbers of older residential buildings in the Commonwealth, both occupied and vacant, which are in urgent need of rehabilitation and which must be rehabilitated if the State's citizens are to be housed in decent, sound, and sanitary conditions; and (iii) the application of those building code requirements currently in force to housing rehabilitation has sometimes led to the imposition of costly and time-consuming requirements that result in a significant reduction in the amount of rehabilitation activity taking place.
B. The General Assembly further declares that (i) there is an urgent need to improve the existing condition of many of the Commonwealth's stock of commercial properties, particularly in older cities; (ii) there are large numbers of older commercial buildings in the Commonwealth, both occupied and vacant, that are in urgent need of rehabilitation and that must be rehabilitated if the citizens of the Commonwealth are to be provided with decent, sound and sanitary work spaces; and (iii) the application of the existing building code to such rehabilitation has sometimes led to the imposition of costly and time-consuming requirements that result in a significant reduction in the amount of rehabilitation activity taking place.
C. The Board is hereby directed and empowered to make such changes as are necessary to fulfill the intent of the General Assembly as expressed in subsections A and B, including, but not limited to amendments to the Building Code and adequate training of building officials, enforcement personnel, contractors, and design professionals throughout the Commonwealth.
2000, c. 35; 2002, c. 555.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 6 - Uniform Statewide Building Code
§ 36-98. Board to promulgate Statewide Code; other codes and regulations superseded; exceptions
§ 36-98.1. State buildings; exception for certain assets owned by the Department of Transportation
§ 36-98.2. Appeals from decision of Building Official regarding state-owned buildings
§ 36-98.4. Agritourism event buildings
§ 36-99. Provisions of Code; modifications
§ 36-99.01. Provisions related to rehabilitation of existing buildings
§ 36-99.2. Standards for replacement glass
§ 36-99.3. Smoke alarms and automatic sprinkler systems in institutions of higher education
§ 36-99.4. Smoke alarms in certain juvenile care facilities
§ 36-99.5. Smoke alarms for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
§ 36-99.6. Underground and aboveground storage tank inspections
§ 36-99.6:3. Regulation of HVAC facilities
§ 36-99.7. Asbestos inspection in buildings to be renovated or demolished; exceptions
§ 36-99.9. Standards for fire suppression systems in certain facilities
§ 36-99.9:1. Standards for fire suppression systems in hospitals
§ 36-99.11. Identification of disabled parking spaces by above grade signage
§ 36-100. Notice and hearings on adoption of Code, amendments and repeals
§ 36-101. Effective date of Code; when local codes may remain in effect
§ 36-102. Modification, amendment or repeal of Code provisions
§ 36-103. Buildings, etc., existing or projected before effective date of Code
§ 36-104. Code to be printed and furnished on request; true copy
§ 36-105.01. Elevator inspections by contract
§ 36-105.1. Inspection and review of plans of buildings under construction
§ 36-105.1:1. Rental inspections; rental inspection districts; exemptions; penalties
§ 36-105.3. Security of certain records
§ 36-105.4. Occupancy standards for residential dwelling units
§ 36-105.5. Enforcement of Building Code on Indian reservations
§ 36-106. Violation a misdemeanor; civil penalty
§ 36-107. Employment of personnel for administration of chapter
§ 36-108. Board continued; members
§ 36-114. Board to hear appeals
§ 36-115. Subpoenas; witnesses; designation of subordinates
§ 36-118. Interpretation of Code; recommendation of modifications
§ 36-119. Rules and regulations under § 36-73 not superseded