Every three years the International Code Council’s model I-Codes are updated and those codes are used to develop Virginia’s building and fire codes. In 2018, Virginia’s codes were updated based on the 2015 edition of the I-Codes. The next Virginia code update will be based on the 2018 I-Codes. The Board of Housing and Community Development is responsible for this process and recently approved a tentative schedule for the 2018 Code Development Cycle. The Department of Housing and Community Development’s Division of Building and Fire Regulation facilitates the code update process and is already hard at work preparing for the 2018 code updates.

Tentative Dates for the 2018 Code Development Cycle:

February 18, 2019: You can begin submitting proposals through cdpVA, Virginia’s online code development system.

March 2019 – August 2019: Workgroup meetings will be held to discuss code change proposals for Administrative, Residential, and Technical provisions. Topic-specific workgroups and sub-workgroups may also be convened.

April 15, 2019: Notices of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA’s) will be published in the Virginia Register. A NOIRA announces the planned nature and scope of any intended changes for existing regulations.

January 2020 – February 2020: Proposed regulations will be published in the Virginia Register along with a Public Hearing date.

May 29, 2020: Deadline for submitting proposals for the final regulations. This deadline coincides with the end of the comment period for proposed regulations.

April 2020 – August 2020: Another round of workgroup meetings will be held to consider changes to be included in the final regulations.

December 2020 – January 2021: Final regulations published in the Virginia Register.

February 2021 – March 2021: The 2018 codes become effective.

Virginia’s building and fire codes are actually state regulations, and as such, a formal process is used for updating them to use the latest model codes and standards. The Virginia Register is the official state publication for all Virginia regulatory activity. The regulatory update process is also tracked on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall website which includes dates for public hearings, links to view the changes to the regulations and opportunities to submit public comments.  DHCD also posts important dates, notices, meetings, and agendas on the agency’s website www.dhcd.virginia.gov/codedevelopment.

Prior to the 2015 code development cycle, DHCD partnered with the International Code Council (ICC) to develop a customized code development system, similar to ICC’s cdpACCESS, for Virginia.  cdpVA (Code Development Process Virginia) was launched and proved to be an invaluable tool during the 2015 cycle.  cdpVA was upgraded in 2018 with several improvements and new features.  The upgraded system is tentatively set to launch February 18, 2019, for the opening of the 2018 code development cycle.

View Virginia’s Code Development Process

Anyone that is interested in participating in Virginia’s code development process can visit cdpVA. DHCD also sets up workgroups that are open to the public to facilitate client group interaction during the code change process.  This interaction is paramount to ensuring an overall group consensus during the code change process.  If you would like to receive email notifications regarding workgroup meetings, please contact DHCD.  The workgroup meeting schedules will also be posted on the DHCD website.

Today’s environment is ever changing and the impact weather has on buildings and infrastructure is growing.  Such impactful weather events have increased the need to ensure Virginias’ resiliency is stronger than ever. The 2018 code development cycle will include increased efforts in ensuring Virginia’s codes will result in more resilient buildings, as directed by Governor Northam’s Executive Order 24: Increasing Virginia’s Resiliency to Sea Level Rise and Natural Hazards.

Virginia is a national leader in the development of construction related codes, due primarily to the involvement of all stakeholder groups. Your input is essential to the success of the Virginia code development process. DHCD staff looks forward to working with you during the 2018 code update cycle!

For questions related to Virginia’s code development process, please email sbco@dhcd.virginia.gov or call 804-371-7150.

DHCD’s Code Development Webpage:  www.dhcd.virginia.gov/codedevelopment

Virginia Regulatory Town Hall:  http://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewBoard.cfm?BoardID=61

Executive Order #24:  https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/ED-24-Increasing-Virginias-Resilience-To-Sea-Level-Rise-And-Natural-Hazards.pdf