The Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development has approved the final regulations for the 2015 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), 2015 Virginia Amusement Device Regulations (VADR), and the 2015 Virginia Industrialized Building Safety Regulations (IBSR) with an effective date of September 4, 2018. The 2015 USBC includes adoption of the 2014 National Electrical Code (NEC), as published. The state publications are posted on the DHCD website and can be reviewed HERE. The custom versions of the national model codes that incorporate Virginia amendments are in the process of being published by the International Code Council (ICC) and are on schedule to be available in late fall.
As in past update cycles, a one-year period is in effect that provides permit applicants a choice of complying with the existing 2012 codes or the updated 2015 codes. This provision will expire on September 3, 2019.
Please note that the 2015 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC) is on a different timeline and is tentatively anticipated to have an effective date of October 16, 2018.
Contact: Bryan Holland, Bryan.Holland@nema.org