International Building Code
Virginia enforces the 2021 IBC
The 2021 International Building Code (IBC) has been in force in Virginia since Jan 18, 2024. It applies statewide. Adopted by Board of Housing and Community Development (BHCD). The legal citation is 13VAC5-63-10 (USBC 101.2); Va. Code 36-98, 36-99.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2021 IBC
2021 Virginia Construction Code (USBC Part I)
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- 13VAC5-63-10 (USBC 101.2); Va. Code 36-98, 36-99
- Adopted by
- Board of Housing and Community Development (BHCD)
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide
- Also called
- VCC, USBC, 13VAC5-63
The admin code incorporates chapters 2-35 of the 2021 IBC with Virginia amendments. USBC is a uniform statewide code that local governments enforce.
Coming next
- 2024 IBCPartialNo date yetIn development13VAC5-63 (amendment pending)
2024 VCC base document shows chapters 2-35 of the 2024 IBC replacing the 2021 IBC. BHCD’s schedule projected an October 2027 effective date.
How Virginia adopts the IBC
BHCD updates the USBC by regulation in a three-year cycle under the Administrative Process Act; the statute directs it to adopt a uniform statewide code with due regard for ICC and NFPA standards but does not name editions. General Assembly and Governor can suspend a final regulation; acts such as H 2227 (2021) and H 368 (2024) directed the Board to consider specific changes.
Cycle. Triennial, following the ICC model code cycle.
Laws, rulings, and other actions
- LegislationH 3682024 regular session, Chapter 384
Requires the Board to convene a stakeholder advisory group to evaluate USBC revisions, including single-exit stairs for Group R-2 buildings up to six stories, and report by Dec 1, 2024.
Enacted Apr 4, 2024
law.lis.virginia.gov (opens in a new tab)
How it was checked
Verified
Two separate readings of the state’s own record agree, and the passage is on file word for word.
Read twice: a second, blind reading of the state’s record agreed with the first on .
The state’s record was last read on , from four source pages.
Evidence 4 sources
Sources for the record itself come first, the state’s own records ahead of others. A label marks a source about something else, such as an exception. A source marked secondary is not the state’s own record.
“Chapters 2 - 35 of the 2021 International Building Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc.”
“2020 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70”
13VAC5-63-10 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (Part I)Virginia Law (Division of Legislative Services)law.lis.virginia.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “Effective January 18, 2024, Virginia adopted the 2021 I-codes as referenced in the Virginia Construction Part 1”
2021 Virginia Codes effective Jan. 18, 2024Virginia DHCDdhcd.virginia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved “The effective date of the 2021 Uniform Statewide Building Code, Statewide Fire Prevention Code”
“is January 18, 2024.”
2021 Virginia Codes Effective DateVirginia DHCDdhcd.virginia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved 2021 Virginia Construction CodeVirginia DHCDdhcd.virginia.gov (opens in a new tab)Agency pageRetrieved
Tracker cross-checks
Code adoption trackers are a cross-check. They are not Virginia’s own record.
ICC’s code adoption mapCross-checkAgrees with the record
State Virginia 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 (International Codes-Adoption by State, April 2026, mitek-us.com copy; blank cells dropped)