National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
Virginia enforces the 2020 NEC
The 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC) has been in force in Virginia since Jan 18, 2024. It applies statewide. Adopted by Board of Housing and Community Development (BHCD), administered by DHCD. The legal citation is 13VAC5-63-10 (USBC 101.2, Note 1); 13VAC5-52-9999.
Record of adoption
Edition in force
2020 NEC
2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (references NFPA 70)
Verified
- In force since
- Legal citation
- 13VAC5-63-10 (USBC 101.2, Note 1); 13VAC5-52-9999
- Adopted by
- Board of Housing and Community Development (BHCD), administered by DHCD
- Second reading
- Applies
- Statewide
- State amendments
- Minor
- Also called
- USBC, Virginia Construction Code, 13VAC5-63
Virginia has no stand-alone electrical code; Chapter 27 of the USBC points to NFPA 70 with a few listed Virginia amendments (e.g. 210.8(F), 334.10). The 2020 edition is named in the USBC 101.2 note, the 2021 Virginia Construction Code and the SFPC referenced-standards list.
Coming next
- 2023 NECPartialNo date yetIn development13VAC5-63 (amendment pending)
The 2024 VCC base document (dated Jun 6, 2025) shows NFPA 70 changing from 2020 to 2023. BHCD’s own schedule projected an effective date of October 2027, pending the 30-day final adoption period. Not yet a regulation.
How Virginia adopts the NEC
BHCD adopts the USBC and Statewide Fire Prevention Code by regulation through a roughly three-year code development cycle run by DHCD (Notice of Intended Regulatory Action, stakeholder workgroups, base documents, proposed regulations, 60-day comment, final regulations). The General Assembly does not name editions. Under the Administrative Process Act, 25 or more persons can petition for added comment during the 30-day final adoption period, and the General Assembly with the Governor’s concurrence can suspend a final regulation until the end of the next regular session. Separate acts have sometimes told the Board to consider specific changes.
Cycle. Triennial, following the ICC model code cycle; the 2021 codes took effect Jan 18, 2024, and the 2024 cycle targets about October 2027.
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 five source pages.
Evidence 5 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 “2021 International Residential Code (IRC)”
“2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)”
“2020 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70”
13VAC5-63 Part I Construction (full text)Virginia Law (Division of Legislative Services)law.lis.virginia.gov (opens in a new tab)Administrative codeRetrieved “International Fire Code - 2021 Edition”
“NFPA 70-20, National Electrical Code”
13VAC5-52-9999 Documents incorporated by referenceVirginia 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 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.
Mike Holt’s NEC adoption listCross-checkAgrees with the record
Virginia | 2020 | Effective 1/18/24 2023 update process underway (effective date not established)
NFPA’s enforcement mapCross-checkAgrees with the record
Virginia 2020 (1/18/2024) 2023 update process underway (Effective date not established) (as of Aug 3, 2026)
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