Confirm which USBC part governs, the Virginia Construction Code for new work or the Virginia Existing Building Code for work on existing buildings, check that the code summary cites the 2021 edition in effect since January 18, 2024, and then trace the code analysis through the drawings. AI can flag conflicts; the design professional and the local building official decide compliance.
What does the Virginia USBC cover?
The Uniform Statewide Building Code is administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). It has three parts: Part I, the Virginia Construction Code, for new construction; Part II, the Virginia Existing Building Code, for rehabilitation, repair, alterations, additions, and change of occupancy; and Part III, the Virginia Maintenance Code, which local governments may choose to enforce. The 2021 Virginia Construction Code incorporates the 2021 IBC chapters with Virginia amendments and lists the 2020 NEC and the 2021 IECC, IFGC, IMC, IPC, and IRC; the Existing Building Code incorporates the 2021 IEBC. The separate Statewide Fire Prevention Code adopts the 2021 IFC.
DHCD’s codes page states that the 2021 USBC and the 2021 Statewide Fire Prevention Code took effect January 18, 2024, and that Virginia adopted the 2021 I-Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code. The 2021 Virginia Construction Code is published by DHCD. Its 2024 code development cycle page posts draft base documents but no adoption or effective date. All checked October 7, 2026. Localities enforce the USBC; record the edition on the permit.
State permit steps are on the Virginia page. The model codes have their own guides: IBC, IEBC, IRC, and IFC. Review against the Virginia document, since its amendments change the model text.
Gather the code summary and the sheets it governs
Collect the code summary with the USBC part and edition, the architectural plans, sections, and life safety plans, the structural notes, the MEP drawings and energy compliance documents, the accessibility plans, the fire protection drawings, and, for existing buildings, the scope of work and the Existing Building Code compliance approach.
Sets prepared before 2024 often still cite the 2018 Virginia codes. Upload the cover sheet and every discipline’s general notes so each citation can be checked.
Check the USBC part and edition through the set
| Review question | Sources to compare | Decision to record |
|---|---|---|
| Part and edition | Code summary, cover sheet, general notes | Confirm the USBC part and the 2021 edition are cited consistently. |
| New or existing work | Scope of work, demolition and new work plans | Ask the designer to confirm the part where the plans show new construction inside an existing building. |
| Building code analysis | Code summary, floor plans, life safety plans | Trace occupancy, construction type, and egress from the summary into the plans. |
| Discipline references | MEP general notes, energy documents | Find notes citing model code editions other than those the 2021 Virginia code lists. |
| Fire prevention | Fire protection drawings, site plan, code summary | Check fire access and systems against the fire code the documents cite. |
| Accessibility | Accessibility plans, details, code summary | Reconcile accessible routes and elements across sheets. |
Accessible details follow the ICC A117.1 guide, electrical work the NEC guide, and energy the IECC guide. The architectural drawing checklist is the working log.
Example: an existing building reviewed as new construction
Hypothetical example. A tenant renovation in an existing office building cites the Virginia Construction Code on the cover sheet. The scope narrative describes alterations and a change of occupancy for part of a floor, and the mechanical notes still cite the 2018 Virginia codes.
The cover sheet cites the Virginia Construction Code for work the scope narrative describes as alterations and a change of occupancy in an existing building, and the mechanical notes cite the 2018 codes. Please confirm which USBC part and edition govern and coordinate the notes.
The architect confirms the governing part with the local building official and updates the code summary and each discipline’s notes.
Review a Virginia set with Groundbook
Upload the current drawings and specifications to Groundbook, and state the edition, amendments, and review scope in your instructions. Download the 2021 USBC parts and the Statewide Fire Prevention Code from DHCD and upload them as Code files, with the model codes they incorporate from copies you are licensed to use, where the license permits uploading them. See how Groundbook works with local and licensed codes.
Compare the code summary, cover sheet, and scope of work with the architectural, life safety, structural, MEP, energy, accessibility, and fire protection documents. Flag USBC parts or editions that differ between documents, existing-building work cited under the construction code, and notes citing model code editions the 2021 Virginia code does not list. Use the supplied USBC and model codes and cite both sources.
Groundbook links each potential finding to the note or sheet and the USBC section you uploaded.
Document review does not decide which USBC part governs, or replace the design professional or the local building official.