Building Codes

**On July 1, 2021, the 2018 Edition of the Virginia Construction Code (USBC) becomes effective in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Fredericksburg. The 2018 Edition of the USBC references the 2018 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) and entire family of 2018 International Codes including the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC) as amended by the Commonwealth of Virginia.  

Pursuant to Section 103.2 of the 201 USBC, applications for building permits applied for between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022, the applicant shall be permitted to choose whether to comply with the 2015 USBC or the 2018 USBC. In the absence of any direction from the permit applicant, the City of Fredericksburg Building Office will review all plans submitted between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 under the 2015 USBC. All applications submitted after June 30, 2022 will be reviewed under the 2018 USBC.

The current editions of the model codes that make up the USBC are:

  • 2015 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, (USBC)
  • 2015 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
  • 2015 International Building Code (as amended), (IBC)
  • 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
  • 2015 International Residential Code (IRC)
  • Accessibility Regulations 2009: IBC Chapter 11
  • 2015 International Plumbing Code (IPC)
  • Code of Virginia Asbestos Regulations 36-99.7, USBC 110.3
  • 2015 International Mechanical Code (IMC)
  • 2015 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC)
  • 2014 National Electrical Code NEC (EC)

International Code

The 2015 Virginia Construction Codes may be viewed at the International Code Council website. (link to )

Codebooks

Codebooks may be purchased from the International Code Council website.

Copies of the current 2015 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) administrative section with amendments, are available free of charge from the Virginia Building and Code Officials Association (VBCOA).