Virginia Law

A. Section 101.1 Short title. The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Part II, Existing Buildings, may be cited as the "Virginia Existing Building Code" or as the "VEBC."

B. Section 101.2 Incorporation by reference. Chapters 2 through 16 of the 2021 International Existing Building Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc., are adopted and incorporated by reference to be an enforceable part of the VEBC. The term "IEBC" means the 2021 International Existing Building Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc. Any codes and standards referenced in the IEBC are also considered to be part of the incorporation by reference, except that such codes and standards are used only to the prescribed extent of each such reference.

C. Section 101.3 Numbering system. A dual numbering system is used in the VEBC to correlate the numbering system of the Virginia Administrative Code with the numbering system of the IEBC. IEBC numbering system designations are provided in the catchlines of the Virginia Administrative Code sections and cross references between sections or chapters of the VEBC use only the IEBC numbering system designations. The term "chapter" is used in the context of the numbering system of the IEBC and may mean a chapter in the VEBC, a chapter in the IEBC or a chapter in a referenced code or standard, depending on the context of the use of the term. The term "chapter" is not used to designate a chapter of the Virginia Administrative Code, unless clearly indicated.

D. Section 101.4 Arrangement of code provisions. The VEBC is comprised of the combination of (i) the provisions of Chapter 1, Administration, which are established herein, (ii) Chapters 2 through 16 of the IEBC, which are incorporated by reference in Section 101.2, and (iii) the changes to the text of the incorporated chapters of the IEBC that are specifically identified, including any new chapters added. The terminology "changes to the text of the incorporated chapters of the IEBC that are specifically identified, including any new chapters added" shall also be referred to as the "state amendments to the IEBC." Such state amendments to the IEBC are set out using corresponding chapter and section numbers of the IEBC numbering system. In addition, since Chapter 1 of the IEBC is not incorporated as part of the VEBC, any reference to a provision of Chapter 1 of the IEBC in the provisions of Chapters 2 through 16 of the IEBC is generally invalid. However, where the purpose of such a reference would clearly correspond to a provision of Chapter 1 established in this section, then the reference may be construed to be a valid reference to such corresponding Chapter 1 provision.

E. Section 101.5 Use of terminology and notes. The provisions of this code shall be used as follows:

1. The term "this code," or "the code," where used in the provisions of Chapter 1, in Chapters 2 through 16 of the IEBC, or in the state amendments to the IEBC, means the VEBC, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

2. The term "this code," or "the code," where used in a code or standard referenced in the VEBC, means that code or standard, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

3. The term "USBC" where used in this code, means the VCC, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

4. The use of notes in Chapter 1 is to provide information only and shall not be construed as changing the meaning of any code provision.

5. Notes in the IEBC, in the codes and standards referenced in the IEBC, and in the state amendments to the IEBC may modify the content of a related provision and shall be considered to be a valid part of the provision, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

6. References to International Codes and standards, where used in this code, include state amendments made to those International Codes and standards in the VCC.

Note: See Section 101.2 of the VCC for a list of major codes and standards referenced in the VCC.

F. Section 101.6 Order of precedence. The provisions of this code shall be used as follows:

1. The provisions of Chapter 1 of this code supersede any provisions of Chapters 2 through 16 of the IEBC that address the same subject matter and impose differing requirements.

2. The provisions of Chapter 1 of this code supersede any provisions of the codes and standards referenced in the IEBC that address the same subject matter and impose differing requirements.

3. The state amendments to the IEBC supersede any provisions of Chapters 2 through 16 of the IEBC that address the same subject matter and impose differing requirements.

4. The state amendments to the IEBC supersede any provisions of the codes and standards referenced in the IEBC that address the same subject matter and impose differing requirements.

5. The provisions of Chapters 2 through 16 of the IEBC supersede any provisions of the codes and standards referenced in the IEBC that address the same subject matter and impose differing requirements.

G. Section 101.7 Administrative provisions. The provisions of Chapter 1 establish administrative requirements, which include provisions relating to the scope and enforcement of the code. Any provisions of Chapters 2 through 16 of the IEBC or any provisions of the codes and standards referenced in the IEBC that address the same subject matter to a lesser or greater extent are deleted and replaced by the provisions of Chapter 1. Further, any administrative requirements contained in the state amendments to the IEBC shall be given the same precedence as the provisions of Chapter 1. Notwithstanding the provisions in this subsection, where administrative requirements of Chapters 2 through 16 of the IEBC or of the codes and standards referenced in the IEBC are specifically identified as valid administrative requirements in Chapter 1 of this code or in the state amendments to the IEBC, then such requirements are not deleted and replaced.

Note: The purpose of this provision is to eliminate overlap, conflicts, and duplication by providing a single standard for administrative, procedural, and enforcement requirements of this code.

H. Section 101.8 Definitions. The definitions of terms used in this code are contained in Chapter 2 along with specific provisions addressing the use of definitions. Terms may be defined in other chapters or provisions of the code and such definitions are also valid.