Virginia Law

105.1 Violation a misdemeanor; civil penalty. In accordance with § 36-106 of the Code of Virginia, it shall be unlawful for any owner or any other person, firm, or corporation, on or after the effective date of any code provisions, to violate any such provisions. Any locality may adopt an ordinance that establishes a uniform schedule of civil penalties for violations of specified provisions of the code that are not abated or remedied promptly after receipt of a notice of violation from the local enforcement officer.

Note: See the full text of § 36-106 of the Code of Virginia for additional requirements and criteria pertaining to legal action relative to violations of the code.

105.2 Notices, reports and orders. Upon findings by the code official that violations of this code exist, the code official shall issue a correction notice or notice of violation to the owner, tenant or the person responsible for the maintenance of the structure or a notice of unsafe structure in accordance with Section 106 when a building or structure is determined by the code official to be an unsafe structure. Work done to correct violations of this code subject to the permit, inspection, and approval provisions of the VCC shall not be construed as authorization to extend the time limits established for compliance with this code. When the owner is not the responsible party to whom the notice of violation or correction notice is issued, a copy of the notice shall also be delivered to the owner.

105.3 Correction notice. The correction notice shall be a written notice of the defective conditions. The correction notice shall require correction of the violation within a reasonable time unless an emergency condition exists as provided under the unsafe building provisions of Section 106. Upon request, the correction notice shall reference the code section that serves as the basis for the defects and shall state that such defects shall be corrected and reinspected in a reasonable time designated by the code official.

105.4 Notice of violation. If the code official determines there are violations of this code a written notice of violation may be issued to the owner, tenant, or the person responsible for the maintenance or use of the building or structure in lieu of a correction notice as provided for in Section 105.3. In addition, the code official shall issue a notice of violation for any uncorrected violation remaining from a correction notice established in Section 105.3. The code official shall provide the section numbers for any code provisions cited in the notice of violation to the owner, tenant, or the person responsible for the maintenance or use of the building or structure. The notice shall require correction of the violation within a reasonable time. The owner, tenant, or person to whom the notice of violation has been issued shall be responsible for contacting the code official within the timeframe established for any reinspections to assure the violations have been corrected. The code official will be responsible for making such inspection and verifying the violations have been corrected. In addition, the notice of violation shall indicate the right of appeal by referencing the appeals section of this code.

Exception:

Notices issued for failing to maintain buildings and structures as required by Section 103.2, as evidenced by multiple or repeated violations on the same property are not required to include a compliance deadline for correcting defects.

105.5 Coordination of inspections. The code official shall coordinate inspections and administrative orders with any other state or local agencies having related inspection authority and shall coordinate those inspections required by the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (13VAC5-52) for maintenance of fire protection devices, equipment, and assemblies so that the owners and occupants will not be subjected to numerous inspections or conflicting orders.

Note: The Fire Prevention Code requires the fire official to coordinate such inspections with the code official.

105.6 Further action when violation not corrected. If the responsible party has not complied with the notice of violation, or notice of unsafe structure, the code official may request the legal counsel of the locality to institute the appropriate legal proceedings to restrain, correct or abate the violation or to require the removal or termination of the use of the building or structure involved. In cases where the locality or legal counsel so authorizes, the code official may issue or obtain a summons or warrant.

105.6.1 Further action for corrected violations: Compliance with a notice of violation or notice of unsafe structure notwithstanding, the code official may request legal proceedings be instituted for prosecution when a responsible party is served with three or more separate notices of violation or notice of unsafe structure for the same property within any five consecutive years. Legal proceedings shall not be instituted under this section for violation notices issued pursuant to the initial inspection of the property. Legal proceedings for violations that have been abated in residential rental dwelling units within a multifamily apartment development may only be instituted for such violations that affect safe, decent, or sanitary living conditions.

Exception: Legal proceedings shall not be instituted for violations that have been abated on owner-occupied single family dwellings.

105.7 Penalties and abatement. Penalties for violations of this code shall be as set out in § 36-106 of the Code of Virginia. The successful prosecution of a violation of the code shall not preclude the institution of appropriate legal action to require correction or abatement of a violation.