In the 2024 edition of IBHS Rating the States — an Assessment of Residential Building Code and Enforcement Systems for Life Safety and Property Protection in Hurricane-Prone Regions — Virginia finished with a 96, representing the best building code system along the United States hurricane coast. Florida finished a close second with a score of 95. These two states have been the top two for every edition of Rating the States. It is noted that neither state has received a perfect score, but Virginia’s 96 is the highest score in the history of the program. Virginia’s momentous achievement did not come without suspense. In January of 2024, the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development put forth a motion to roll back the adoption of the 2021 I-Codes. It was defeated by a vote of 10-3 against reopening the codes cycle.
The full results of the 2024 edition of Rating the States are IBHS.org website along with total scores for the previous four editions. In the fifth edition, five states achieved scores higher than 90 points, which is considered a top performing building codes system. In addition to Florida and Virginia, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Louisiana scored above 90 points. Connecticut scored 90. Louisiana’s improvements in enforcement and training requirements helped the state gain 9 points in the 2024 edition compared to its score in the 2021 edition of Rating the States. Louisiana also launched a grant program to help spur homeowners towards an IBHS designated FORTIFIED Roof™. The state is considered one of the most improved, along with Mississippi. While Mississippi has fallen in the bottom third of the rankings over the history of the program, in the 2024 edition of Rating the States, the state gained 15 points through provisions now requiring state licensure of trades (electrical, plumbing, etc.) and their training. Mississippi now scores 20 out of a possible 25 points in the contractor licensing and training category. It is the largest point gain for any state between individual editions since Mississippi gained 24 points between the 2012 and 2015 editions of Rating the States. However, Mississippi still lacks severely in code adoption, enforcement, and building official training. Its total score for 2024 was 44, which remains in the bottom third, but ahead of Texas, Alabama, and Delaware.
Virginia returns to the top spot in the 2024 edition of Rating the States.
Building Code Adoption
Virginia is currently enforcing the 2021 edition of the IRC and continues to maintain one of the strongest code enforcement programs across all the states included in Rating the States. Its 2024 total score of 96 is the highest achieved by any state over the five editions of Rating the States. In 2023, the state adopted the latest editions of the model I-Codes into the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. This action closed a code adoption cycle gap as new code adoption was halted by the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state also added additional provisions that go beyond the IRC. Virginia scored 49 out of 50 possible points in the building code adoption component. It is noted in this category that the FEMA Building Code Adoption Tracking Toolkit identifies differences where alternate provisions associated with the design and construction of a building’s load path can be applied. While Virginia did alter wall bracing requirements, IBHS code experts consider the alternate provisions to be a simplification and not a weakening provision. Therefore, the state has received full credit for this data field in Rating the States.
Certifications and Education of Building Officials
In this category, Virginia scored 24 out of 25 possible points. The state has one of the best systems in place for the certification and continuing education of building code officials. Virginia requires certification and training for its building officials. On-the-job training prior to sitting for the certification exam is permitted. While in training, inspectors work under the supervision of a licensed inspector. Upon completion of on-the-job training and the examination, inspectors receive the official construction trade recognition. A mechanism for consumers to file complaints related to building code enforcement is available in Virginia. The rules permit the authority to apply disciplinary actions, which also can be applied at the local level.
Licensing of Contractors
Virginia issues licenses for general, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and roofing contractors. However, general and roofing contractors are not required to complete continuing education to renew licenses.
Changes or Key Areas for Improvement
Virginia has an exemplary code adoption and enforcement program and has remained at or near the top over the history of Rating the States. The addition of continuing education requirements for general and roofing contractors can further enhance the Commonwealth’s model statewide code adoption and enforcement program to help it gain the two remaining points in this category.
Independent Insurance Agents of Virginia