The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / City of Newport News - Department of Codes Compliance

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Newport News, VA?

Adopted code

City of Newport News - Department of Codes Compliance

The Department of Codes Compliance of the City of Newport News, an independent city, issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits and performs construction inspections in Newport News. It enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and keeps the City's register of contractors.

Roof code checklist: Newport News, VA

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofNot published
Repair permit thresholdPublishedlaw.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overNot published
Deck & sheathingPublishedR803law.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldNonnva.gov2026-09-26
Mid-roof inspectionNonnva.gov2026-09-26
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNolibrary.municode.com2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishednnva.gov2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 310.6.1nnva.gov2026-09-26
Contractor license / registrationYeslaw.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Sales & use taxPublishedtax.virginia.gov2026-09-26

Each row comes from the sourced record on this page; full wording is in the table below. "Not published" means no official source for that item was found when the record was last verified.

Jurisdiction
City of Newport News, Virginia
Jurisdiction type
city
Address
2400 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, City Hall, Newport News, VA 23607
Contact
  • url: https://www.nnva.gov/441/Codes-Compliance
  • phone: 757-933-2311
  • email: [email protected]
Permit portal
Permit portal
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • state_level: Virginia licenses contractors through the Board for Contractors. Code of Virginia 54.1-1100, as amended by 2025 Acts ch. 127, reads: "'Class C contractors' perform or manage construction, removal, repair, or improvements when (i) the total value referred to in a single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000, or (ii) the total value of all such construction, removal, repair, or improvements undertaken by such person within any 12-month period is less than $250,000." Class B and Class A licences cover larger contracts. The Board's rules define the Roofing contracting (ROC) specialty as "the service that provides for the installation, repair, removal, or improvement of materials common to the industry that form a watertight, weather resistant surface for roofs and decks" and state that "The CBC and RBC classifications and the HIC and CIC specialties also provide for this function." (18VAC50-22-30). Code of Virginia 54.1-1101 A 7 says the contractor chapter does not apply to "Any person who performs or supervises the construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by him and for his own use during any 24-month period"; this record does not decide whether a given owner falls within it. Under Code of Virginia 54.1-1111 A, a permit applicant must furnish "satisfactory proof to such official or authority that he is duly licensed or certified under the terms of this chapter to carry out or superintend the same" or "file a written statement that he is not subject to licensure or certification as a contractor or subcontractor pursuant to this chapter" before a permit issues; the City's Contractor Licensing Exemption Statement form, which cites Section 108.4 of the Uniform Statewide Building Code, is where an applicant makes that statement. Pages giving a $10,000 floor for a Class C licence predate the 2025 amendment.
  • city_level: City Code Sec. 13-75 reads: "It shall be the duty of every contractor subcontractor or master tradesman who desires to make contracts for the erection, construction, alteration, addition or repair of buildings or structures or service equipment located therein, on any premises located in the city, to maintain a registration with the department of codes compliance." The registration records, among other things, the "Contractor or master tradesmen license number issued by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR)", the "Class of contractor and list of specialties" and the "Names of persons authorized to apply for and obtain permits for the contractor." Under Sec. 13-80 the director may declare a registration invalid where "a contractor has permitted his or her business license or state registration as a contractor to expire or otherwise become invalid". The City also keeps a separate home improvement contractor registration (City Code Chapter 13, Article IV, Division 6). Sec. 13-110 defines a "home improvement contractor" as "any person, firm, company or corporation who/which contracts for or otherwise provides labor and material, or labor only, for repairs, improvements and additions to residential buildings, or structures accessory thereto, where any payment of money or other thing of value is required." Sec. 13-112(a) reads: "No person, firm or corporation shall contract for or engage in the business of home improvement until they shall have been examined, approved and registered as a home improvement contractor as provided for in this division." Applicants appear before the Board of Appeals, pay "a filing fee of three hundred dollars ($300.00)" (Sec. 13-112(b)), and furnish "evidence of their ability, quality of work and reputation for carrying out obligations; their financial responsibility; and their reputation for payment of labor and material bills." Sec. 13-111(b) says nothing in that section requires "a contractor currently registered as a Class A or B contractor" under the state contractor law "to be examined by the board". The City's Registered Contractors form asks "WILL ANY PAYMENT OR MONEY OR OTHER THINGS OF VALUE BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE WORK TO BE PERFORMED?" and says: "IF "YES", COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FOR QUALIFICATION AS A HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR AS REQUIRED BY THE CODE OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS." This record does not decide which contractors fall within Division 6. A City business license is a general tax licence, not a contractor credential.
Permit process note
Virginia's statewide building code reads: "108.2 Exemptions from application for permit. Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 108.1, application for a permit and any related inspections shall not be required for the following; however, this section shall not be construed to exempt such activities from other applicable requirements of this code. In addition, when an owner or an owner's agent requests that a permit be issued for any of the following, then a permit shall be issued and any related inspections shall be required. ... 14. Ordinary repairs that include the following: ... 14.5. Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in Group R-3, R-4, or R-5 provided the building or structure is not in an area where the nominal design wind speed is greater than 100 miles per hour (44.7 meters per second) and replacement of 100 square feet (9.29 m2) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones. 14.6. Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) or less of roof decking in Group R-3, R-4, or R-5 unless the decking to be replaced was required at the time of original construction to be fire-retardant-treated or protected in some other way to form a fire-rated wall termination. ... Exceptions: 1. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for the installation of replacement siding, roofing, and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to § 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia. 2. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for any items exempted in this section that are located in a special flood hazard area." (Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2, 13VAC5-63-80.) Whether the item 14.5 exemption reaches an ordinary house in Newport News turns on the nominal design wind speed there, and the City's own documents give two different wind figures without calling either one nominal. The Codes Compliance Design Criteria page prints "Wind speed 118" (no unit or basis given), for buildings constructed under the Virginia Residential Code. City Code Sec. 13-24(a), which fills in the column headings of Table R301.2(1), prints "100 3 sec." and "80 cont." under "WIND SPEED (mph)" (Ord. No. 5365-99; Ord. No. 5975-03). This record does not convert one kind of wind speed into another and does not say which figure the Department applies to the exemption. Two locations carry more. Newport News has two historic districts in its Zoning Ordinance, the Hilton Village Historic District and the North End/Huntington Heights Historic District; in each, "No building permit, sign permit, or other city permit shall be issued nor shall any individual undertake any of the activities listed below until the architectural review board or the designated administrator shall have certified that such activity is in conformance", and the list includes "Additions and/or alterations: This shall include any exterior modifications to existing structures." (City Code Secs. 45-3137 and 45-3150). The City's Floodplain Development Regulations reach the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, where Exception 2 above lets the building official require a permit. The Department of Codes Compliance publishes no statement on whether a residential reroof needs a permit: its permit applications, fee schedule, minimum-inspections sheet and residential checklist do not mention reroofing, and City Code Chapter 13, read in full, names no roof work. Ask Codes Compliance before the job starts (757-933-2311, [email protected]). An owner may still ask for a permit for any exempt item under the preamble quoted above. The City's permit fee schedule states: "ANY WORK BEING PERFORMED PRIOR TO OBTAINING THE APPROPRIATE PERMIT (BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL OR PLUMBING) WILL BE SUBJECT TO A "DOUBLE FEE" CHARGE." Where a permit is sought, the City's Building Permit Application (Department of Codes Compliance, 2400 Washington Avenue 3rd floor) asks for the "Contractor State License #" and class (A, B or C) and a "Proposed Value of Work", with "Alterations/Repairs" among its types of work; applications can also be made through the City's Citizen Self Service portal. Building permit fees are set by City Code Sec. 13-26: "For the alteration or repair of any building or structure ... For use groups R3, R4 and R5 the fee shall be determined by multiplying the value of the construction by a factor of forty-four hundredths (0.44) of one percent (.0044)", with a minimum building permit fee of "fifty-five dollars ($55.00)" in the codified text; the City's printed fee schedule (effective July 1, 2009) shows a minimum of $56.10 including a 2.0% state surcharge. The residential checklist asks for a "Contractor Registration form if not already registered with the City of Newport News" and a "Contractor Exemption Affidavit: Required only if no licensed contractor is responsible for work." The City's asbestos certification form, which the City describes as required before a building permit for demolition or renovation of certain buildings is issued, includes the option "The building is not used as a school and work consists only of the removal or replacement of roofing, flooring and/or siding assumed to contain friable asbestos. The installation, removal or encapsulation will be accomplished by a licensed asbestos contractor."
Inspection requirements
Per the Department of Codes Compliance Minimum Inspections sheet (updated 2-2026), building-permit inspections run from zoning and footing through "FINAL – upon completion of all work for which permit is obtained including all electrical, mechanical and plumbing work and before use or occupancy of any kind", with "ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED WHERE CONDITIONS WARRANT" and "FINAL INSPECTIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL PERMITS UNLESS OTHERWISE APPROVED IN WRITING". Inspections are scheduled by calling 757-933-2311, through the permitting portal, or by the City's online Building Inspection request form; the Trades Inspection Requests page says a request "will be scheduled within 2 working days". The sheet adds: "IF WORK IS FOUND TO BE INCOMPLETE AFTER AN INSPECTION HAS BEEN REQUESTED AND SCHEDULED, A REINSPECTION FEE OF $50.00 MAY BE REQUIRED PRIOR TO ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS." City Code Sec. 13-47 says reasonable access to an attic "shall be taken to mean the placement of a ladder to access hatches, unless a permanent means for such access has been installed."
Adopted code
City Code Sec. 13-23(a) reads: "The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and supplements thereto, including any future amendments thereto, are hereby adopted by reference; and the same are incorporated herein as fully as if set out at length." The edition in force is the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (13VAC5-63), effective January 18, 2024; the City's Code Data page lists the "2021 Virginia Construction Code (Part I of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code – effective January 18, 2024)" and, among its references, the 2021 Virginia Residential Code and the 2021 Virginia Existing Building Code. For detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, Virginia Construction Code Section 310.6.1 applies "The provisions of the IRC for detached one-family and two-family dwellings and townhouses as amended by VCC Section 310.8, also referred to as the Virginia Residential Code (VRC)". Work on existing buildings falls under the Virginia Existing Building Code, whose Section 602.3.2.1 reads: "Reroofing. Materials and methods of application used for recovering or replacing an existing roof covering shall comply with Chapter 15 of the VCC, except as modified by Section 302.1 and this section." Virginia law provides that the Uniform Statewide Building Code "shall supersede the building codes and regulations of the counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions and state agencies" (Code of Virginia 36-98). City Code Chapter 13, Building Regulations, read in full as codified through Ordinance No. 8195-26 (enacted August 11, 2026), carries the adoption clause, one amendment filling in Table R301.2(1) climatic entries (Sec. 13-24(a)), permit fees, inspections, contractor registration and property-maintenance provisions, and no technical roofing provision. The City's Design Criteria page links the 2018 Virginia Residential Code; the Code Data page names the 2021 edition as current.
Ice & water shield
Not required — Both of the City's design-criteria statements answer no: the Codes Compliance Design Criteria page prints "Ice barrier underlayment required No", and City Code Sec. 13-24(a), which fills in Table R301.2(1), prints "No" under "Ice Shield Underlayment Required". Virginia's amendments to the IRC in the 2021 Virginia Residential Code (VCC Section 310.8) contain no ice-barrier provision, and City Code Chapter 13 contains none. Manufacturer instructions may still call for it. About ice & water barrier
Mid-roof inspection
Not required — Neither of the City's inspection lists includes a roofing stage. City Code Sec. 13-40(a) lists footing, foundation, preparatory, framing, systems, insulation, lath or wallboard and final inspections and adds that "The building official may designate additional inspections and tests for the above enumerated items". The Department's Minimum Inspections sheet (updated 2-2026) lists the building-permit inspections from zoning and footing through final, headed "ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED WHERE CONDITIONS WARRANT", and states "FINAL INSPECTIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL PERMITS UNLESS OTHERWISE APPROVED IN WRITING". Where a reroof is permitted, schedule inspections with Codes Compliance (757-926-8863, [email protected]).
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither City Code Chapter 13 (which adopts the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code by reference and amends only the Table R301.2(1) climatic entries) nor Virginia's amendments to the IRC in the 2021 Virginia Residential Code (VCC Section 310.8) amend the roof-covering impact provisions, and the City's Design Criteria page carries none; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the City's adopted code or its amendments.
Repair permit threshold
Virginia's statewide building code reads: "108.2 Exemptions from application for permit. Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 108.1, application for a permit and any related inspections shall not be required for the following; however, this section shall not be construed to exempt such activities from other applicable requirements of this code. In addition, when an owner or an owner's agent requests that a permit be issued for any of the following, then a permit shall be issued and any related inspections shall be required. ... 14. Ordinary repairs that include the following: ... 14.5. Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in Group R-3, R-4, or R-5 provided the building or structure is not in an area where the nominal design wind speed is greater than 100 miles per hour (44.7 meters per second) and replacement of 100 square feet (9.29 m2) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones. 14.6. Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) or less of roof decking in Group R-3, R-4, or R-5 unless the decking to be replaced was required at the time of original construction to be fire-retardant-treated or protected in some other way to form a fire-rated wall termination. ... Exceptions: 1. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for the installation of replacement siding, roofing, and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to § 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia. 2. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for any items exempted in this section that are located in a special flood hazard area." (Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2, 13VAC5-63-80.) Whether the item 14.5 exemption reaches an ordinary house in Newport News turns on the nominal design wind speed there, and the City's own documents give two different wind figures without calling either one nominal. The Codes Compliance Design Criteria page prints "Wind speed 118" (no unit or basis given), for buildings constructed under the Virginia Residential Code. City Code Sec. 13-24(a), which fills in the column headings of Table R301.2(1), prints "100 3 sec." and "80 cont." under "WIND SPEED (mph)" (Ord. No. 5365-99; Ord. No. 5975-03). This record does not convert one kind of wind speed into another and does not say which figure the Department applies to the exemption. Two locations carry more. Newport News has two historic districts in its Zoning Ordinance, the Hilton Village Historic District and the North End/Huntington Heights Historic District; in each, "No building permit, sign permit, or other city permit shall be issued nor shall any individual undertake any of the activities listed below until the architectural review board or the designated administrator shall have certified that such activity is in conformance", and the list includes "Additions and/or alterations: This shall include any exterior modifications to existing structures." (City Code Secs. 45-3137 and 45-3150). The City's Floodplain Development Regulations reach the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, where Exception 2 above lets the building official require a permit. The Department of Codes Compliance publishes no statement on whether a residential reroof needs a permit: its permit applications, fee schedule, minimum-inspections sheet and residential checklist do not mention reroofing, and City Code Chapter 13, read in full, names no roof work. Ask Codes Compliance before the job starts (757-933-2311, [email protected]). An owner may still ask for a permit for any exempt item under the preamble quoted above. The City's permit fee schedule states: "ANY WORK BEING PERFORMED PRIOR TO OBTAINING THE APPROPRIATE PERMIT (BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL OR PLUMBING) WILL BE SUBJECT TO A "DOUBLE FEE" CHARGE."
Wind design criteria
The City of Newport News publishes two sets of residential design criteria and they differ. The Codes Compliance Design Criteria page ("Residential Design Criteria", "Design criteria for buildings constructed in accordance with the Virginia Residential Code") prints: Ground snow load 15 PSF; Wind speed 118; Seismic design category A; Weathering Severe; Frost line depth 12 IN; Termite Moderate to heavy; Winter design temperature 22ºF; Ice barrier underlayment required No; Flood hazards May 2, 1977; Air freezing index 150; Mean annual temperature 59ºF. It gives no unit or basis for the wind figure and has no entries for wind exposure, special wind region or windborne debris region. City Code Sec. 13-24(a) (Ord. No. 5365-99; Ord. No. 5975-03), which amends Table R301.2(1) by filling in its column headings, prints a ground snow load of 15, "100 3 sec." and "80 cont." under "WIND SPEED (mph)", seismic design category A, a winter design temperature of 20 and "No" under "Ice Shield Underlayment Required". This record does not reconcile the two wind figures or convert either into another kind of design wind speed; confirm the figure for a given job with Codes Compliance.
Deck & sheathing requirements
Virginia's amendments to the IRC in the 2021 Virginia Residential Code (VCC Section 310.8) make no change to the IRC's roof sheathing section (R803), and City Code Chapter 13, read in full, contains no roof-sheathing provision, so no Virginia or City text adds to the base sheathing provisions. For permits, state law exempts "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) or less of roof decking in Group R-3, R-4, or R-5 unless the decking to be replaced was required at the time of original construction to be fire-retardant-treated or protected in some other way to form a fire-rated wall termination" (Virginia Construction Code 108.2, item 14.6).
Sales & use tax
6.0% general sales and use tax in the City of Newport News, per Virginia Tax's "Sales and Use Tax Rates by Locality" workbook, "Jan 2026 - Present" sheet (Newport News, code 51700, General Sales 0.06). That is 4.3% state tax (Code of Virginia 58.1-603) plus 1% local tax (58.1-605) plus the 0.7% regional tax; the workbook notes that "An additional Regional State Sales and Use Tax of 0.7% for localities in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads went into effect on July 1, 2013". Virginia treats a roofing contractor as the consumer of its materials: "the law treats every contractor as the user or consumer of all tangible personal property furnished to the contractor or by the contractor in connection with real property construction, reconstruction, installation, repair, and similar contracts" (23VAC10-210-410), so the roofer pays the tax when buying materials and does not charge sales tax on the job. Repair and replacement are treated alike.

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Hail reports near Newport News, VA

Reports, last 24 months
1
Largest, last 24 months
1.00 in Aug 10, 2026
Most recent
Aug 10, 2026 1.00 in
Reports, last 5 years
4
4 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
Aug 10, 20261.00 in7 mi ENE
Jun 16, 20231.00 in7 mi SE
Oct 17, 20221.00 in6 mi N
May 4, 20221.00 in6 mi WSW

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database and daily storm reports (reports since the start of the current year are preliminary), within 10 miles of Newport News, VA (Census point). Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Newport News, VA

When does a roof repair need a permit in Newport News, VA?

Virginia's statewide building code reads: "108.2 Exemptions from application for permit. Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 108.1, application for a permit and any related inspections shall not be required for the following; however, this section shall not be construed to exempt such activities from other applicable requirements of this code. In addition, when an owner or an owner's agent requests that a permit be issued for any of the following, then a permit shall be issued and any related inspections shall be required. ... 14. Ordinary repairs that include the following: ... 14.5. Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in Group R-3, R-4, or R-5 provided the building or structure is not in an area where the nominal design wind speed is greater than 100 miles per hour (44.7 meters per second) and replacement of 100 square feet (9.29 m2) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones. 14.6. Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) or less of roof decking in Group R-3, R-4, or R-5 unless the decking to be replaced was required at the time of original construction to be fire-retardant-treated or protected in some other way to form a fire-rated wall termination. ... Exceptions: 1. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for the installation of replacement siding, roofing, and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to § 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia. 2. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for any items exempted in this section that are located in a special flood hazard area." (Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2, 13VAC5-63-80.) Whether the item 14.5 exemption reaches an ordinary house in Newport News turns on the nominal design wind speed there, and the City's own documents give two different wind figures without calling either one nominal. The Codes Compliance Design Criteria page prints "Wind speed 118" (no unit or basis given), for buildings constructed under the Virginia Residential Code. City Code Sec. 13-24(a), which fills in the column headings of Table R301.2(1), prints "100 3 sec." and "80 cont." under "WIND SPEED (mph)" (Ord. No. 5365-99; Ord. No. 5975-03). This record does not convert one kind of wind speed into another and does not say which figure the Department applies to the exemption. Two locations carry more. Newport News has two historic districts in its Zoning Ordinance, the Hilton Village Historic District and the North End/Huntington Heights Historic District; in each, "No building permit, sign permit, or other city permit shall be issued nor shall any individual undertake any of the activities listed below until the architectural review board or the designated administrator shall have certified that such activity is in conformance", and the list includes "Additions and/or alterations: This shall include any exterior modifications to existing structures." (City Code Secs. 45-3137 and 45-3150). The City's Floodplain Development Regulations reach the FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, where Exception 2 above lets the building official require a permit. The Department of Codes Compliance publishes no statement on whether a residential reroof needs a permit: its permit applications, fee schedule, minimum-inspections sheet and residential checklist do not mention reroofing, and City Code Chapter 13, read in full, names no roof work. Ask Codes Compliance before the job starts (757-933-2311, [email protected]). An owner may still ask for a permit for any exempt item under the preamble quoted above. The City's permit fee schedule states: "ANY WORK BEING PERFORMED PRIOR TO OBTAINING THE APPROPRIATE PERMIT (BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL OR PLUMBING) WILL BE SUBJECT TO A "DOUBLE FEE" CHARGE."

Is ice & water shield required in Newport News, VA?

No. Both of the City's design-criteria statements answer no: the Codes Compliance Design Criteria page prints "Ice barrier underlayment required No", and City Code Sec. 13-24(a), which fills in Table R301.2(1), prints "No" under "Ice Shield Underlayment Required". Virginia's amendments to the IRC in the 2021 Virginia Residential Code (VCC Section 310.8) contain no ice-barrier provision, and City Code Chapter 13 contains none. Manufacturer instructions may still call for it.

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Newport News, VA?

Yes.

What building code does Newport News, VA use?

City Code Sec. 13-23(a) reads: "The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and supplements thereto, including any future amendments thereto, are hereby adopted by reference; and the same are incorporated herein as fully as if set out at length." The edition in force is the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (13VAC5-63), effective January 18, 2024; the City's Code Data page lists the "2021 Virginia Construction Code (Part I of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code – effective January 18, 2024)" and, among its references, the 2021 Virginia Residential Code and the 2021 Virginia Existing Building Code. For detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, Virginia Construction Code Section 310.6.1 applies "The provisions of the IRC for detached one-family and two-family dwellings and townhouses as amended by VCC Section 310.8, also referred to as the Virginia Residential Code (VRC)". Work on existing buildings falls under the Virginia Existing Building Code, whose Section 602.3.2.1 reads: "Reroofing. Materials and methods of application used for recovering or replacing an existing roof covering shall comply with Chapter 15 of the VCC, except as modified by Section 302.1 and this section." Virginia law provides that the Uniform Statewide Building Code "shall supersede the building codes and regulations of the counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions and state agencies" (Code of Virginia 36-98). City Code Chapter 13, Building Regulations, read in full as codified through Ordinance No. 8195-26 (enacted August 11, 2026), carries the adoption clause, one amendment filling in Table R301.2(1) climatic entries (Sec. 13-24(a)), permit fees, inspections, contractor registration and property-maintenance provisions, and no technical roofing provision. The City's Design Criteria page links the 2018 Virginia Residential Code; the Code Data page names the 2021 edition as current.

Is a mid-roof inspection required in Newport News, VA?

No. Neither of the City's inspection lists includes a roofing stage. City Code Sec. 13-40(a) lists footing, foundation, preparatory, framing, systems, insulation, lath or wallboard and final inspections and adds that "The building official may designate additional inspections and tests for the above enumerated items". The Department's Minimum Inspections sheet (updated 2-2026) lists the building-permit inspections from zoning and footing through final, headed "ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS MAY BE REQUIRED WHERE CONDITIONS WARRANT", and states "FINAL INSPECTIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL PERMITS UNLESS OTHERWISE APPROVED IN WRITING". Where a reroof is permitted, schedule inspections with Codes Compliance (757-926-8863, [email protected]).