Roofing in Alexandria, Virginia

Required

The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC, 13VAC5-63) applies statewide, and for detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses its residential part is the 2021 Virginia Residential Code (the 2021 International Residential Code as amended by Virginia Construction Code Section 310.8); the 2021 USBC took effect January 18, 2024. Work on an existing house also falls under the 2021 Virginia Existing Building Code (Part II of the USBC). A city cannot amend it: Va. Code 36-98 provides that the USBC "shall supersede the building codes and regulations of the counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions and state agencies." Alexandria City Code Section 8-1-2: "The city enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2006 edition, including the Virginia Maintenance Code, ("VUSBC") and such future editions thereof as are then in force in the Commonwealth of Virginia." Title 8, Chapter 1 (Building Code), read in full, contains no technical roofing provision; its only roofing section is the historic-district permit rule in Section 8-1-22. The Department of Code Administration's page states: "The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) is effective January 18, 2024."

Historic districts first: Alexandria's City Code Section 8-1-22 provides that "In accordance with the provisions authorized by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, a permit and inspections are required for the installation of replacement windows and over 100 square feet of replacement siding or roofing in buildings located within historic districts or in buildings over 100 years old and designated by the City of Alexandria as such." In those buildings the City's residential checklist adds: "If the property is located within a Historic District or listed as 100-Year-Old Building, the applicant MUST obtain Board of Architectural Review approval for the work prior to applying for ANY permit." The fee schedule effective July 1, 2025 (City Council Resolution 3287) charges the Minimum Permit Fee for "Residential roofing, siding, or window replacements in designated Historic Districts". Outside those buildings the state rule is Virginia Construction Code 108.2: "Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 108.1, application for a permit and any related inspections shall not be required for the following ... 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." Item 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." Item 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 or 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 Section 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 which are located in a special flood hazard area." The City's current Residential Design Criteria give a wind speed of 115 mph without saying whether that is an ultimate or a nominal design wind speed, and no current City page states in its own words whether a reroof outside the historic districts needs a permit; this record does not decide it. The Department's own written policy on permit exemptions (PP 2012-01, April 12, 2012, written under the 2009 code) listed roof covering replacement among exempt work with the note "Application for a permit is required for the installation of replacement siding, roofing and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to Section 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia. This includes the Parker Gray and Old Town Districts." Call the Permit Center at 703-746-4200 before tear-off to confirm, and in a historic district contact Historic Preservation at 703-746-3833 first. Where a permit is needed, apply in APEX; the Department says it is "asking for customers to only submit applications electronically through APEX", and plans must list the contractor's state licence number and City business licence number, or be accompanied by an owner's statement where no contractor will do the work.