Roofing in Christiansburg, Virginia

Required

The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (13VAC5-63), effective January 18, 2024. For detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, Section 310.6.1 of the Virginia Construction Code applies "The provisions of the IRC ... as amended by VCC Section 310.8, also referred to as the Virginia Residential Code (VRC)"; work on existing buildings falls under Part II, the Virginia Existing Building Code, whose reroofing section reads "602.3.2.1 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." The statewide code supersedes local building codes (Code of Virginia Section 36-98: "Such building code shall supersede the building codes and regulations of the counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions and state agencies."). Christiansburg Town Code Section 10-19 reads "There is hereby adopted by reference in the town the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and appendices," and Section 10-21 has the building official enforce it "as stated in Code of Virginia, § 36-105." The Town's Current Building Codes page is headed "2021 VIRGINIA CONSTRUCTION CODES AND REFERENCES" and lists the 2021 Virginia Residential Code and the 2021 Virginia Existing Building Code, and the Town's July 2026 permit report shows "Code Edition: 2021" on its permits. Chapter 10 of the Town Code (Buildings and Building Regulations, Sections 10-1 through 10-62, read in full) names no edition of the statewide code and adds no technical roofing provision of its own.

The Town of Christiansburg has published no statement on whether an ordinary residential reroof needs a permit, so call its Building Inspections Department at 540-382-6120 ext. 1152 before starting. The statewide rule is Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2 item 14.5, which exempts "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 m 2 ) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones." Item 14.6 exempts only "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m 2 ) or less of roof decking" in those groups. Two exceptions let the building official require a permit: "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" and "for any items exempted in this section which are located in a special flood hazard area." An owner may always ask for one: "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." The Town's own pages that this record could read do not say which side of the wind-speed line Christiansburg falls on. The work must still meet the code with or without a permit. Where a permit is needed, apply through the Town's Citizen Self Service Portal (registration and a login are required to apply), or stop by the second floor of Town Hall, 100 E. Main Street, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., where the Town says "someone from the Building Inspections department will help you." Inspections are scheduled through the same portal.