Roofing in Danville, 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 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 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."). The City of Danville's Inspections Division says on its "Current Building Codes" page that it "oversees permitting and inspections by use of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC)" and that "The current version of the USBC is known as the 2021 Edition of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and was effective throughout Virginia on January 18, 2024." The City Code's Chapter 9 (Building and Development Regulations), Sec. 9-51, adopts "the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VAC 5-61-10 et seq.)" by reference, citing an older numbering of the state regulation; Sec. 9-4 makes every City Code reference to the statewide code refer to it "as from time to time amended, supplemented, or repromulgated", and Sec. 9-81 adopts "the most current edition of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, as adopted by the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development". Chapter 9, Articles I and II (read in full as codified through Ordinance No. 2026-06.13, July 7, 2026), contain no roofing provision of their own.

Call the Inspections Division before a reroof: this record does not say whether a full reroof of a house in Danville needs a building permit. The statewide rule, Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2 item 14.5, 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 City prints its design wind speed as "89 mph, exposure B" (and "90 mph" in City Code Sec. 9-58) without saying whether it is nominal or ultimate, and the Division has published no statement on reroofs; it says "To see if a permit is required for your project, call the Inspections Office at 434-799-5260 ext 2487." Working without a permit the statewide code requires is a misdemeanor under City Code Sec. 9-61(a), with a fine of up to $2,500, and the Division charges $200 for inspections to verify work done without required permits. In the Historic Preservation Overlay (HP-O) District, roofing of a similar kind, type, color or texture that does not destroy or replace original exterior material is exempt from Certificate of Appropriateness review; other roofing changes visible from a public street or place need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Commission of Architectural Review before a permit is issued. The work must meet the code with or without a permit. Where a permit is needed, the contractor or owner applies through the City's online permit portal (https://danvilleva.portal.opengov.com/) or in person at Room 208 of the Municipal Building, 427 Patton Street, with the name of the contractor or owner, the job address, a description of the job and the total cost of the improvement. Building permit fees are based on the cost of the work, with a $50 minimum, plus a 2% state levy. All permitted work must be inspected before the permit is closed; call 434-799-5260 ext. 2487 to schedule an inspection. Class B and Class C contractors must have a $5,000 contractor's bond on file with the Division.