Roofing in Hopewell, 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."). City Code Sec. 11-16 adopts "the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, including all future amendments to said code". The Division of Building Code & Property Maintenance's page states that construction "for which a permit application is submitted to the local building department on or after the effective date of 1/18/24, 2021 edition of the code shall comply with the provisions of this code", and the City's Building Permit Application has the applicant acknowledge that "all work and materials used in this installation shall conform strictly to 2021 Virginia USBC." City Code Chapter 11 (Building Regulations), read in full as codified through Ordinance No. 2026-0428-02 (April 28, 2026), adds no roofing provision of its own.

Check with the Division before a reroof: whether a whole-house reroof in Hopewell needs a building permit turns on the City's nominal design wind speed, which the Division's web page, its Building Permit Application and City Code Chapter 11 do not state. 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 work must meet the code with or without a permit. The Department of Planning & Development's "Home Repair Resources" flyer tells residents in general terms: "Make sure your home repairs receive City permits and are completed by licensed professionals." In the B-1 Downtown and TH-1 City Point historic districts, a roof replacement that changes design, material or color needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Architectural Review Board first, with no application fee; same-design, same-material, same-color shingle replacement is exempt from that review. Where a building permit is needed, the City's Building Permit Application (PDF, from the Application & Permit Forms page) is filed with the Division; it requires copies of the contractor's state licence and business licence on file, an estimated cost, and a flood plain check, and states "work may not begin until the official permit has been issued." It lists "Minimum Permit Fee: $25.00 (RESIDENTIAL), plus $0.22 per square foot, plus current State Surcharge". The Department of Development is on the ground floor of the Municipal Building, 300 N. Main Street, Hopewell (804-541-2220), Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.