Virginia · Fire code

The fire code in force in Virginia now.

2021 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC, 13VAC5-52), incorporating the 2021 IFC with Virginia amendments; effective Jan 18, 2024. Enforced by Local fire officials where the locality has adopted SFPC enforcement (optional, full or partial); State Fire Marshal enforces where localities do not (Code of Va. 27-98); Board of Housing and Community Development adopts. Checked on the primary source; the state record was last reviewed 2026-11-12.

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Fire code in Virginia

Checked on the source
In force

2021 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC, 13VAC5-52), incorporating the 2021 IFC with Virginia amendments; effective Jan 18, 2024

Applies to existing structures and premises; equipment and safeguards approved at construction must be maintained. IFC Chapter 1 and appendices not adopted; IFC Chapter 11 deleted, so retrofit mandates sit in VEBC Chapter 11.

Source: primary document

Who enforces it

Local fire officials where the locality has adopted SFPC enforcement (optional, full or partial); State Fire Marshal enforces where localities do not (Code of Va. 27-98); Board of Housing and Community Development adopts

Statewide layer. County and city amendments sit on top; confirm the local office for the address.

What changes next

2024 SFPC target Oct 2027

2024 SFPC/USBC cycle: no proposed stage found; DHCD 2024 cycle page (read Oct 21, 2026) lists an Apr 30, 2026 memo and May 11, 2026 Board meeting on code change proposals but no publication schedule; Apr 1, 2025 target of Nov 2026 proposed publication not confirmed

The federal layer

No federal fire code applies to a private building; OSHA's exit-route, fire-extinguisher and emergency-plan rules (29 CFR 1910 Subparts E and L) apply to every employer alongside the state fire code.

Dated items

Next 24 months
Nov 28, 2026
Expiry of the USBC emergency regulation (eff. May 29, 2025) allowing NFPA 13R sprinklers in certain R-2 and R-3 buildings; Town Hall action 6750 (read Oct 31, 2026) says it 'expires on 11/28/2026'; no extension or permanent replacement shownBoard of Housing and Community Development
Confirmed date
Oct 1, 2027
TARGET MONTH, day not set: 2024 USBC (VCC, VEBC, VMC) and 2024 SFPC take effect; a one-year transition allowing 2021 or 2024 codes, with mandatory compliance Oct 2028, is reported by a trade associationBoard of Housing and Community Development; enforced by local building and fire officials
Target date, not confirmed

What a building has to do

25 recurring duties

These apply when the building has the equipment or fits the type named. The frequency is the standard one; your local official can set a stricter one, so confirm it for the address.

Annual
Fire alarm system: annual inspection and testNFPA 72, Ch. 14 · Licensed alarm contractor; report to the fire marshal on request · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Sprinkler control valves: inspected monthly when locked or electrically supervised (weekly when only sealed); open, accessible, tamper switch workingNFPA 25, Ch. 13 · Owner or contractor; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Quarterly
Sprinkler system: quarterly inspection (gauges, waterflow and supervisory alarm devices, fire department connection)NFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13 · Owner or contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year
Waterflow switches (vane or pressure type) and valve tamper switches: semiannual test, signal confirmed at the panel and the monitoring company (mechanical water motor gongs: quarterly)NFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13; NFPA 72, Ch. 14 · Licensed sprinkler or alarm contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Sprinkler system: annual inspection and main drain testNFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13 · Licensed sprinkler contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 5 years
Sprinkler piping: internal inspection and obstruction checkNFPA 25, Ch. 14 · Licensed sprinkler contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Weekly or Monthly
Fire pump: no-flow (churn) test. Diesel: weekly, 30 minutes. Electric: monthly, 10 minutes, but weekly when the pump serves a building beyond the fire department’s pumping capacity, has a limited-service controller, is a vertical turbine, or draws from a ground-level tankNFPA 25, Ch. 8 · Owner or contractor; readings logged · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire pump: annual flow testNFPA 25, Ch. 8 · Licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Standpipes: annual inspection of hose connections, valves, caps and gaskets, piping and signageNFPA 25, Ch. 6 · Owner or licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 5 years
Standpipes: five-year flow test (manual and dry systems also get a five-year hydrostatic test)NFPA 25, Ch. 6 · Licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly or Quarterly or Twice a year or Annual
Kitchen exhaust (hood, duct, fan): inspected for grease buildup and cleaned when buildup is found. Interval by cooking volume: solid fuel monthly; high volume (24-hour, charbroiling, wok) quarterly; moderate semiannually; low annuallyNFPA 96, Table 12.4 (11.4 in older editions) · Qualified exhaust cleaning company · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year
Kitchen hood fire-suppression system: inspection and service every six months, tag datedNFPA 17A; NFPA 96, Ch. 11 · Licensed suppression contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Weekly
Generator: weekly inspection (fuel, oil and coolant levels, battery and charger, block heater, alarms, transfer switch in automatic)NFPA 110, Ch. 8 · Owner; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Generator: monthly exercise under load for at least 30 minutes (diesel: at least 30% of nameplate kW or the manufacturer’s minimum exhaust temperature); transfer switches operated monthlyNFPA 110, 8.4.2 · Owner; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Generator: annual supplemental load test when the monthly runs do not reach 30% of nameplate: 50% for 30 minutes, then 75% for 60 minutes (1.5 hours)NFPA 110, 8.4.2 · Contractor with a load bank · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 3 years
Generator, Level 1 (life-safety) systems: run for 4 continuous hours, or the system’s class duration if shorter, at least once every 36 monthsNFPA 110, 8.4.9 · Owner or contractor; report kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Emergency lighting and exit signs: monthly 30-second testNFPA 101, 7.9.3 · Owner; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Emergency lighting: annual 90-minute testNFPA 101, 7.9.3 · Owner or contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Fire extinguishers: monthly visual check, initialedNFPA 10, 7.2 · Owner · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire extinguishers: annual maintenance and tagNFPA 10, 7.3 · Licensed extinguisher contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire doors and shutters: annual inspection and testNFPA 80, 5.2 · Qualified person; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 4 years
Fire and smoke dampers: operational testNFPA 80, 19.4; NFPA 105 · Qualified contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year or Annual
Smoke control system: operated through each control sequence — semiannually for a dedicated system, annually for a nondedicated system that shares the building’s HVACNFPA 92, Ch. 8; IFC Sec. 909 (periodic testing) · Qualified contractor; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Fire drills: monthly while in session, documentedFor education. NFPA 101, 14.7.2 and 15.7.2 · Owner; documented · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Occupant load posted; crowd managers for events over 250 peopleFor assembly, retail. NFPA 101, 12.7.6 and 13.7.6 · Owner · Not yet checked line by line against the source.

Questions about the fire code in Virginia

Which fire code applies in Virginia today?

2021 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC, 13VAC5-52), incorporating the 2021 IFC with Virginia amendments; effective Jan 18, 2024. Applies to existing structures and premises; equipment and safeguards approved at construction must be maintained. IFC Chapter 1 and appendices not adopted; IFC Chapter 11 deleted, so retrofit mandates sit in VEBC Chapter 11.

Who enforces the fire code in Virginia?

Local fire officials where the locality has adopted SFPC enforcement (optional, full or partial); State Fire Marshal enforces where localities do not (Code of Va. 27-98); Board of Housing and Community Development adopts.

What changes next for the fire code in Virginia?

2024 SFPC target Oct 2027. 2024 SFPC/USBC cycle: no proposed stage found; DHCD 2024 cycle page (read Oct 21, 2026) lists an Apr 30, 2026 memo and May 11, 2026 Board meeting on code change proposals but no publication schedule; Apr 1, 2025 target of Nov 2026 proposed publication not confirmed

Other areas in Virginia

Everything in force in Virginia

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