                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

PROVISIONS RELATED TO REHABILITATION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS (§ 36-99.01)

A. The General Assembly hereby declares that (i) there is an urgent need to
improve the housing conditions of low and moderate income individuals and
families, many of whom live in substandard housing, particularly in the older
cities of the Commonwealth; (ii) there are large numbers of older residential
buildings in the Commonwealth, both occupied and vacant, which are in urgent
need of rehabilitation and which must be rehabilitated if the State&#8217;s
citizens are to be housed in decent, sound, and sanitary conditions; and (iii)
the application of those building code requirements currently in force to
housing rehabilitation has sometimes led to the imposition of costly and
time-consuming requirements that result in a significant reduction in the amount
of rehabilitation activity taking place.

B. The General Assembly further declares that (i) there is an urgent need to
improve the existing condition of many of the Commonwealth&#8217;s stock of
commercial properties, particularly in older cities; (ii) there are large
numbers of older commercial buildings in the Commonwealth, both occupied and
vacant, that are in urgent need of rehabilitation and that must be rehabilitated
if the citizens of the Commonwealth are to be provided with decent, sound and
sanitary work spaces; and (iii) the application of the existing building code to
such rehabilitation has sometimes led to the imposition of costly and
time-consuming requirements that result in a significant reduction in the amount
of rehabilitation activity taking place.

C. The Board is hereby directed and empowered to make such changes as are
necessary to fulfill the intent of the General Assembly as expressed in
subsections A and B, including, but not limited to amendments to the Building
Code and adequate training of building officials, enforcement personnel,
contractors, and design professionals throughout the Commonwealth.

HISTORY: 2000, c. 35; 2002, c. 555.