How Chesapeake Handles Building Safety: A Practical Guide

Chesapeake maintains 99 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with building safety. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Chesapeake falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Building Permits

Chesapeake enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code for all construction, alteration, repair, removal, demolition and occupancy work citywide under City Code Sec. 14-31, with the Department of Development and Permits as the local building department. Permit and inspection fees are set annually by city council, with narrow statutory exemptions.

Key details: Local building code: VUSBC, adopted by reference. Enforcing office: Dept. of Development and Permits. Utility tap fees: Must be paid before permit issues. Appeal deadline: Set by VUSBC via Sec. 14-34. Fee-exempt permits: City/school projects, disability ramps.

Building or altering without a required permit is enforced under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code penalty provisions incorporated by Sec. 14-31. Unpaid utility tap fees required by Sec. 14-2 will block permit issuance until paid, and an untimely appeal of a building official's decision to the local board of building code appeals waives the right to appeal, per Sec. 14-34.

Elevator Maintenance

Chesapeake's director of development and permits must ensure every elevator, dumbwaiter, escalator, moving walk and hoisting or conveying device in the city is installed, altered, operated, inspected and tested to Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code standards under City Code Sec. 14-87, with outside inspection agencies required to file a detailed report within 30 days of testing.

Key details: Regulated equipment: Elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks. Standard: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Enforcing official: Director of Development and Permits. Outside inspectors: Allowed if director-approved. Inspector report deadline: 30 days after inspection or test.

Sec. 14-87 sets no penalty of its own; equipment-inspection failures are pursued under the Department of Development and Permits' general building-code enforcement authority, which for this article carries a class 1 misdemeanor or, in lieu of prosecution, a $100 first-offense and $150 repeat-offense civil penalty under Sec. 14-86, triable in Chesapeake General District Court.

Plumbing Permits

Chesapeake requires a plumbing permit before anyone taps, uncovers or connects to the city's water or sewer lines. The permit comes from the department of building and permits, and prerequisite connection fees or a signed payment agreement must be in place first under City Code Sec. 78-57.

Key details: Permit issuer: Department of building and permits. Who can tap lines: Only persons authorized by public utilities. Prerequisite: Fees paid or payment agreement executed. Default penalty: Class 1 misdemeanor: up to $2,500 fine, 12 months jail. Related sections: Secs. 78-52, 78-58, 78-86, 14-31, 14-33(b).

Section 78-57 does not set its own penalty, so it falls under the citywide default in Sec. 1-10(d): any act declared unlawful in the Code without a specified penalty is a class 1 misdemeanor. That carries confinement in jail for up to 12 months and a fine of up to $2,500.00, either or both, under Sec. 1-10(b)(1). The city can also pursue collection of unpaid connection fees or costs tied to unauthorized taps through the department of public utilities.

Lead Paint

Chesapeake follows EPA RRP and Virginia DPOR lead rules for pre-1978 housing. Contractors disturbing painted surfaces must be EPA Lead-Safe Certified. Landlords must provide lead disclosure under federal law.

Key details: Trigger Year: Pre-1978 housing. RRP: EPA certification. Thresholds: 6 sq ft interior / 20 exterior. Disclosure: 42 USC §4852d. State Program: VDH lead screening.

This is one of the stricter rules in Chesapeake's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Chesapeake's building safety rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Chesapeake is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Chesapeake's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.