Building Safety in Chesapeake, VA (2026)
4 verified building safety rules for Chesapeake, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Building Safety: Lead Paint
Heavy RestrictionsEPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule
EPA's RRP Rule requires that anyone paid to perform work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes, childcare facilities and preschools built before 1978 be certified and their employees be trained (either as a certified renovator or on-the-job by a certified renovator) in the use of lead-safe work practices that minimize occupants' exposure to lead hazards. In general, the RRP Rule does not appl...
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.
Chesapeake Elevator Inspection Requirements
Some RestrictionsChesapeake City Code Sec. 14-87
The director of development and permits, or designee, shall be charged with the duty of ensuring that all elevators, dumbwaiters, escalators, moving walks and special hoisting and conveying equipment are installed, maintained, altered, operated, inspected and tested in compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. All required inspections and tests shall be made by the code comp...
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.
Chesapeake Building Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsChesapeake City Code Sec. 14-31
There is adopted and incorporated by reference the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code which shall control all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, movement, location and occupancy of all buildings and all other functions which pertain to the installation of systems vital to all buildings and structures and their service equipment, as...
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.
Chesapeake Plumbing Permit for Water/Sewer Taps
Some RestrictionsChesapeake City Code Sec. 78-57
It shall be unlawful for any person, except those duly authorized by the department of public utilities, to uncover, tap or make any connection with any city water and/or sewer lines, unless a plumbing permit has first been obtained from the department of building and permits for purposes of extending water and sewer service to premises for which all prerequisite fees have been collected or for...