York County, VA Hurricane Preparedness: Roof Standards (2026)
Key Facts
- Design wind speed
- 100 mph, 3-second gust
- Roof snow load
- 20 pounds per square foot
- Seismic design category
- A
- Frost line depth
- 16 inches
- Reroof permit exemption
- Design wind speed not over 100 mph
- Small-reroof exemption
- 100 sq ft or less, any wind zone
Summary
York County, Virginia builds its roof-design standards into the Virginia Residential Code table it locally amends: new construction must be engineered for a 100 mph three-second wind gust and a 20-pound-per-square-foot roof snow load. Ordinary roof-covering replacement on houses skips a building permit only where the nominal design wind speed does not exceed 100 mph.
(1)Table No. R-301.2 (1) in section R-301 of the subject code is amended by adding the following underlined words and numbers under each of the columnar headings as follows: Roof snow load, pounds per square feet 20 ... Wind Speed 100 mph (3 second wind gust) ... (3)Replacement of roof coverings in Group R3, R-4 and R-5 structures, provided the building or structure is not in an area where the nominal design wind speed is greater than 100 miles per hour and replacement of 100 square feet or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 7.1-3 adopts the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC) for York County and locally amends Table No. R-301.2(1) of the Virginia Residential Code, the table that sets the climatic and geographic design criteria every new house must be built to withstand. The county's added figures require a roof snow load of 20 pounds per square foot, a Seismic Design Category of A, and a basic wind speed of 100 mph measured as a three-second gust, plus moderate weathering exposure, a 16-inch frost line, and moderate-to-severe termite and decay potential.
Builders and their engineers must use these county-specific numbers, not statewide defaults, when sizing roof framing, sheathing attachment, and fastening schedules. Separately, Sec. 7.1-10(c)(3) sets the trigger for when a roof job needs a permit at all: replacing roof coverings on one- and two-family homes and townhouses (Groups R-3, R-4, R-5) is exempt from the building permit requirement of Sec. 7.1-8, but only where the property is not located in an area where the nominal design wind speed exceeds 100 mph; replacing 100 square feet or less of roofing is exempt in every wind zone regardless of the structure's size.
Because the county's own design wind speed for the whole jurisdiction is set at exactly 100 mph under Sec. 7.1-3, most residential reroofing in York County qualifies for the exemption, though homeowners performing larger jobs, or anyone unsure whether their site exceeds the threshold, should confirm the applicable design wind speed with the building safety division before starting work. Any required permit must be obtained from the building code official before work begins.
Violations & Fines
Performing roof work that requires a permit, such as a larger reroof outside the Sec. 7.1-10(c)(3) exemption, without first obtaining one from the building code official violates Sec. 7.1-8 and can be enforced as unpermitted work under the VUSBC, subject to stop-work action and after-the-fact permit fees. New construction that fails to meet the 100 mph wind speed and 20 psf snow load design criteria in the amended Table No. R-301.2(1) fails inspection and cannot receive a certificate of occupancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in York County?
What wind speed must a new roof in York County be built for?
Who enforces these building code standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in York County
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