Portsmouth, VA Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Sec. 17-22 applies the Buildings and Structures Maintenance Code to every building and premises in the city no matter when it was constructed, altered, or repaired, and regardless of existing permits. Sec. 17-33 then lists the specific duties imposed on every owner and operator: foundation walls must stay structurally sound and capable of bearing their loads (item 2); chimneys and flues must remain structurally sound and smoketight (item 3); porches, landings, balconies, stairs, and fire escapes need banisters or railings that are structurally sound and free of defects (item 4); restrooms must have waterproof floors, stay dry, clean, and sanitary, and include a permanently installed light fixture (item 13); and premises must be properly connected to electric power installed to code, with maximum fuse sizes posted (items 14 and 15).

Owners also must keep the exterior free of nuisances and hazards, including brush, broken glass, garbage, and overhanging or ground-level hazards (item 1), and keep every structure's exterior in good repair and painted where necessary to prevent deterioration (item 12). Sec. 17-32 makes clear that these owner and operator duties exist independently of the occupant's own duties under Sec. 17-34, so an owner cannot escape liability by pointing to a tenant's separate obligations. Sec. 00 for a second offense within five years and mandatory jail time for a third offense within ten years, and any owner who remains out of compliance at conviction must abate the violation, usually within six months. Appeals from a code official's determination go to the local board of building code appeals under Sec. 17-35.