Section 41. Section 104.0. Enforcement

A. 104.1. Local enforcement: Any local government may enforce the SFPC following official action by such body. The official action shall (i) require compliance with the provisions of the SFPC in its entirety or with respect only to those provisions of the SFPC relating to open burning, fire lanes, fireworks, and hazardous materials and (ii) assign enforcement responsibility to the local agency or agencies of its choice. Any local governing body may establish such procedures or requirements as may be necessary for the administration and enforcement of this code. If a local governing body elects to enforce only those provisions of the SFPC relating to open burning, it may do so in all or in any designated geographic areas of its jurisdiction. The terms "enforcing agency" and "fire official" are intended to apply to the agency or agencies to which responsibility for enforcement of the SFPC has been assigned. The terms "building official" or "building department" are intended to apply only to the local building official or local building department.

B. 104.1.1. Enforcement of fireworks provisions by law-enforcement officers: In accordance with § 27-100.1 of the Code of Virginia, law-enforcement officers who are otherwise authorized to enforce certain provisions of this code shall not be subject to the certification requirements of Section 105.2 or 105.3.2.

C. 104.2. State enforcement: In accordance with § 27-98 of the Code of Virginia, the State Fire Marshal shall also have the authority, in cooperation with any local governing body, to enforce the SFPC. The State Fire Marshal shall also have authority to enforce the SFPC in those jurisdictions in which the local governments do not enforce the SFPC and may establish such procedures or requirements as may be necessary for the administration and enforcement of the SFPC in such jurisdictions.

D. 104.3. State structures: Every agency, commission or institution of this Commonwealth, including all institutions of higher education, shall permit, at all reasonable hours, the fire official reasonable access to existing structures or a structure under construction or renovation, for the purpose of performing an informational and advisory fire safety inspection. The fire official is permitted to submit, subsequent to performing such inspection, his findings and recommendations, including a list of corrective actions necessary to ensure that such structure is reasonably safe from the hazards of fire, to the appropriate official of such agency, commission, or institution and the State Fire Marshal. Such agency, commission or institution shall notify, within 60 days of receipt of such findings and recommendations, the State Fire Marshal and the fire official of the corrective measures taken to eliminate the hazards reported by the fire official. The State Fire Marshal shall have the same power in the enforcement of this section as is provided for in § 27-98 of the Code of Virginia. The State Fire Marshal may enter into an agreement as is provided for in § 9.1-208 of the Code of Virginia with any local enforcement agency that enforces the SFPC to enforce this section and to take immediate enforcement action upon verification of a complaint of an imminent hazard such as a chained or blocked exit door, improper storage of flammable liquids, use of decorative materials, and overcrowding.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 16, Issue 20, eff. September 15, 2000; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 25, eff. October 1, 2003; Volume 22, Issue 03, eff. November 16, 2005; Volume 24, Issue 14, eff. May 1, 2008; Volume 30, Issue 16, eff. July 14, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§ 27-97 of the Code of Virginia.