Codes Compliance


Aggressive and proactive codes compliance is essential for assuring buildings are safe and neighborhoods are well maintained. The Department of Codes Compliance promotes public safety and orderly development through enforcement of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC) and the building, sign and zoning regulations of the Newport News Municipal Code.  The Department accomplishes its mission by inspecting newly constructed and existing buildings, the equipment within them, and the grounds on which they are built to ensure compliance with the VUSBC and the City’s regulations.   

The Department’s typical interaction with the public involves: (1) issuing permits to citizens building new structures or improving existing ones, or (2) responding to citizens registering complaints concerning the maintenance of property.  The Codes Compliance Department has many direct citizen contacts requiring tact and diplomacy by the Department’s staff when performing their duties. During a typical year, the Department issues approximately 15,000 permits and makes approximately 70,000 building and property maintenance inspections. Perhaps no other department in the City is as more open to public scrutiny and more subject to criticism.  This is due to the nature of code enforcement, because so much of its mission requires responding to citizen complaints—usually against neighbors--for such things as illegal signage, junk cars, litter, poor building maintenance, high grass and weeds, etc.   Usually, the complainant wants immediate action, but the remedy requires time to determine the violator, provide time for the violation to be corrected, and if no corrective action is taken, then time for the violation to work its way through the court system in accordance with due process requirements.  

After receiving these service requests, Codes Compliance staff performs inspections to determine compliance with applicable regulations.  All inspectors maintain State credentials as unarmed Conservators of the Peace, which gives them the authority to issue court summonses.  They are trained to interact with the public to better assist citizens in achieving code compliance.   

The demand for inspection services for new construction and property maintenance is increasing as Newport News becomes more densely developed and the City’s buildings age.  In the last six years, the Department increased the number of inspectors by seven positions, which helped the Department adjust to the increased demand for inspections.  In fiscal year 2006-2007, Codes Compliance received funding to support 41 management, administrative, technical and clerical positions.  Of these, 25 positions are staff inspections, 13 are allocated to new construction, and 12 are used for property maintenance. The increasing demand for inspection services will require additional staff for inspections.  

In addition to improvements to staffing levels, Codes Compliance continues to increase productivity by implementing technological advancements.  The Department will be acquiring permit and inspection tracking software system.  This package should allow the Department to better track permits and inspections, as well as allow other City departments and the public to access the data collected.  Once implemented, the Codes Compliance Department will be able to provide a detailed history of all development and use related records, including pictures, for all properties located in Newport News.  This technology is based earlier advancements by the department in its staff’s use of lap top computers and cellular telephones.