Establishment of an Appeals Board

Kristina RamseyNews

The Code of Virginia section 36-105 requires that each jurisdiction establish a Local Board of Building Code Appeals (LBBCA). The LBBCA is created to allow decisions of the building official to be challenged at the local level. The City of Buena Vista and the City of Lexington have established a joint board to hear appeals from the two localities.

The Local Board of Building Code Appeals (LBBCA) is assigned the responsibility to hear appeals regarding the building code enforcement actions under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Applicants for appeals are generally those persons or entities regulated under the building code and who disagree with an enforcement action of the Fauquier County building official.

The Uniform Statewide Building Code is available for viewing at
http://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/images/SBC/CodeBooks/2012%20Virginia%20Construction%20Code.pdf

The LBBCA shall meet as needed to assure a duly constituted board, appoint officers as necessary and receive such training on the code as may be appropriate or necessary from staff of the locality.

Members of the LBBCA shall be selected by the locality on the basis of their ability to render fair and competent decisions regarding application of the USBC and shall to the extent possible, represent different occupational or professional fields relating to the construction industry.  At least one member should be an experienced builder; at least one member should be an RDP, and at least one member should be an experienced property manager.  Employees or officials of the locality shall not serve as members of the LBBCA.

IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN OF BUENA VISTA AND MEET THE ABOVE QUALIFICATIONS AND WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THIS BOARD, PLEASE CONTACT ALAN MCMAHAN, BUILDING OFFICIAL AT 261-8635 OR EMAIL AT AMCMAHAN@BVCITY.ORG.