Virginia Proposes Building Code Reforms to Boost Housing
Proposed changes to stairway and height standards could increase housing supply and lower construction costs for new units.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Apartments
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Virginia lawmakers have proposed building code reforms to help close the state's estimated 200,000-unit housing shortage by allowing more flexible construction standards. State housing officials are scheduled to review these potential regulations this December.
Why it matters
Updating construction standards could expand housing supply and improve affordability for prospective renters and buyers across the state. Narrow building lots often struggle to accommodate multiple stairwells, a constraint lawmakers aim to address with these changes.
A 2021 state study identified a housing shortage of 200,000 units throughout Virginia. Officials are now weighing proposals that would permit buildings up to six stories and 24 units to utilize a single-stairway design.
The players
Department of Housing and Community Development
The Virginia agency responsible for overseeing and updating state residential building codes.
The details
The proposed reforms include permitting single-stairway access for residential buildings up to six stories and 24 units, a design currently used in New York and Seattle. Supporters argue that allowing this layout, along with scissor stairs and revised elevator requirements, will make development on tight lots more feasible. Additionally, the plan suggests shifting middle-density housing into residential building codes and expanding the use of third-party building inspectors to streamline the process.
Timeline
October 21, 2026: Lawmakers submitted formal recommendations to state housing officials.
December 2026: The Department of Housing and Community Development will meet to consider the proposals.
Mid-2027: Potential finalization date for the new regulations.
Money Landscape
These proposed changes arrive as part of the established three-year cycle for state building code updates. The effort represents a push to modernize housing regulations relative to current urban density needs.
If approved, these reforms could eventually lower construction costs for developers, potentially increasing the availability of middle-density housing in the state. Readers should monitor future regulatory updates to understand how these changes might influence long-term local inventory.
The takeaway
Expanding construction options for mid-sized apartment buildings may offer a path to easing the state's housing supply deficit. Residents interested in how these shifts affect local growth should track the outcome of the December regulatory board meeting.
Further reading
Learn more about the housing market and development trends in the Virginia Apartments section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Virginia Mercury.
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