Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the Board of Housing and Community Development intends to consider amending 13VAC5-51, Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code. The purpose of the proposed action is to update the model codes and standards developed by the International Code Council referenced in the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC) from the 2018 editions to the 2021 editions, which were released in October 2020. The action will also consider amendments to administrative and enforcement provisions of the SFPC as determined necessary for the enforcement of operations and processes relating to fire safety and explosion hazards and the maintenance of the fire protection features in buildings by the State Fire Marshal's Office and by local fire prevention agencies. This action is exempt from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) in accordance with § 2.2-4006 A 12 of the Code of Virginia.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: § 27-97 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: December 22, 2021.

Agency Contact: Kyle Flanders, Senior Policy Analyst, Department of Housing and Community Development, Main Street Centre, 600 East Main Street, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 786-6761, FAX (804) 371-7090, TDD (804) 371-7089, or email kyle.flanders@dhcd.virginia.gov.