U.S. Virgin Islands building code
U.S. Virgin Islands has adopted 2024 International Building Code (as VI Building Code, 29 V.I.C. § 292a(b)) based on IBC. The table below lists the governing edition for every discipline a plan check touches, followed by the U.S. Virgin Islands cities and counties that amend it locally.
- Current edition
- rolling: each new model-code edition auto-effective 6 months after publication (29 V.I.C. § 292(d)/292a, Act 8818 of 2024)
- Prior edition
- 2018 I-Codes (statutory baseline set by Act 8818; codes had been anchored to 2003 IBC/IRC via Act 6697 of 2004 until then)
- Code authority
- VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), Division of Building Permits; VI Building Code codified at 29 V.I.C. ch. 5 (§§ 291-312), as amended by Act No. 8818 (Bill 35-0172, approved Apr. 11, 2024)
Edition changeover: Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-02-01 may still be reviewed under the 2018 I-Codes (statutory baseline set by Act 8818; codes had been anchored to 2003 IBC/IRC via Act 6697 of 2004 until then).
Adopted code by discipline
| Discipline | Adopted code | Local amendment |
|---|---|---|
| Building | 2024 International Building Code (as VI Building Code, 29 V.I.C. § 292a(b)) based on IBC | n/a |
| Residential | 2024 International Residential Code (29 V.I.C. § 292a(c)) based on IRC | n/a |
| Existing buildings | 2024 International Existing Building Code (via IBC reference) + 29 V.I.C. § 310 territorial existing-building rules based on IEBC | n/a |
| Fire | 2024 International Fire Code based on IFC | n/a |
| Electrical | 2023 National Electrical Code based on NEC (NFPA 70) | n/a |
| Mechanical | 2024 International Mechanical Code based on IMC | n/a |
| Plumbing | 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code based on UPC (IAPMO) | n/a |
| Energy | 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (29 V.I.C. § 292a(d)) based on IECC | n/a |
Overlays that can apply
Mapped hazard and district overlays stack on top of the adopted code. These are the overlays recorded for U.S. Virgin Islands. They apply by parcel, not jurisdiction-wide, so confirm the parcel before assuming one is in play. Check CAL FIRE's fire hazard severity viewer and FEMA's flood map service.
- Hurricane wind-borne debris region
- FEMA mapped flood hazard area
- Tsunami inundation zone
Sources
- https://dpnr.vi.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Code-updates.pdf
- https://dlca.vi.gov/pdf/29_VIC_Chap_5.pdf
- https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/adoptions-map/us-virgin-islands/
- https://dpnr.vi.gov/division-of-permits/what-we-do/
- https://www.vi.gov/governor-bryan-approves-various-bills-acknowledges-several-resolutions/
- https://www.iccsafe.org/about/periodicals-and-newsroom/u-s-virgin-islands-strengthen-building-safety-and-resilience-by-improving-code-adoption-process/
- https://www.energycodes.gov/status/states/us-virgin-islands
Common questions
What building code does U.S. Virgin Islands use?
U.S. Virgin Islands uses 2024 International Building Code (as VI Building Code, 29 V.I.C. § 292a(b)) based on IBC. It is administered by the VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), Division of Building Permits; VI Building Code codified at 29 V.I.C. ch. 5 (§§ 291-312), as amended by Act No. 8818 (Bill 35-0172, approved Apr. 11, 2024). The prior edition was 2018 I-Codes (statutory baseline set by Act 8818; codes had been anchored to 2003 IBC/IRC via Act 6697 of 2004 until then).
Do cities in U.S. Virgin Islands amend the state code?
Local amendments are adopted by ordinance at the city or county level. Confirm with the building department that reviews your permit.
Which edition applies to a permit already in review in U.S. Virgin Islands?
Projects with a complete application on or before 2025-02-01 may still be reviewed under the 2018 I-Codes (statutory baseline set by Act 8818; codes had been anchored to 2003 IBC/IRC via Act 6697 of 2004 until then).
Check a plan set against U.S. Virgin Islands code
Knowing the adopted edition is the easy half. Architechtura reads your drawings, resolves which of these provisions actually apply to the project, and returns the corrections a plan checker would write up, each one cited to the section it came from.
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Compiled from published state and municipal adoption ordinances. Local governments amend their codes on their own schedule, and a pending ordinance can change what applies to your permit. Confirm the governing edition with the building department before you submit. This page is reference information, not a code determination.