HOUSE BILL NO. 2048 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled January 8, 2007 A BILL to amend and reenact § 27-98 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Statewide Fire Prevention Code; enforcement. ---------- Patron-- McQuigg ---------- Committee Referral Pending ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 27-98 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 27-98. Enforcement of Fire Prevention Code; appeals from decisions of local enforcing agencies; inspection of buildings.

Any local government may enforce the Fire Prevention Code in its entirety or with respect only to those provisions of the Fire Prevention Code relating to open burning, fire lanes, fireworks, and hazardous materials. If a local governing body elects to enforce only those provisions of the Fire Prevention Code relating to open burning, it may do so in all or in any designated geographic areas of its jurisdiction. The State Fire Marshal shall also have the authority, in cooperation with any local governing body, to enforce the Code. The State Fire Marshal shall also have authority to enforce the Code in those jurisdictions in which the local governments do not enforce the Code and may establish such procedures or requirements as may be necessary for the administration and enforcement of the Code in such jurisdictions. In addition, subject to the approval of the Board of Housing and Community Development, the State Fire Marshal may charge a fee to recover the actual cost of administering and enforcing the Code in jurisdictions for which he serves as the enforcement authority. No fee may be charged for permits issued for inspection of any schools operated or conducted under the auspices of a religious institution. The local governing body of any jurisdiction that enforces the Code may establish such procedures or requirements as may be necessary for the administration and enforcement of the Code. Appeals concerning the application of the Code by the local enforcing agency shall first lie to a local board of appeals and then to the State Building Code Technical Review Board. Appeals from the application of the Code by the State Fire Marshal shall be made directly to the State Building Code Technical Review Board as provided in § 36-108 et seq. Fees may be levied by the local governing body in order to defray the cost of such enforcement and appeals.