City of Williamsburg, Virginia

Neighborhood & Housing Preservation

Codes Compliance Programs:

The City of Williamsburg, through its Codes Compliance Division, offer several programs as part of a city-wide effort to promote safer housing, heighten awareness of building safety, and support neighborhood quality of life for city residents. Elements include city-wide curbside inspections (N.I.P.) of all properties on a rotating basis, adjacent property and occupant complaints, and a recently adopted Rental Inspection Program.

Neighborhood Improvement Program (N.I.P.)

The Neighborhood Improvement Program enforced city-wide since 1998 is performed on a rotating basis. This program looks for exterior building and property conditions that violate city and state codes. Some of these codes contain provisions for inoperable motor vehicles, exterior storage, trash and debris, grass and weed maintenance, vehicle parking requirements, trash container storage, and general exterior building maintenance. Violations of these codes contain mostly civil penalties, but an opportunity to correct violations is always given before any legal action is initiated.

Complaint Inspections

The Codes Compliance Division regularly receives complaints from adjacent property or building occupants about conditions that may violate the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code or city ordnances. Complaints regarding exterior conditions that can be seen from a public way can be anonymous. Complaints regarding interior conditions must be in writing so that inspectors can legally enter the building. When filing an interior complaint, the following guidance should be followed:

1. If there is an emergency condition, call 911 and get to the outside of the building! Natural or LP gas leaks, continued electrical arching, smell of smoke, fuel leakage, collapsing structures or malfunctioning furnaces require immediate attention from the fire department.
2. Conditions that affect life safety including sewage spills, non functioning plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems should be reported to the owner or duly designated agent for the owner immediately. You can also notify the Codes Compliance Division as well. The goal is to assist both the occupant and the owner in remedying the situation quickly and early intervention can bring additional resources to the table.
3. Normal maintenance issues such as hole repairs, floor covering problems, damaged or leaking plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems that do not create an immediate hazard should be reported to the owner or agent orally and in writing. Most owners will respond immediately, but the Codes Compliance Division recommends that you give five working days to before contacting their office with a complaint. . Make sure you know your obligations as agreed to in your lease before you call!
   

Rental Inspection Program

The City of Williamsburg has implemented a Rental Property Inspection Program that requires interior and exterior inspections of certain rental units. The program requires rental properties in four established districts to be inspected when a unit is first offered for rent and at change of occupancy. The program has been set up in areas that have exhibited the highest number of complaints and/or code violations, the highest number of known rental units, and in areas that have some of the oldest city housing that require additional maintenance attention.

Occupants or property owners may request an inspection at any time whether property is located in or out of one of the established districts. If you want to get information about the city property conservation efforts and the latest on the Rental Inspection program, you can contact the Codes Compliance Division at (757) 220-6136 or visit our office at 401 Lafayette Street. You can also obtain background information and the latest on the Rental Inspection Program by visiting the links below.