Updating the DEQ Stormwater Handbook: HBA of Virginia will be serving on a Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) to assist the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in producing the new 2023 Stormwater Handbook.
The current array of outdated reference materials is a source of confusion for the regulated community and inefficiency in DEQ’s permitting process. A new Stormwater Handbook, which DEQ plans to maintain as a “living document”, will provide ongoing and current information to permit applicants and their consultants. The purpose of this SAG is to provide DEQ with direction, guidance, and feedback as it develops a more user-friendly handbook.
How you can help: The Department has asked stakeholders to provide any of the materials below - please contact
Andrew Clark if you have any materials or recommendations that you would like the SAG to consider.
- Examples of effective erosion and sediment control (ESC) or stormwater management (SWM) manuals and handbooks from other states and/or municipalities (including Virginia localities);
- Contemporary design specifications of ESC and/or SWM best management practices (BMPs) (including post-development water quality and quantity control BMPs and manufactured treatment devices);
- Practices listed in Annual Standards and Specifications that should be included in the handbook;
- Waivers or exceptions that could be incorporated into approved practices; and/or
- Suggestions for outdated or irrelevant BMPs that should be removed.
2018 Building Code - Effective July 1, 2022: The 2018 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) will become mandatory on July 1, 2022. Chapter 1 of the Virginia USBC allows for a one year "grace period" - during that time, applications for a permit have the option of complying with the provisions of the 2015 Virginia USBC or the 2018 Virginia USBC. The "grace period" expires on July 1 - on or after that date, permit applicants are required to comply with the provisions of the 2018 Virginia USBC.
Local Building Officials Interpretation of "Grace Period": HBA of Virginia has received emails from members regarding local building officials with different interpretations of the Virginia USBC "grace period". If you have received conflicting information from your building official, please contact
Andrew Clark.
Overview of Significant Changes to the Virginia USBC: Click
here to review a summary of the significant changes to the Virginia USBC.
Department of Environmental Quality Resources and Communications: The Department recently published several updates to their website in an effort to make it easier to access the various regulations, handbooks, manuals, design specifications, and materials that are essential to our industry. Much of this information was either scattered or buried on DEQ’s website or not available online. Click
here for an overview of the recently updated DEQ website and to learn more about their efforts to increase communication with the regulated community.
Upcoming Regulatory Initiatives: The HBA of Virginia will be participating in several regulatory reviews and stakeholder groups this year - and we need your input! Please contact
Andrew Clark if you are interesting in providing comments/feedback on any of the following initiatives.
VDOT Secondary Street Acceptance Requirements (SSAR) - Connectivity Requirements
During the 2022 General Assembly Session, HBAV advanced legislation which amended Virginia Code §33.2-334 (Secondary Street Acceptance Requirements) to allow for greater flexibility to reduce the number of connections to adjacent property or highway networks. The Virginia Department of Transportation will be convening a stakeholder workgroup to implement this legislative change into the SSAR regulations.
Broadband in New Residential/Commercial Development
The Department of Housing and Community Development is convening a stakeholder workgroup to evaluate any impediments to expanding broadband service and associated infrastructure in new residential and commercial development. HBAV will be serving on this workgroup and will be providing comments on the challenges that our industry faces while incorporating broadband infrastructure in new developments.
Virginia Construction General Permit Reauthorization
Later this year, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will convene a technical advisory committee (TAC) to consider amendments to, and ultimately reauthorize, the 2019 General VPDES Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities, which is set to expire on June 30th, 2024.
