Prince William County’s Department of Development Services, Building Development Division, has received strong ratings on the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS). The grading is administered by the Insurance Services Office (ISO), which supplies data and analytics to insurance underwriters.
The county achieved a commercial score of 89.47 and a residential score of 84.81. Both scores are higher than last year’s results and exceed the Virginia state averages of 78.87 for commercial and 74.21 for residential buildings. These results demonstrate Prince William County’s focus on maintaining robust building code enforcement and public safety.
BCEGS assesses localities based on several criteria, including staff training, construction inspections, and plan reviews. Staff training is intended to give code enforcement personnel technical knowledge and administrative skills for all building functions. Inspections check that projects meet the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code at various stages, while plan reviews examine project designs for compliance before permits are issued.
“While BCEGS is not a regulatory or compliance tool, it recognizes the overall effectiveness of a jurisdiction’s building code enforcement program and the support it receives from local leadership,” said Director of Development Services Mandi Spina. “These high marks matter because they reflect the investments we’ve made to ensure that building safety remains paramount.”
“This recognition reflects Prince William County’s commitment to ensuring safe, high-quality development for our residents and businesses,” said County Executive Chris Shorter. “Strong building codes and effective enforcement not only protect public safety but also strengthen confidence in our community as a great place to live, work and invest.”
