VA CONTRACTORS LICENSE UPDATED
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
●● Class B contractors
Answer: Can undertake single projects valued up to $120,000 and total
contracts up to $750,000 in a 12-month period.
●● Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC)
Answer: Enforced by local building departments and overseen at the
state level by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community
Development (DHCD).
●● Importance of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code
Answer: It sets the minimum construction and safety standards for all
building projects in Virginia, ensuring public health, safety, and welfare.
●● Experience requirements for Class B contractor license
Answer: You need at least three years of verifiable experience in the
specialty or related field, along with passing the required exams.
●● Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations (E&S
Regulations)
,Answer: Help prevent soil erosion and sediment pollution during
construction activities.
●● Virginia Transaction Recovery Fund
Answer: To protect consumers by providing financial relief if they incur
losses due to a licensed contractor's improper or dishonest conduct.
●● Building and fire safety standards in Virginia
Answer: Set by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC),
which incorporates the International Building Code (IBC) and
International Residential Code (IRC) with Virginia amendments.
●● Difference between Class A, B, and C contractor licenses
Answer: - Class A: Single projects over $120,000 and no monetary limit
in a 12-month period.
- Class B: Single projects up to $120,000, and total up to $750,000 in 12
months.
- Class C: Single projects up to $10,000, and total up to $150,000 in 12
months.
●● Role of local building officials under the USBC
Answer: Review plans, issue permits, conduct inspections, and ensure
construction meets the USBC standards in their jurisdiction.
,●● Contractor business document requirements in Virginia
Answer: Their Virginia contractor license number must be displayed on
contracts, proposals, advertisements, and business documents.
●● Building permit requirements in Virginia
Answer: A building permit is required for new construction, alterations,
or additions to any structure as specified by the USBC, except where
minor repairs are exempt.
●● Erosion and sediment control plan triggers
Answer: Land-disturbing activities over a certain size threshold
(commonly 2,500 square feet in Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas or
10,000 square feet elsewhere) require an approved plan.
●● Claim against the Virginia Transaction Recovery Fund
Answer: A homeowner or other eligible claimant who has a final
judgment against a licensed contractor for improper or dishonest conduct
and has exhausted other collection efforts.
●● Consequences of failing to renew Virginia license on time
Answer: They may have to pay additional fees, and if renewal is overdue
by more than one year, they might have to reapply and meet current
licensure requirements.
, ●● Substantial completion under Virginia construction rules
Answer: It generally means the stage in a project where the work (or a
portion of it) is sufficiently complete so the owner can use it for its
intended purpose.
●● Penalty for contracting without a valid license in Virginia
Answer: Contracting without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor and can
lead to fines, possible jail time, and denial of future license applications.
●● Virginia's requirements for contractor advertising
Answer: All ads must include the contractor's name as licensed and the
Virginia license number.
●● Misleading claims or omitting license information
Answer: Can result in disciplinary action.
●● Required pass-through of building code changes to local codes in
Virginia
Answer: Local jurisdictions must adopt and enforce the USBC updates
within one year after the state adopts new building codes, ensuring
statewide consistency.
●● Documentation required on a job site for inspections
ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
●● Class B contractors
Answer: Can undertake single projects valued up to $120,000 and total
contracts up to $750,000 in a 12-month period.
●● Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC)
Answer: Enforced by local building departments and overseen at the
state level by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community
Development (DHCD).
●● Importance of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code
Answer: It sets the minimum construction and safety standards for all
building projects in Virginia, ensuring public health, safety, and welfare.
●● Experience requirements for Class B contractor license
Answer: You need at least three years of verifiable experience in the
specialty or related field, along with passing the required exams.
●● Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Regulations (E&S
Regulations)
,Answer: Help prevent soil erosion and sediment pollution during
construction activities.
●● Virginia Transaction Recovery Fund
Answer: To protect consumers by providing financial relief if they incur
losses due to a licensed contractor's improper or dishonest conduct.
●● Building and fire safety standards in Virginia
Answer: Set by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC),
which incorporates the International Building Code (IBC) and
International Residential Code (IRC) with Virginia amendments.
●● Difference between Class A, B, and C contractor licenses
Answer: - Class A: Single projects over $120,000 and no monetary limit
in a 12-month period.
- Class B: Single projects up to $120,000, and total up to $750,000 in 12
months.
- Class C: Single projects up to $10,000, and total up to $150,000 in 12
months.
●● Role of local building officials under the USBC
Answer: Review plans, issue permits, conduct inspections, and ensure
construction meets the USBC standards in their jurisdiction.
,●● Contractor business document requirements in Virginia
Answer: Their Virginia contractor license number must be displayed on
contracts, proposals, advertisements, and business documents.
●● Building permit requirements in Virginia
Answer: A building permit is required for new construction, alterations,
or additions to any structure as specified by the USBC, except where
minor repairs are exempt.
●● Erosion and sediment control plan triggers
Answer: Land-disturbing activities over a certain size threshold
(commonly 2,500 square feet in Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas or
10,000 square feet elsewhere) require an approved plan.
●● Claim against the Virginia Transaction Recovery Fund
Answer: A homeowner or other eligible claimant who has a final
judgment against a licensed contractor for improper or dishonest conduct
and has exhausted other collection efforts.
●● Consequences of failing to renew Virginia license on time
Answer: They may have to pay additional fees, and if renewal is overdue
by more than one year, they might have to reapply and meet current
licensure requirements.
, ●● Substantial completion under Virginia construction rules
Answer: It generally means the stage in a project where the work (or a
portion of it) is sufficiently complete so the owner can use it for its
intended purpose.
●● Penalty for contracting without a valid license in Virginia
Answer: Contracting without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor and can
lead to fines, possible jail time, and denial of future license applications.
●● Virginia's requirements for contractor advertising
Answer: All ads must include the contractor's name as licensed and the
Virginia license number.
●● Misleading claims or omitting license information
Answer: Can result in disciplinary action.
●● Required pass-through of building code changes to local codes in
Virginia
Answer: Local jurisdictions must adopt and enforce the USBC updates
within one year after the state adopts new building codes, ensuring
statewide consistency.
●● Documentation required on a job site for inspections
