Cal. Civ. Code § 13VAC5-63-530
Chapter 5 Plumbing requirements.
Operative Text
A. Change the title of Chapter 5 of the IPMC to "Plumbing Requirements." B. Delete the following sections from Chapter 5 of the IPMC: 1. Section 501.2 Responsibility. 2. Section 502 Required facilities (all provisions). 3. Section 503 Toilet rooms (all provisions). 4. Section 505.5.1 Abandonment of systems. C. Change the following sections in Chapter 5 of the IPMC to read: 1. Section 501.1 General. The provisions of this chapter shall govern the maintenance of structures for plumbing systems, facilities, and fixtures. 2. Section 504.1 General. Required or provided plumbing systems and facilities shall be maintained in accordance with the applicable building code. 3. Section 504.2 Plumbing fixtures. All plumbing fixtures shall be maintained in a safe, sanitary, and working condition. A kitchen sink shall not be used as a substitute for a required lavatory. 4. Section 504.3 Plumbing system hazards. Where it is found that a plumbing system in a structure constitutes a hazard to the public, the occupants, or the structure, the code official shall require the defects to be corrected to eliminate the hazard. 5. Section 505.1 Supply. Required or provided water supply systems shall be maintained in accordance with the applicable building code. All water supply systems shall be free from obstructions, defects, and leaks. 6. Section 505.2 Protection of water supply systems. Protection of water supply systems shall be provided and maintained in accordance with the applicable building code. 7. Section 505.3 Backflow prevention systems. Maintenance and testing shall comply with Sections 505.3.1 and 505.3.2. 8. Section 505.4 Water heating facilities. Water heating facilities shall be maintained. Combination temperature and pressure-relief valves and relief valve discharge pipes shall be maintained on water heaters. 9. Section 505.5 Nonpotable water reuse systems. Where installed, nonpotable water reuse and rainwater collection and conveyance systems shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. Where such systems are not property maintained, the systems shall be repaired to provide for safe and sanitary conditions or the system shall be abandoned in accordance with the following: 1. All system piping connecting to a utility provided or private water system shall be removed or disabled. Proper cross-connection control and backwater prevention measures shall comply with the applicable building code. 2. Where required, the distribution piping system shall be replaced with an approved potable water supply piping system. 3. The storage tank shall be secured from accidental access by sealing or locking tank inlets and access points or filling with sand or equivalent. 10. Section 506.1 Drainage and venting. Required or provided sanitary drainage and venting systems shall be maintained in accordance with the applicable building code. 11. Section 506.2 Maintenance. Every building drainage and sewer system shall function properly and be kept free from obstructions, leaks, and defects. 12. Section 507.1 General. Drainage of roofs and paved areas, yards and courts, and other open areas on the premises shall be discharged in a manner to protect the buildings and structures from the accumulation of overland water runoff. D. Add the following sections to Chapter 5 of the IPMC: 1. Section 504.1.1 Public and employee facilities. Except for periodic maintenance or cleaning, access and use shall be provided to facilities at all times during occupancy of the premises in accordance with the applicable building code. 2. Section 504.2.1 Fixture clearances. Adequate clearances for usage and cleaning of plumbing fixtures shall be maintained as approved when installed. 3. Section 505.1.1 Tempered water. Tempered water shall be supplied to fixtures and facilities when required by the applicable building code. 4. Section 505.2.1 Attached hoses. Shampoo basin faucets, janitor sink faucets, and other hose bibs or faucets to which hoses are attached and left in place shall be protected by an approved atmospheric-type vacuum breaker or an approved permanently attached hose connection vacuum breaker. 5. Section 505.3.1 Maintenance. Backflow assemblies and air gaps shall be maintained in an operable condition. 6. Section 505.3.2 Testing. Reduced pressure principle backflow preventer assemblies, double check-valve assemblies, double-detector check valve assemblies, and pressure vacuum breaker assemblies shall be tested at least annually. Records of testing shall be available for inspection by the code official. The testing procedure shall be performed in accordance with one of the following standards: ASSE 5010-1013-1, Sections 1 and 2; ASSE 5010-1015-1, Sections 1 and 2; ASSE 5010-1015-2; ASSE 5010-1015-3, Sections 1 and 2; ASSE 5010-1015-4, Sections 1 and 2; ASSE 5010-1020-1, Sections 1 and 2; ASSE 5010-1047-1, Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4; ASSE 5010-1048-1, Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4; ASSE 5010-1048-2; ASSE 5010-1048-3, Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4; ASSE 5010-1048-4, Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4; or CAN/CSA B64.10.
Section 13VAC5-63-530 establishes Virginia's plumbing maintenance requirements for structures by modifying the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) Chapter 5. Under this provision, all plumbing systems, fixtures, and facilities must be kept in safe, sanitary, and working order, and water supply systems must remain free from obstructions, defects, and leaks. Certain backflow prevention assemblies are subject to at least annual testing with records kept available for inspection, and nonpotable water reuse systems that cannot be properly maintained must be repaired or formally abandoned following specific procedures. Where a plumbing system is found to pose a hazard, the code official is authorized to require corrective action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under 13VAC5-63-530 generally ensure that all plumbing fixtures, drainage systems, and water supply lines are routinely inspected and kept in safe, sanitary, and working condition in accordance with the applicable building code. Compliant operators maintain records of annual backflow preventer testing using the standards listed in Section 505.3.2 and make those records available for code official inspection. Where hoses are left attached to faucets or hose bibs, operators typically install and maintain approved vacuum breakers, and any nonpotable water reuse system that cannot be properly maintained is repaired or decommissioned following the abandonment steps outlined in Section 505.5.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under 13VAC5-63-530, tenants have an interest in knowing that their dwelling's plumbing systems, fixtures, and water supply are legally required to be maintained in safe, sanitary, and working condition. If plumbing conditions appear hazardous or fixtures are not functioning properly, tenants may document the issues and report them to the local code official, who has authority under Section 504.3 to require defects to be corrected. Tenants experiencing unresolved plumbing problems may also explore options such as contacting a local tenant-rights organization or raising the code violation in relevant housing proceedings.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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