{"data":{"id":"us-va/18vac50-22-20","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"18VAC50-22-20","heading":"Definitions of license classifications","body":"The following words and terms when used in this chapter have the following meanings unless a different meaning is provided or is plainly required by the context:\n\n\"Commercial building contractors\" (Abbr: CBC) means those contractors whose contracts include construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal, or demolition on real property owned, controlled, or leased by another person of commercial, industrial, institutional, governmental, and accessory use buildings or structures. The CBC classification does not provide for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas fitting services and does not allow construction, repair, or improvement of dwellings and townhouses as defined in the USBC.\n\nThe commercial building classification includes the functions carried out by the following specialties for contracts of commercial, institutional, governmental, and accessory use buildings or structures, including multi-family housing:\n\nBillboard/sign contracting\n\nCommercial improvement contracting\n\nConcrete contracting\n\nFarm improvement contracting\n\nIndustrialized building contracting\n\nLandscape service contracting\n\nMarine facility contracting\n\nMasonry contracting\n\nPainting and wallcovering contracting\n\nRecreational facility contracting\n\nRoofing contracting\n\nSwimming pool contracting\n\n\"Electrical contractors\" (Abbr: ELE) means those contractors whose contracts include the construction, installation, repair, maintenance, alteration, or removal of electrical systems. This classification provides for all work covered by the electrical provisions of the USBC, including electronic/communication service contracting (ESC) and fire alarm systems contracting (FAS) specialties.\n\n\"Fire sprinkler contracting\" (Abbr: SPR) means the classification that provides for the installation, repair, alteration, addition, testing, maintenance, inspection, improvement, or removal of sprinkler systems using water as a means of fire suppression when annexed to real property. This classification does not provide for the installation, repair, or maintenance of other types of fire suppression systems. The PLB classification allows for the installation of systems permitted to be designed in accordance with the plumbing provisions of the USBC. This classification may engage in the installation of backflow prevention devices in the fire sprinkler supply main and incidental to the sprinkler system installation when the installer has received formal vocational training approved by the board that included instruction in the installation of backflow prevention devices.\n\n\"Highway/heavy contractors\" (Abbr: H/H) means those contractors whose contracts include construction, repair, improvement, or demolition of the following:\n\nBridges\n\nDams\n\nDrainage systems\n\nFoundations\n\nParking lots\n\nPublic transit systems\n\nRailroads\n\nRoads\n\nRunways\n\nStreets\n\nStructural signs and lights\n\nTanks\n\nThe functions carried out by these contractors include the following:\n\nBuilding demolition\n\nClearing\n\nConcrete work\n\nExcavating\n\nGrading\n\nNonwater well drilling\n\nPaving\n\nPile driving\n\nRoad marking\n\nSteel erection\n\nThese contractors also install, maintain, or dismantle the following:\n\n1. Power systems for the generation and primary and secondary distribution of electric current ahead of the customer's meter;\n\n2. Pumping stations and treatment plants;\n\n3. Telephone, telegraph, or signal systems for public utilities; and\n\n4. Water, gas, and sewer connections to residential, commercial, and industrial sites, subject to local ordinances.\n\nThis classification may also install backflow prevention devices incidental to work in this classification when the installer has received formal vocational training approved by the board that included instruction in the installation of backflow prevention devices.\n\n\"HVAC contractors\" (Abbr: HVA) means those contractors whose contracts include the installation, alteration, repair, or maintenance of heating systems, ventilating systems, cooling systems, steam and hot water heaters, heating systems, boilers, process piping, and mechanical refrigeration systems, including tanks incidental to the system. This classification does not provide for fire suppression installations, sprinkler system installations, or gas piping.  This classification may install backflow prevention devices incidental to work in this classification.\n\n\"Plumbing contractors\" (Abbr: PLB) means those contractors whose contracts include the installation, maintenance, extension, alteration, or removal of all piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with any of the following:\n\nBackflow prevention devices\n\nBoilers\n\nHot water baseboard heating systems\n\nHot water heaters\n\nHydronic systems\n\nProcess piping\n\nPublic/private water supply systems within or adjacent to any building, structure, or conveyance\n\nSanitary or storm drainage facilities\n\nSteam heating systems\n\nStorage tanks incidental to the installation of related systems\n\nVenting systems related to plumbing\n\nThese contractors also install, maintain, extend, or alter the following:\n\nLiquid waste systems\n\nSewerage systems\n\nStorm water systems\n\nWater supply systems\n\nThis classification does not provide for (i) gas piping or (ii) the function of fire sprinkler contracting except for sprinklers that are tied into the domestic water supply. The classification may install fire sprinkler systems permitted to be designed in accordance with the plumbing provisions of the USBC when the installer has received formal vocational training approved by the board that included instruction of installation of fire sprinkler systems.\n\n\"Residential building contractors\" (Abbr: RBC) means those contractors whose contracts include construction, remodeling, repair, improvement, removal, or demolition on real property owned, controlled, or leased by another person of dwellings and townhouses, as defined in the USBC, including accessory buildings or structures on such property. The RBC classification does not provide for electrical, plumbing, HVAC, or gas fitting services and does not allow construction, removal, repair, or improvement to commercial, industrial, institutional, or governmental use structures outside of dwellings and townhouses, as defined by the USBC.\n\nThe residential building classification includes the functions carried out by the following specialties for contracts of dwellings and townhouses, as defined by the USBC, and related accessory use buildings or structures:\n\nConcrete contracting\n\nHome improvement contracting\n\nIndustrialized building contracting\n\nLandscape service contracting\n\nMasonry contracting\n\nPainting and wallcovering contracting\n\nRoofing contracting\n\nSwimming pool contracting\n\n\"Specialty contractors\" means those contractors whose contracts are for specialty services that do not generally fall within the scope of any other classification within this chapter.","path":["Title 18. Professional And Occupational Licensing","Agency 50. Board For Contractors","Chapter 22. Board for Contractors Regulations","Part I. General"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency50/chapter22/section20/","current_through":"2026 Regular Session (effective July 1, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:52:35Z","sha256":"27cda1334fa91829a9564c27f8e932e6048fc14a2c8ca73a6a574df31f83ca28","source_id":"us-va-vac","stale":false,"prev":"us-va/18vac50-22-10","next":"us-va/18vac50-22-30"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}