Virginia
Code notices and property liens
A code notice or a lien does not have to be solved before you call.
The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code is the statewide building standard. The locality's building official enforces it. Bring the notice they sent.
A recorded deed of trust or a judgment in the land records shows up in the title search. The payoff or the release is handled at settlement.
The notice in your kitchen drawer
Read the date, the department, and what they asked you to do. We want a copy. You can talk to the building official about extensions. We look at the house either way.
Prince William and Woodbridge sellers sometimes have a county notice. Fredericksburg city notices come from the city. The letterhead tells you which. Send the street with the letter.
Liens the clerk can see
The circuit court clerk keeps the land records. A deed of trust is released when the lender is paid and the release is recorded. Other recorded liens need the title company's plan. Section 58.1-803 is the recordation tax on a deed of trust, which is separate from paying the debt itself.
We do not clear a lien by a phone call. We can still look at the house. Call (540) 547-SELL and say you have a notice or a lien so we ask for the paper.
Notice versus lien
Different papers. Both can sit on the table during a visit.
| Paper | Who issued it | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Building notice | Local building official, under the Uniform Statewide Building Code. | Bring it. You choose what to correct before showings. |
| Deed of trust | Lender. Payoff statement. | Same payoff at settlement. |
| Recorded judgment or other lien | Shows in the land records the title company searches. | Same search. |
| Our visit | Can happen with the papers unsolved. | Can happen too. Shoppers may ask. |
Virginia questions
- Can you buy a house with an open code case?
- We can look. Whether we offer depends on the house and the title. Nothing is promised from the form.
- Who enforces the building code?
- The locality. The code itself is the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, published through the Department of Housing and Community Development.
- Do I pay the lien before you visit?
- No. Bring the latest statement. Settlement is where payoffs usually get paid.
Call (540) 547-SELL or start with the address on the home page. The location guides name the ZIP codes.