Council votes to ban defective drywall

NORFOLK, Va. - Concerns over potentially sickening drywall have prompted local leaders to make sure it stays out of their city.

On Tuesday evening, Norfolk City Council voted to prohibit contractors from using Chinese drywall. The decision came just one day after Norfolk homeowners voiced their concerns about the drywall.

WAVY.com was the first to investigate the defective material in our area. Homeowners called us, claiming the drywall made their houses smell like rotten eggs -- an odor traced to an ingredient called gypsum.

Norfolk City Council passed the measure by a unanimous vote saying contractors must certify they are not using the drywall.

The drywall was first imported to Hampton Roads in 2006 and used to build some homes in the area. The new ordinance comes as the Environmental Protection Agency says it found materials in the drywall that could make people sick. Contractors will now only receive permits if they can prove that they will not use the product.

It's important to point out, while some people have filed lawsuits over the drywall, there have not been any conclusive studies linking health problems to the material.

Click here for what you need to know if you have Chinese drywall.