This is a must - access to shut-off valves "shall be provided."
And especially the water main valve.
Why wouldn't easy access to the water main valve be provided? It's an ESSENTIAL valve! If water to the house needs to be shut off for emergencies you want quick and easy access to the valve.
The code is unusually simple. From the International Residency Code, subscribed to by the Virginia Residency and Plumbing Codes -
Access to valves. Access shall be provided to all full-open valves and shut-off valves.
The bold there was my contribution. And that's all valves - main, hose, water heater, fixtures, etc.
So why am I seeing this more and more?
Obviously neither of these photos show access.
On the left the red arrows point to two different shut-off valves beside a stackable washer/dryer shoved as far to the right side as the wall would allow. That opening is only 6". Nobody at the inspection could reach either one, even the long arms of the home inspector.
And on the right the access to the valve beside the water heater is 2".
It was apparent and fortunate that neither homeowner needed to shut the water off!
I also suggest to my clients that the water main be turned off when homeowners leave for vacation. Why leave the plumbing pressurized when nobody is in the house? If a problem happens, and no one is there to see it, the house can literally fill with water which isn't discovered until after people return. And what a return home that would be!
My recommendation: make sure there is easy and available access to all water valves, particularly the water main valve! Test them periodically to make sure they work properly! And turn off the water main even if you might only be leaving for the weekend. It's easy to do and a practice that may avoid a huge problem.
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 
Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.
Office (703) 330-6388 Cell (703) 585-7560
Good morning, Jay Markanich why bother having a shut off valve if you don't have access to it.... what are people thinking when they box in the shut off valve..
A shut off valve is useless if you can't shut it off!
It's the most essential valve in the house, Barbara. But any leaking valve becomes the most essential at the moment!
True, Kat. It was comical trying to get everyone at the inspection trying to reach that valve beside the W/D.
Good morning Jay. You just can't fix stupid! Enjoy your day!
Jay Markanich What a serious disaster waiting to happen. I certainly hope a change was made with this plumbing?
Man, lots of older homes here that have no main water shut off other than at the street by the meter.
It is hard, Wayne, but there is a God above. The fix may have to go that high...
S&N- two different houses, two different inspections, but I see them so often now! Remodeling sometimes does in the access! Not good.
Fred - given all the modern codes regarding access, ASTM approved kind of valve, bleeder valves, etc I wonder if they would require a change should any serious remodeling happen.
I live in the country and depend on well and septic for my house. One of my biggest fears was for the main water line to rupture in the basement and the well pump and pressure sensor keep trying to pressurize the tank. So I installed this Leak Defender and placed the puck between the pressure tank and the water heater. If water is detected, the power to the well pump is automatically shut off. Let's hope I never gets tested under real life circumstances.
Stephen - I hear if you give that puck a hard slap shot on water it hydroplanes!
Good idea. Do you have a generator?
Nice new-looking pressure tank. Looks like your pressure is >50psi.
Not the type of access one would need when having to shut off the water in a hurry. Poorly designed
It's called remodeling, Ed, and done by homeowners, or contractors, who are not thinking ahead.
Jay- this falls in the "what the heck were they thinking" category. In Houston, many of the pipes were placed in the attic. You can imagine what it was like when we had a hard freeze. We made sure our tenants knew where the shut-off valve was.
I didn't think there were many hard freezes in Houston, Kathy! I was a Memorial Herman Hospital in 2015 for my heart surgeries after my electric shock during a home inspection. I was pretty warm in April and May!
Hopefully the shut offs were in the main house and accessible!
It is always amazing to us when people have no idea where it is they shut the water off !
Ay, ay Cap'n! I always try to find the valve and show my clients. Then I demonstrate that the handle can be turned. If it is stiff I note it on the report.
If we can't find it I note on the report that the seller needs to identify where it is or install one that is visible and accessible.
Simple enough.