Alexandria Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

The City of Alexandria’s Department of Code Administration is the local building-permit, plan-review, construction-inspection, and maintenance-code authority for the independent City of Alexandria. The department works with other city agencies on development review and administers Virginia’s Uniform Statewide Building and Maintenance Codes together with city code provisions. Its Permit Center processes construction permits, certificates of occupancy, elevator certificates, fire-prevention permits, maintenance complaints, and permit and inspection records.

Applying through Alexandria APEX

Alexandria requires permits for most construction and maintenance work involving buildings and structures, including new construction, alterations, demolitions, renovations, additions, and changes of occupancy. The city divides applications generally into residential and commercial categories, with examples including decks, porches, accessory structures, pools, retaining walls, apartments, hotels, schools, offices, restaurants, and hospitals. Applications, development-plan reviews, supporting documents, and payments are submitted through the APEX Permitting and Land Use System.

Before submitting, confirm the project category and assemble contractor information, plans, and any required site or grading plan. Alexandria’s permit-requirements page says a 35% deposit based on the estimated permit fee is due for plan review, and projects may require coordination with Planning and Zoning, Transportation and Environmental Services, Health, or Fire Protection Systems. The city’s plan-review division also offers coordinated review for eligible projects involving multiple agencies.

Inspections, zoning, and occupancy

Inspections are scheduled and tracked through APEX, and the city provides a daily inspection viewer and step-by-step scheduling instructions. The Department of Code Administration says inspection results are available through the portal; if APEX is unavailable or assistance is needed, the Permit Center can help at (703) 746-4200. New-construction projects may use traditional, third-party, or special-inspection programs, but third-party inspections require approval by the building official before permit issuance.

Certificate-of-occupancy inspections may require coordination with zoning, Transportation and Environmental Services, or the Health Department. Alexandria’s APEX FAQ says certificate-of-occupancy inspection requests should be made through the customer portal, while fire inspections are handled by the Fire Marshal’s Office. Complete all required final inspections and city approvals before occupying or opening the space.

Official Alexandria contact

Code Administration lists (703) 746-4200 and 301 King Street, Suite 4200, Alexandria, VA 22314. The current Permit Center page also notes that in-person customer service is at the Redella S. “Dell” Pepper Community Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive, while applications are being submitted electronically through APEX. Use the official Alexandria permit pages and APEX portal above for current submission, inspection, payment, and status instructions.