Arlington County Building Department | Permits, Inspections & Contact

Arlington County’s Inspection Services Division (ISD) regulates building and trade construction in Arlington County. ISD checks permit applications, plans, and construction documents for code compliance; issues residential and commercial building permits; administers electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas permits; performs building and trade inspections; and enforces maintenance and occupancy standards. Arlington’s countywide government is the relevant local authority for projects located in Arlington County.

Applying through Permit Arlington

Most construction projects require building or trade permits, and applications are submitted through the Permit Arlington customer portal. ISD recommends confirming the project type, zoning status, applicable County Board or Board of Zoning Appeals approvals, and any environmental or site requirements before submitting. Residential guidance identifies project-specific requirements for work such as additions, decks, basement work, roof work, and trade alterations; commercial work may require more extensive plan review.

Arlington’s plan-review process can involve the Inspection Services Division, Zoning Division, and Department of Environmental Services. For example, a floodplain permit is required when a property lies within the 100-year floodplain or county flood buffer zone, and a development plan is required when total land disturbance exceeds 2,500 square feet. A project should not begin until the permit has been approved, fees have been paid, and the digital permit and approved plans are available through the portal.

Inspections, zoning, and occupancy

The permit holder or representative usually schedules inspections, although Arlington may schedule some inspections directly. The county advises keeping the approved permit, plat, and building plans available for every inspection. Building and trade inspections are typically scheduled 24 hours in advance, and the inspection type may also involve environmental health, site, or zoning staff depending on the permit.

The Zoning Division reviews building permits, construction plans, and certificates of occupancy for compliance with the Arlington Zoning Ordinance. Coordinate zoning, building, and site approvals before construction, and confirm the certificate-of-occupancy or final-inspection path for the proposed use with Permit Arlington.

Official Arlington County contact

The Permit Arlington Center lists (703) 228-3800 for building permit questions and is located at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 1000, Arlington, VA 22201. The county’s official portal is used to submit and track applications, pay fees, access approved documents, and manage inspections. Use the county’s current contact and inspection pages for category-specific numbers, including zoning and environmental services.