Virginia building departments
Find local permit offices, inspection services, and official resources across Virginia.
How permitting works in Virginia
Uniform Statewide Building Code, local enforcement. Every Virginia county and city enforces the Uniform Statewide Building Code through a local building department. Contractors need a state license once a job exceeds $1,000.
A county name is only a geographic starting point. Depending on the address, a city, town, borough, township, or county office may issue your permit. How to check who issues your permit.
Virginia building codes and licensing
- Residential code
- 2021 Virginia Residential Code (2021 IRC with Virginia amendments), part of the Uniform Statewide Building Code; effective January 18, 2024
- Commercial code
- 2021 Virginia Construction Code (2021 IBC with Virginia amendments) and 2020 NEC; effective January 18, 2024
- Outside city limits
- Every county and city enforces the USBC through a local building department. A locality without one must contract with another locality or an approved agency to enforce it (Code of Virginia 36-105).
- Contractor licensing
- Contractors need a Class C license for jobs over $1,000 and under $30,000, Class B for $30,000 to under $150,000, and Class A for $150,000 or more. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC contractors also need a master tradesman license. Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR) (opens in a new tab)
What is different in Virginia
- Appeals of a local building official's decision go first to the local board of Building Code appeals, then to the State Building Code Technical Review Board.
- A 2% state levy on local building permit fees funds the Virginia Building Code Academy, which trains and certifies local code officials.
- Owners who build or improve one primary residence for their own use in a 24-month period do not need a contractor license (Code of Virginia 54.1-1101).
Virginia department guides
Browse Virginia counties
Accomack CountyAlbemarle CountyAlleghany CountyAmelia CountyAmherst CountyAppomattox CountyArlington CountyAugusta CountyBath CountyBedford CountyBland CountyBotetourt CountyBrunswick CountyBuchanan CountyBuckingham CountyCampbell CountyCaroline CountyCarroll CountyCharles City CountyCharlotte CountyChesterfield CountyClarke CountyCraig CountyCulpeper CountyCumberland CountyDickenson CountyDinwiddie CountyEssex CountyFairfax CountyFauquier CountyFloyd CountyFluvanna CountyFranklin CountyFrederick CountyGiles CountyGloucester CountyGoochland CountyGrayson CountyGreene CountyGreensville CountyHalifax CountyHanover CountyHenrico CountyHenry CountyHighland CountyIsle of Wight CountyJames City CountyKing and Queen CountyKing George CountyKing William CountyLancaster CountyLee CountyLoudoun CountyLouisa CountyLunenburg CountyMadison CountyMathews CountyMecklenburg CountyMiddlesex CountyMontgomery CountyNelson CountyNew Kent CountyNorthampton CountyNorthumberland CountyNottoway CountyOrange CountyPage CountyPatrick CountyPittsylvania CountyPowhatan CountyPrince Edward CountyPrince George CountyPrince William CountyPulaski CountyRappahannock CountyRichmond CountyRoanoke CountyRockbridge CountyRockingham CountyRussell CountyScott CountyShenandoah CountySmyth CountySouthampton CountySpotsylvania CountyStafford CountySurry CountySussex CountyTazewell CountyWarren CountyWashington CountyWestmoreland CountyWise CountyWythe CountyYork CountyAlexandria cityBristol cityBuena Vista cityCharlottesville cityChesapeake cityColonial Heights cityCovington cityDanville cityEmporia cityFairfax cityFalls Church cityFranklin cityFredericksburg cityGalax cityHampton cityHarrisonburg cityHopewell cityLexington cityLynchburg cityManassas cityManassas Park cityMartinsville cityNewport News cityNorfolk cityNorton cityPetersburg cityPoquoson cityPortsmouth cityRadford cityRichmond cityRoanoke citySalem cityStaunton citySuffolk cityVirginia Beach cityWaynesboro cityWilliamsburg cityWinchester city
Planning a project in Virginia?
Start with what the model codes say, then confirm local rules with the department that serves your address.