Change of Use/Tenant Fit Out

New Construction

Alterations

Trades (Mechanical, Electrical Plumbing, Gas)

Certificate of Occupany

Fire Protection

Signs

Home additions

Finishing basements

Interior construction

Garages, both attached and detached

Fences and walls

Sheds and storage buildings

Patios, decks and porches

Driveways and paving

General mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and gas work

VDOT

Utilities

Lane Closures

Sidewalk Closures

Street Closures (Construction)

Dumpster in the ROW

Crane or Man-lift

Excavations

Sewer Lateral Connections

Street Closures

Lane Closures

Sidewalk Closures

Any time you change a wall, you need a permit. It does not matter if the wall is load-bearing or not.

If you add walls, remove walls or even change the height of a wall, you need a permit.

The same is true if you want to add an opening, or change the size of an existing opening, such as to put in a larger window.

Anything involving the framing or other structure of a wall requires a permit. This also goes for floors, ceilings, and rafters.

If you plan to move any plumbing fixture, or add one, you need a permit.

If you plan to add electrical fixtures, you need a permit.

Any work involving gas, even just replacing a stove or fireplace insert, requires a permit.

Paint, add or replace carpet, tile or hardwood floors, replace cabinets, and even replace paneling and drywall without a permit.

Replace your windows and doors, as long as you don't change the size of the opening in the wall.

Replace your roof, as long as you are not replacing rafters or a major portion of the decking.

Replace plumbing fixtures, such as a sink, disposal, or toilet, as long as the new fixture remains in the same place so you do not need to run any pipe.

Replace electrical fixtures, such as an outlet, switch or ceiling light fixture.

Application Completeness

All applications are reviewed for completeness upon receipt.

Plan Submittal

A Plan Review Coordinator will review your application and plans to determine if you have met the minimum requirement for plan review based on the complexity of the project scope. Once approved, your project will be assigned to the required plan review disciplines for review.

Plan Review

After you file your building permit application, it must be reviewed by all of the relevant disciplines. Each discipline will review the plans and approve them — or put a hold on the application so you can make corrections in response to the plan reviewer’s comments. Final building permit approval is provided when all disciplines have approved and stamped the plans.

Permit Issuance

After all disciplines approve the application, the contractor’s information (license number and mailing address) is required for issuance of the permit.

Inspections

Building inspections, which include all trades, and fire inspections, assure the building has been constructed in accordance with the most current building code and approved plans.

Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) inspections, related to the use of the building, are required for occupancy of all buildings.

Certificate of Occupancy

A Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) is a document that certifies that the use of a building complies with Zoning regulations and Building Codes.

A new Certificate of Occupancy is required when new construction or alteration has occurred—or there have been changes in:

Ownership

Occupancy Load

Use

The effective date of the 2021 Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2021 Statewide Fire Prevention Code, 2021 Industrialized Building Safety Regulations, and the 2021 Amusement Device Regulations is January 18th, 2024.