Construction Permits

Most of the regulatory offices involved in the construction permit process are located within the Department of Community Development.  Those offices are Building Inspections, Erosion & Sediment Control, and Zoning.  These offices work together to guide individuals, contractors, and developers through the process.  All projects receive a combined building and zoning permit.  Click on one of the following types of construction for a specific guide for obtaining a permit:

Permit Exemptions

Some projects may not require a permit; following is a list of some of those projects:

For a complete list of projects that are exempt from permits, see:

• Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Part I (2006) 

Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) 2006 Virginia Codes

• Virginia Construction Code
• Virginia Rehabilitation Code
• Virginia Maintenance Code
• Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code
• Virginia Industrialized Building Safety Regulations
• Virginia Manufactured Home Safety Regulations
• Virginia Amusement Device Regulations
• Virginia Certification Standards
• Related Laws Package

Construction Permit Links

• Residential Construction Permits
• Department of Community Development
• Permit Fees
• County Code
• Permit Applications & Forms
• Virginia Building and Code Official Association
• Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (Contractor License Lookup)