Below are Building (Residential) Permits frequently asked questions. Scroll down to find the answers. If your questions are not listed, please contact our division at (757) 385-4211![]( "Call: (757) 385-4211")
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When is a residential building permit required?
How much does a residential building permit cost?
What information is required to obtain a permit for a:
- New House?
- Residential Addition?
- Residential Alteration?
- Driveway/Driveway Apron?
- Pool, Hot Tub, or Spa?
When are residential building inspections required?
How are residential building inspections scheduled?
When is a residential building permit required?
Building Permit Requirements:
- Construction or alteration of a structure (commercial or residential); this includes cutting away any wall, partition, or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam, the removal or change of any required means of egress, or rearrangement of parts of the structure affecting the egress requirements.
- Making a change in use group in a commercial building
- Alterations (commercial or residential) including: bow or bay windows alterations, converting garage space / screened in porches to living space, foundation repairs, replacing windows or exterior doors IF frames or jams are altered, roofing or siding replacements.
- Construction of an addition including: carports, garages, attached / detached, room additions (commercial or residential), screened in porches.
- Other structures and alterations: chimneys, decks, detached structures (including: patios, gazebos, trellises, etc. as well as sheds and storage buildings greater than 200 square feet in size), driveways / driveway aprons, fences, hot tubs / spas (capable of holding at least 24 inches of water), pool installations, in-ground and above-ground (capable of holding at least 24 inches of water), portable buildings or classrooms, trailers / mobile homes, waterfront construction (i.e. bulkheads, piers, boat lifts, rip rap, etc.).
Structures in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA) or Southern Watershed Area may require permits, regardless of size
- Demolition or removal of a structure
- Moving a lot line which affects an existing structure
How much does a residential building permit cost?
How much does a residential building permit cost?
A 2.0% levy is assessed on the total permit fees (rounded up):
| Residential Non-Heated Building Area(i.e. garages, porches, decks, etc.):
$30.00 plus $4.00 per 100 square feet or fraction thereafter, without limit, (i.e. 350 square feet: 400 ÷ 100 = 4; $4 x 4 = $16, + $30 = $46.00 + 2.0% ($.92) = $46.92) |
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| Alterations, Repairs, Commercial Interior Finishes, Pools, Patios & Driveways, Waterfront Construction (piers, bulkheads, boat lifts, rip rap, etc.) are based on the value of construction costs, calculated at:
$30.00 plus $5.00 per $1,000.00 value of construction or fraction thereafter, without limit, (i.e. $2,175: $3000 ÷ $1000 = 3; 3 x $5 = $15 + $30 = $45.00 + 2.0% ($.90) = $45.90) |
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| Demolition of any structure = $50.00 |
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Permit requirements for . . .
New House:
- 2 copies of the site plan which have been approved for location of construction by the Zoning Division, and in some cases, the Development Services Center (DSC); the site plan should include an address assigned by the Planning Department
- Two sets of building construction plans. The plans must be built in accordance with the City of Virginia Beach Climate and Geographic Design Criteria
- Receipt from Public Utilities showing that all water and sewer tap fees and Drain Fixture Unit (DFU) fees have been paid. If the house is being constructed in an area where City water and sewer are not available, an exemption letter from Public Utilities should be obtained.
- If the house will be serviced by a well and / or septic system, preliminary approval from the Health Department indicating the locations of the well and septic fields
- Sound attenuation measures
- Exterior Insulation Finishing System (EIFS)
- Building Permit Application completed with the following information:
- General contractor's State Registration number, company name, business address, phone number and signature of a designated employee (if general contractor is obtaining the permit)
- Property owner's name, current address, phone number and signature (if owner is obtaining the permit)
- Physical address of the new house
- Cost of construction for the house minus the electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing and land costs
- Size of the house in square feet with the living area listed separately from the non-living area (i.e. porches, decks, garages, etc.)
- Mechanic's Lien Agent (MLA) full name, address and phone number (if applicable)
Permit requirements for . . .
Residential Additions:
Includes room additions, decks, gazebos, screened-in porches, garages, carports, sheds and storage buildings (200 square feet or larger)
- 1 copy of the site plan or physical survey which has been approved for location of construction by the Zoning Division, and in some cases, the Development Services Center (DSC)
- Through-wall section drawing including: floor, foundation and elevation plans
- Description of materials being used (i.e. 2 x 6's, 2 x 8's, etc.)
- If any new plumbing fixtures are being installed, a receipt from Public Utilities showing that all Drain Fixture Unit (DFU) fees have been paid. If the house is being constructed in an area where City water and sewer are not available, an exemption letter from Public Utilities should be obtained.
- If house is served by well water and / or septic system, Health Department approval
- Sound attenuation measures
- Building Permit Application completed with the following information:
- If a building contractor: Class A, B or C State Contractor's Registration number, contract value for the building portion of the work, name of company, signature of a designated employee, name and phone number of customer, physical address of the house, and if there is another associated permit at the same address, that permit number
- If a homeowner: name, address, approximate cost of materials, signature, and if there is another associated permit at the same address, that permit number
- Size of the addition or new structure in square feet with living area listed separately from non-living area (i.e. porches, decks, garages, etc.)
- Mechanic's Lien Agent (MLA) full name, address and phone number (if applicable)
Permit requirements for . . .
Residential Alterations:
- Description of materials being used (i.e. 2 x 6's, 2 x 8's, etc.)
- Building Permit Application completed with the following information:
- If a building contractor: Class A, B or C State Contractor's Registration number, contract value for the building portion of the work, company name, signature of a designated employee, name and phone number of customer, physical address of the house, and if there is another associated permit at the same address, that permit number
- If a homeowner: name, address, approximate cost of materials, signature, and if there is another associated permit at the same address, that permit number
- Mechanic's Lien Agent (MLA) full name, address and phone number (if applicable)
The following requires additional information:
- For constructing, relocating, removing or altering a wall or other structural member
- Through-wall section drawing including: floor, foundation and elevation plans
- Floor plan
- Description of materials being used (i.e. 2 x 6's, 2 x 8's, etc.)
For other alterations (i.e. siding, roofing, etc.)
- If a building contractor: total contract value
- If a homeowner: approximate cost of materials
- Additionally, an asbestos exemption form filled out completely with property owner's name and address, and signature of contractor's representative (if contractor doing work) or property owner's signature (if owner doing work)
Permit requirements for . . .
Driveway/Driveway Apron
- 1 copy of the site plan or physical survey which has been approved for location of the driveway by the Zoning Division, and in some cases, the Development Services Center (DSC) B
- Building Permit Application completed with the following information:
- If a building contractor: Class A, B or C State Contractor's Registration number, total contract value for the driveway, company name, signature of a designated employee, name and phone number of customer, physical address of the house, and if there is another associated permit at the same address, that permit number If a homeowner: name, address, approximate cost of materials, signature, and if there is another associated permit at the same address, that permit number
Permit requirements for . . .
Pool, Hot Tub, or Spa?
- 1 copy of the site plan or physical survey which has been approved for location of pool or hot tub by the Zoning Division, and in some cases, the Development Services Center (DSC)
- Building Permit Application completed with the following information:
- If a building contractor: Class A, B or C State Contractor's Registration number, total contract value for the pool or hot tub and installation, company name, signature of a designated employee, name and phone number of customer, physical address of the house, and if there is another associated permit at the same address, that permit number
- If a homeowner: name, address, approximate cost of pool or hot tub, signature and if there is another associated permit at the same address, that permit number
When are residential building inspections required?
Building Inspections:
The usual required inspections for the various types of work are listed below. However, this is a generic list and may not be applicable to, or inclusive of, all situations.
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| New Buildings/Additions/ Storage: |
x |
x |
x |
x |
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| Interior Alterations Construction on Existing |
|
|
x |
x |
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| Foundations/Windows: |
|
|
|
x |
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| Siding/EIFS/Roofing/ Fences: |
|
|
|
x |
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| Construction Trailer: |
|
|
|
x |
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| Garages/Sheds over 200 Square Feet: |
x |
|
|
x |
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| In-Ground Pools: |
x |
|
|
x |
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| Above-Ground Pools: |
|
|
|
x |
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| Decks/Screened-in Porches: |
x |
|
|
x |
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How are residential building inspections scheduled?
Scheduling Building, Electrical, Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing Inspections:
The inspections are scheduled through Permits and Inspections Online Permitting Service which allows contractors and homeowners to schedule inspections, cancel inspections or reschedule inspections. Comments can be entered regarding ie. an approximate time or any relevant information concerning the inspection. Additionally, inspection results and release information are available. This system is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Inspections may be scheduled up to 5 working days in advance of the desired inspection date. However, inspections must be scheduled PRIOR to 8:00 am the day the inspection is desired. All inspections scheduled after 8:00 am will not be available for a same day inspection. It is recommended to schedule inspections no later than 7:45 am the day the inspection is desired to assure the information will be recorded in time.
After an inspection has been scheduled using the Permits and Inspections Online Permitting Service scheduling system, inspectors may be contacted between 8:00 am - 9:00 am the day of the inspection. The inspectors will arrange their daily work schedules and do not know what inspections have been requested prior to the inspection date.