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§ VA Accomack County
City building permits

Town of Tangier

How to apply for a building permit in Town of Tangier, Virginia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Accomack County Building and Zoning Office (building permits and inspections for Tangier)

Street address
23296 Courthouse Avenue, Suite 203, Accomac, VA 23301
Phone
757-787-5721
Email
building@co.accomack.va.us
Coverage
Accomack County enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code within the Town of Tangier. County zoning does not apply inside incorporated towns; applicants should confirm any town-side zoning, floodplain, or other local requirements directly with the Town before filing with the County. Note that Tangier Island is an offshore island with limited access; applicants should confirm logistics and any island-specific requirements with the County Building Office before proceeding.
Online portal
ACCESS Online Permit Portal
ACCESS — Accomack County Construction and Environmental Self-Service
Website
Department website
Additional resources
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Tangier

Accomack County USBC rules govern the actual building permit. Town-side land-use controls and island-specific requirements may also apply; confirm with the Town and County before starting work.

Installation of qualifying low-voltage wiring and equipment under the USBC exemption language
One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 200 square feet, unless another rule applies
Limited roof shingle replacement on an area of 10 feet by 10 feet
Window replacement
Other USBC Section 108.2 exempt work listed on the County permit-requirements page
  • Exempt Installation of qualifying low-voltage wiring and equipment under the USBC exemption language
  • Exempt One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 200 square feet, unless another rule applies
  • Exempt Limited roof shingle replacement on an area of 10 feet by 10 feet
  • Exempt Window replacement
  • Exempt Other USBC Section 108.2 exempt work listed on the County permit-requirements page

Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning or town requirements. Tangier Island is in a coastal area with heightened floodplain and wetlands requirements — even small accessory structures may require a permit in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Confirm with Accomack County and the Town of Tangier before proceeding.

Required documents
  • Accomack County building permit application
  • Required County forms (site plan, non-licensed contractor affidavit or owner consent if applicable, Health Department form if needed, flood documents if required)
  • Any town-side prerequisite documents as required by the Town of Tangier
Building code
2021 Virginia code package administered by Accomack County (effective January 18, 2024).
Permit validity
Accomack County permits are valid for six months after issue; construction must have started within six months. A six-month extension is available (maximum two extensions).
Owner-builder
County non-licensed contractor affidavit and owner consent form available for non-licensed applicants.
Contractor requirements
Virginia DPOR contractor licensing and County permit declaration requirements apply.

Source: Accomack County Building and Zoning Office (building permits and inspections for Tangier) ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No town-specific estimate found. County inspection requests with at least 24 hours notice will be performed within two working days.

  1. 01
    Contact the Town of Tangier and the Accomack County Building Office to confirm island-specific logistics, any town-side prerequisites, and whether any additional floodplain, coastal, or wetlands approvals are required.
  2. 02
    If no separate town-side intake applies, proceed with Accomack County's ordinary building-permit process through the ACCESS portal or at the County Building Office.
  3. 03
    If the town requires a prerequisite approval, secure that approval before County filing.
  4. 04
    Complete County plan review, payment, and permit issuance, then post the permit card and schedule inspections as work progresses.

Typical processing time: No town-specific estimate found. County inspection requests with at least 24 hours notice will be performed within two working days.

Source: Accomack County Building and Zoning Office (building permits and inspections for Tangier) ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Tangier building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
See Accomack County fee schedule. Residential new construction minimum $173.40 (including 2% state levy); residential alterations minimum $128.52.
02
Permit fee formula
County mixed schedule: residential new construction $0.37/sq ft; residential remodeling $0.28/sq ft; administrative flat fees for many permit events.
03
Reinspection fee
$75.00
04
Penalty (no permit)
$105.00 first offense (work started before permit); $420.00 each subsequent offense.

County ACCESS portal supports online payment.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • 757-787-5721 (phone)
  • 757-824-5223 (alternate) (phone)
  • building@co.accomack.va.us (email)
  • ACCESS portal (online)
Scheduling deadline
Requests require at least 24 hours notice. Inspections performed within two working days. Contact the County Building Office in advance to confirm inspection scheduling logistics for Tangier Island.
Inspection hours
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays.

Typical sequence: County standard sequence: footing, foundation, slab or under-slab work, framing and structural members before concealment, rough trade inspections before concealment, energy-conservation inspection, flood-elevation certificate checkpoints where applicable, and final inspection.

Source: Accomack County Building and Zoning Office (building permits and inspections for Tangier) ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Tangier permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Tangier, VA? ▸
Accomack County USBC rules govern the actual building permit. Town-side land-use controls and island-specific requirements may also apply; confirm with the Town and County before starting work.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Tangier, VA? ▸
Building permit fees in Tangier, VA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is See Accomack County fee schedule. Residential new construction minimum $173.40 (including 2% state levy); residential alterations minimum $128.52.. Fees are calculated as: County mixed schedule: residential new construction $0.37/sq ft; residential remodeling $0.28/sq ft; administrative flat fees for many permit events..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Tangier, VA? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Tangier, VA, follow these steps: 1. Contact the Town of Tangier and the Accomack County Building Office to confirm island-specific logistics, any town-side prerequisites, and whether any additional floodplain, coastal, or wetlands approvals are required. 2. If no separate town-side intake applies, proceed with Accomack County's ordinary building-permit process through the ACCESS portal or at the County Building Office. 3. If the town requires a prerequisite approval, secure that approval before County filing. 4. Complete County plan review, payment, and permit issuance, then post the permit card and schedule inspections as work progresses.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Tangier, VA? ▸
Building permit processing times in Tangier, VA typically run No town-specific estimate found. County inspection requests with at least 24 hours notice will be performed within two working days.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Tangier, VA? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Tangier, VA. The following work is generally exempt: Installation of qualifying low-voltage wiring and equipment under the USBC exemption language; One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 200 square feet, unless another rule applies; Limited roof shingle replacement on an area of 10 feet by 10 feet; Window replacement; Other USBC Section 108.2 exempt work listed on the County permit-requirements page. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning or town requirements. Tangier Island is in a coastal area with heightened floodplain and wetlands requirements — even small accessory structures may require a permit in the Special Flood Hazard Area. Confirm with Accomack County and the Town of Tangier before proceeding. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Tangier, VA? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Tangier, VA via: 757-787-5721, 757-824-5223 (alternate), building@co.accomack.va.us, ACCESS portal. Requests require at least 24 hours notice. Inspections performed within two working days. Contact the County Building Office in advance to confirm inspection scheduling logistics for Tangier Island..
last verified April 2026 source Accomack County Building and Zoning Office (building permits and inspections for Tangier) ↗ entry id permits/virginia/accomack/tangier
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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Accomack County Building and Zoning Office (building permits and inspections for Tangier) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

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