Albemarle County, VA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Covers unincorporated Albemarle County. Also serves as the actual building-permit issuer for structural building permits on parcels in the incorporated Town of Scottsville that are on the Albemarle County side of town. Separate town zoning or ARB review may still apply in Scottsville.

Department

Albemarle County Community Development Department

Address

401 McIntire Road, North Wing, Charlottesville, VA 22902

Phone

434-296-5832

Email

applicationservices@albemarle.org

Website

https://www.albemarle.org/government/community-development/apply-for/building-permit

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the project needs a building permit, a zoning-only review, or another Community Development approval. The county building page lists permit triggers, zoning-only items such as sheds under 256 square feet and retaining walls 3 feet or less, and warns applicants to call before assuming an exemption applies.
2. Prepare the required plans and supporting documents. For residential work, Albemarle posts a Residential Permit Application Checklist requiring digital PDF drawings with foundation, floor, framing, roof, wall-section, elevation, energy, and any applicable fireplace and fire-separation details.
3. If the work changes the footprint of a structure, show the proposed work on the most recent plat with distances to property lines. The county also recommends using GIS mapping when environmentally sensitive areas such as 25 percent slopes or stream buffers are present.
4. Submit the application through Civic Access and upload all required documents. Inspections, tracking, and comments are handled through the Civic Access portal.
5. Pay permit and review fees. Camino-submitted permits can be paid by credit card through Camino; online permits can use the county's digital payment software. In-person permits are paid by check or exact cash at the front desk or by mail. The county does not accept credit cards at the front desk.
6. Respond to county review comments and supply revised materials until the permit is approved.
7. After issuance, post the permit and request required inspections through the Civic Access portal.

Source: Albemarle County Community Development Department

General Requirements

A building permit application and approved permit are required before construction or demolition of a building or structure; structural, wall, egress, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, mechanical, fuel supply, and other USBC-regulated work; change of occupancy when a new certificate of occupancy is required; lot-line moves that reduce building safety; and disturbance of asbestos-containing materials during construction or demolition.

Required Documents

• County permit application
• Digital PDF construction drawings meeting the Residential Permit Application Checklist where applicable
• Most recent plat with setbacks for new structures or footprint changes
• GIS mapping for sensitive-area parcels when environmentally sensitive areas such as steep slopes or stream buffers are present
• Owner, contractor, and project information
• Any specialty documents the plans reviewer requires

Permit validity

Virginia Construction Code rules apply: an application is abandoned after 6 months if not pursued in good faith, and a permit may be revoked if work does not start within 6 months or is suspended or abandoned for 6 months, with extensions available on written request. For detached single-family dwellings and related additions and accessory structures, the building official may impose a 3-year completion limit.

Building code

Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2021 cycle

Owner-builder

The county's public pages do not post a separate owner-builder affidavit. Virginia code allows an owner to apply if exempt from contractor licensure, but the applicant must satisfy state-law licensure or exemption prerequisites.

Contractor requirements

Albemarle links directly to the Virginia contractor license lookup. Virginia code requires proof of DPOR licensure or a written exemption statement before permit issuance. County pages also link applicants to the Albemarle County Business License page.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$90 for most core building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit categories; some residential accessory and plan-review categories have lower minimums such as $35 and $10

Plan check fee

Building — Commercial Plan Review: $0.04 per sq. ft. up to 5,000 sq. ft. plus $0.03 per sq. ft. over 5,000 with $15 minimum. Building — Residential Plan Review: $0.05 per sq. ft. with $10 minimum. Trade plan-review fees are also posted separately.

Permit fee formula

Mostly square-foot, fixture-count, or flat-fee based. Alterations, additions, and repairs of structures: $0.20 per sq. ft. with $90 minimum. New commercial: $0.24 per sq. ft. up to 5,000 sq. ft. plus $0.17 per sq. ft. over 5,000 with $90 minimum. New single-family residential: tiered from $500 to $4,000 by size. Residential accessory structures: $0.18 per sq. ft. with $35 minimum. Plumbing additions or repairs: $10 per fixture with $90 minimum.

Reinspection fee

$100 for each inspection performed after the second inspection of the same work

Penalty (no permit)

$250 administrative fee for working without a permit. Permit extension request: $75. Addition or change in contractor after permit issuance: $35.

Payment note

Online submissions can use online credit-card processing. Front-desk payments are by check or exact cash only; no credit cards accepted at the front desk. A non-refundable processing fee is added to online credit-card or eCheck payments.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Ordinary building maintenance including repair or replacement of 100 square feet or less of roof covering in one- and two-family dwellings
• Repair or replacement of existing siding, interior and exterior painting, wallpapering, and paneling
• Same-opening replacement of windows or doors in one- and two-family dwellings
• Replacement of trim or moldings
• Replacement of kitchen cabinets
• Replacement of flooring or carpet
• Replacement of screens
• Replacement of leaders or gutters
• Ordinary plumbing maintenance including replacement of fixtures and faucets in one- and two-family dwellings
• Ordinary electrical maintenance including replacement of receptacles and switches in one- and two-family dwellings
• Ordinary mechanical maintenance including replacement of above-ground LP-gas containers of the same capacity in the same location when installed by the serving gas supplier
• Replacement of nongas and nonoil mechanical appliances in one- and two-family dwellings
• Retaining walls less than 3 feet in height (zoning approval is still required)
• Tool sheds and playhouses under 256 square feet (zoning approval and health department approval may still be required)
• Flagpoles 30 feet or less in height (zoning approval is still required)
• Patios, tents or air-supported structures under 900 square feet, fences not required for safety or pool barriers, and flagpoles generally do not require a building and zoning application per county guidance

Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm with Albemarle County Community Development before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Civic Access portal (online)

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (walk-in lobby hours)

Typical inspection sequence: Inspection sequence is project-specific and coordinated through the assigned inspector and Civic Access. No consolidated mandatory inspection checklist was found on county public pages.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2021 cycle
• Verify contractor license: Virginia DPOR License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Inspector Contact Information
• Pre-Application Meeting Request
• Building Code Information
• County GIS Mapping
• License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Albemarle County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Albemarle County, VA?

A building permit application and approved permit are required before construction or demolition of a building or structure; structural, wall, egress, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, mechanical, fuel supply, and other USBC-regulated work; change of occupancy when a new certificate of occupancy is required; lot-line moves that reduce building safety; and disturbance of asbestos-containing materials during construction or demolition.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Albemarle County, VA?

The minimum permit fee is $90 for most core building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit categories; some residential accessory and plan-review categories have lower minimums such as $35 and $10. Fees are calculated as: Mostly square-foot, fixture-count, or flat-fee based. Alterations, additions, and repairs of structures: $0.20 per sq. ft. with $90 minimum. New commercial: $0.24 per sq. ft. up to 5,000 sq. ft. plus $0.17 per sq. ft. over 5,000 with $90 minimum. New single-family residential: tiered from $500 to $4,000 by size. Residential accessory structures: $0.18 per sq. ft. with $35 minimum. Plumbing additions or repairs: $10 per fixture with $90 minimum.. Plan check fee: Building — Commercial Plan Review: $0.04 per sq. ft. up to 5,000 sq. ft. plus $0.03 per sq. ft. over 5,000 with $15 minimum. Building — Residential Plan Review: $0.05 per sq. ft. with $10 minimum. Trade plan-review fees are also posted separately..

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Albemarle County, VA?

1. Confirm whether the project needs a building permit, a zoning-only review, or another Community Development approval. The county building page lists permit triggers, zoning-only items such as sheds under 256 square feet and retaining walls 3 feet or less, and warns applicants to call before assuming an exemption applies. 2. Prepare the required plans and supporting documents. For residential work, Albemarle posts a Residential Permit Application Checklist requiring digital PDF drawings with foundation, floor, framing, roof, wall-section, elevation, energy, and any applicable fireplace and fire-separation details. 3. If the work changes the footprint of a structure, show the proposed work on the most recent plat with distances to property lines. The county also recommends using GIS mapping when environmentally sensitive areas such as 25 percent slopes or stream buffers are present. 4. Submit the application through Civic Access and upload all required documents. Inspections, tracking, and comments are handled through the Civic Access portal. 5. Pay permit and review fees. Camino-submitted permits can be paid by credit card through Camino; online permits can use the county's digital payment software. In-person permits are paid by check or exact cash at the front desk or by mail. The county does not accept credit cards at the front desk. 6. Respond to county review comments and supply revised materials until the permit is approved. 7. After issuance, post the permit and request required inspections through the Civic Access portal.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Albemarle County, VA?

The following work is generally exempt: Ordinary building maintenance including repair or replacement of 100 square feet or less of roof covering in one- and two-family dwellings; Repair or replacement of existing siding, interior and exterior painting, wallpapering, and paneling; Same-opening replacement of windows or doors in one- and two-family dwellings; Replacement of trim or moldings; Replacement of kitchen cabinets; Replacement of flooring or carpet; Replacement of screens; Replacement of leaders or gutters; Ordinary plumbing maintenance including replacement of fixtures and faucets in one- and two-family dwellings; Ordinary electrical maintenance including replacement of receptacles and switches in one- and two-family dwellings; Ordinary mechanical maintenance including replacement of above-ground LP-gas containers of the same capacity in the same location when installed by the serving gas supplier; Replacement of nongas and nonoil mechanical appliances in one- and two-family dwellings; Retaining walls less than 3 feet in height (zoning approval is still required); Tool sheds and playhouses under 256 square feet (zoning approval and health department approval may still be required); Flagpoles 30 feet or less in height (zoning approval is still required); Patios, tents or air-supported structures under 900 square feet, fences not required for safety or pool barriers, and flagpoles generally do not require a building and zoning application per county guidance. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Confirm with Albemarle County Community Development before proceeding.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Albemarle County, VA?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Civic Access portal.