Amherst, VA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Town of Amherst Planning and Zoning (administered by Town Manager as Zoning Administrator)

Street address

174 S. Main Street, Amherst, VA 24521

Phone

434-946-7885

townhall@amherstva.gov

Coverage

The Town of Amherst is an incorporated town inside Amherst County, not an independent city. The Town handles zoning certificates, zoning administration, site plans, rezonings, special use permits, variances, sign permits, and related land-use approvals. Amherst County Building Safety and Inspections (not the Town) issues building permits and performs building inspections for projects inside the Town. Applicants must obtain Town zoning approval before submitting a building permit application to Amherst County.

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Amherst

A Town zoning certificate is required for most major construction projects or changes in the use of land, including building additions, new houses, signs, sheds, and operating a business from a residence. After Town zoning approval, a building permit from Amherst County is also required for regulated construction work.

Note: No separate Town public exempt-work list for zoning certificates was found. Contact Town of Amherst Planning and Zoning at 434-946-7885 to confirm whether your project requires a Town zoning certificate before starting work. For building permit exempt-work, refer to the Virginia Construction Code and Amherst County Building Safety and Inspections.

Required documents

Zoning certificate application (for administrative approvals)
Cover letter (for applications requiring board or council action)
Signed application
Site plan or other appropriate drawings (for applications requiring board or council action)
Required application fee (for applications requiring board or council action)
Amherst County erosion and sediment control permit (if applicable)
VDOT entrance permit (if applicable)

Building code: Construction must conform with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Amherst County administers the 2021 Virginia Construction Code (VCC), 2021 Virginia Residential Code (VRC), 2021 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (VSFP), and 2020 NEC, effective January 18, 2024.
Permit validity: The Town zoning certificate expires 365 days after approval.
Owner-builder: No separate Town owner-builder rule applies. Building-permit owner-builder issues are handled through Amherst County Building Safety and Inspections and Virginia contractor-licensing law.
Contractor requirements: The Town does not license contractors separately for building-code purposes. Building permits are issued by Amherst County. State contractor licensing is regulated by the Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors. A separate Town business license may be required for business activity in Town.

Source: Town of Amherst Planning and Zoning (administered by Town Manager as Zoning Administrator) ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Administrative zoning certificates: no standard review time posted. Applications requiring public hearings: several weeks due to notice requirements and hearing schedule. Board of Zoning Appeals matters: Virginia Code requires action within 90 days of receipt of the application.

01

Confirm the project is inside the corporate limits of the Town of Amherst. If yes, begin with Town zoning review before applying to Amherst County for the building permit.
02

For most major construction or changes in land use (building additions, new houses, signs, sheds, operating a business from a residence), obtain a Town zoning certificate.
03

For routine administrative zoning approvals, submit the zoning certificate application to the Town Manager, who serves as Zoning Administrator. Most such requests are handled administratively and no fee is charged.
04

If the proposal requires Planning Commission, Town Council, or Board of Zoning Appeals action, submit a cover letter, signed application, site plan or other appropriate drawings, and the required fee to the Town Manager.
05

For rezonings and special use permits, the Town Manager reports the application to the Planning Commission at its next regular meeting, followed by a public hearing. The Planning Commission forwards a recommendation to Town Council, which then schedules its own public hearing.
06

For variances and appeals, the application goes to the Board of Zoning Appeals chair for scheduling of the required public hearing.
07

Once all Town zoning issues are resolved and the zoning permit or approval is issued, proceed to Amherst County Building Safety and Inspections at 153 Washington St, Amherst, VA 24521 (phone: 434-946-9302) to apply for the building permit, land-disturbance permit, and any other required county permits.

Typical processing time: Administrative zoning certificates: no standard review time posted. Applications requiring public hearings: several weeks due to notice requirements and hearing schedule. Board of Zoning Appeals matters: Virginia Code requires action within 90 days of receipt of the application.

Source: Town of Amherst Planning and Zoning (administered by Town Manager as Zoning Administrator) ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective FY 2025-2026

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$0 for most administrative zoning permits

Permit fee formula

Mostly flat fees where a public hearing or board action is required. Verified figures: no fee for most administrative zoning permits; $150 for a variance; $300 for other Board of Zoning Appeals applications.

Public materials do not describe online fee payment for zoning applications. Fees for hearing-driven applications are tied to the zoning and subdivision ordinance.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective FY 2025-2026) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Amherst County Building Safety and Inspections: 434-946-9302 (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Call Amherst County Building Inspections by 5:00 p.m. the day before the requested inspection. Sprinkler-system inspections require 48 hours notice.
Inspection hours: Town Hall hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Building inspections are conducted by Amherst County (8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Typical sequence: Building inspections are performed by Amherst County Building Safety and Inspections, not the Town. Town zoning review precedes the county building permit step; there is no separate Town building inspection sequence.

Source: Town of Amherst Planning and Zoning (administered by Town Manager as Zoning Administrator) ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Amherst permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Amherst, VA? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Amherst, VA? ▸

Building permit fees in Amherst, VA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $0 for most administrative zoning permits. Fees are calculated as: Mostly flat fees where a public hearing or board action is required. Verified figures: no fee for most administrative zoning permits; $150 for a variance; $300 for other Board of Zoning Appeals applications..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Amherst, VA? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Amherst, VA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the project is inside the corporate limits of the Town of Amherst. If yes, begin with Town zoning review before applying to Amherst County for the building permit. 2. For most major construction or changes in land use (building additions, new houses, signs, sheds, operating a business from a residence), obtain a Town zoning certificate. 3. For routine administrative zoning approvals, submit the zoning certificate application to the Town Manager, who serves as Zoning Administrator. Most such requests are handled administratively and no fee is charged. 4. If the proposal requires Planning Commission, Town Council, or Board of Zoning Appeals action, submit a cover letter, signed application, site plan or other appropriate drawings, and the required fee to the Town Manager. 5. For rezonings and special use permits, the Town Manager reports the application to the Planning Commission at its next regular meeting, followed by a public hearing. The Planning Commission forwards a recommendation to Town Council, which then schedules its own public hearing. 6. For variances and appeals, the application goes to the Board of Zoning Appeals chair for scheduling of the required public hearing. 7. Once all Town zoning issues are resolved and the zoning permit or approval is issued, proceed to Amherst County Building Safety and Inspections at 153 Washington St, Amherst, VA 24521 (phone: 434-946-9302) to apply for the building permit, land-disturbance permit, and any other required county permits.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Amherst, VA? ▸

Building permit processing times in Amherst, VA typically run Administrative zoning certificates: no standard review time posted. Applications requiring public hearings: several weeks due to notice requirements and hearing schedule. Board of Zoning Appeals matters: Virginia Code requires action within 90 days of receipt of the application.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Amherst, VA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Amherst, VA via: Amherst County Building Safety and Inspections: 434-946-9302. Call Amherst County Building Inspections by 5:00 p.m. the day before the requested inspection. Sprinkler-system inspections require 48 hours notice..

last verified April 2026 source Town of Amherst Planning and Zoning (administered by Town Manager as Zoning Administrator) ↗ entry id permits/virginia/amherst/town-of-amherst

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Town of Amherst Planning and Zoning (administered by Town Manager as Zoning Administrator) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Town of Amherst

Other jurisdictions in Amherst County.