On this page 6
§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Buckingham County
Buckingham County enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC). Permits are required before construction or demolition of a building or structure; for structural work; for changes to egress, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, mechanical, fuel-supply, and other regulated equipment; for certain occupancy changes; for lot-line moves that reduce safety; and for asbestos-related disturbance during construction or demolition.
One-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not exceeding 256 square feet (if not Group F-1 or H occupancy)
Utility prefabricated buildings up to 150 square feet
Tents or air-supported structures of 900 square feet or less with occupant load of 50 or less
Fences of any height, unless used as a swimming-pool barrier or required for pedestrian safety
Concrete or masonry walls up to six feet high
Retaining walls supporting less than three feet of unbalanced fill (with applicable limitations)
Swimming pools not greater than 150 square feet and less than 24 inches deep
Replacement of aboveground LP-gas containers of the same capacity in the same location when installed by the serving gas supplier
Flagpoles 30 feet or less in height
Temporary ramps serving certain dwelling occupancies where the entrance is no more than 30 inches above grade
Minor ordinary work deemed by the building official not to adversely affect public health or safety
Ordinary repairs such as like-for-like window and door replacement without framing changes, replacement plumbing fixtures without system alteration, certain receptacles and switches, some non-gas/non-oil mechanical appliance replacement, qualifying roof covering, limited roof decking replacement, flooring, cabinetry and trim, paint and wallpaper
- Exempt One-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not exceeding 256 square feet (if not Group F-1 or H occupancy)
- Exempt Utility prefabricated buildings up to 150 square feet
- Exempt Tents or air-supported structures of 900 square feet or less with occupant load of 50 or less
- Exempt Fences of any height, unless used as a swimming-pool barrier or required for pedestrian safety
- Exempt Concrete or masonry walls up to six feet high
- Exempt Retaining walls supporting less than three feet of unbalanced fill (with applicable limitations)
- Exempt Swimming pools not greater than 150 square feet and less than 24 inches deep
- Exempt Replacement of aboveground LP-gas containers of the same capacity in the same location when installed by the serving gas supplier
- Exempt Flagpoles 30 feet or less in height
- Exempt Temporary ramps serving certain dwelling occupancies where the entrance is no more than 30 inches above grade
- Exempt Minor ordinary work deemed by the building official not to adversely affect public health or safety
- Exempt Ordinary repairs such as like-for-like window and door replacement without framing changes, replacement plumbing fixtures without system alteration, certain receptacles and switches, some non-gas/non-oil mechanical appliance replacement, qualifying roof covering, limited roof decking replacement, flooring, cabinetry and trim, paint and wallpaper
Note: These exemptions are drawn from Virginia USBC Section 108.2 and apply unless the building official requires a permit due to historic-district or flood-hazard conditions. Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning requirements. Confirm with Buckingham County Building Inspections before proceeding.
Required documents
- Completed county building permit application
- Approved zoning permit
- Project description
- Owner, applicant, and contact information
- Tax map number and zoning district
- Flood-zone and dam-break inundation information
- Utility information
- Dimensions, square footage, setbacks, and estimated construction cost
- Contractor name and Virginia license information, or written exemption statement if not subject to licensure
- For zoning permits: plat and site plan (unless application is only for a perk test)
- Additional documents may be required for special project types such as farm structures
- Building code
- 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Codes (effective January 18, 2024)
- Permit validity
- An application is deemed abandoned after six months if not pursued in good faith or if no permit is issued. A building permit may be revoked if work does not commence within six months after issuance or is suspended or abandoned for six months. For new detached single-family dwellings, additions, and residential accessory structures, the building official may require a three-year completion limit from permit issuance.
- Owner-builder
- Virginia contractor law exempts a person who performs or supervises construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use during any 24-month period. Even when exempt from contractor licensure, the person must comply with the USBC. Certain exempt owners must obtain a certificate of occupancy before conveying the property to a third-party purchaser unless the purchaser acknowledges otherwise in writing.
- Contractor requirements
- Before permit issuance, applicants must provide satisfactory proof of Virginia contractor licensure or certification, or file a written statement that the applicant is not subject to licensure. Proof that any required county taxes or license fees have been paid is also required. DPOR's Board for Contractors regulates state contractor licensing.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: Not publicly stated by the county. Under the Virginia USBC, review must occur within a reasonable time and issuance must follow as soon as practicable for compliant applications.
- 01 Confirm whether the parcel is in unincorporated Buckingham County or inside the Town of Dillwyn. If in Dillwyn, obtain town zoning approval first.
- 02 Obtain a Buckingham County zoning permit for county-zoned property. The zoning permit application requires a plat and site plan (unless applying only for a perk test) and a $10.00 fee.
- 03 Prepare the building permit package. Include the completed county building permit application with the approved zoning permit attached. Incomplete applications may be rejected.
- 04 Provide all required project details: owner and applicant information, tax map number, zoning district, flood-zone and dam-break inundation answers, utilities, work classification, square footage, setbacks, estimated construction cost, and contractor/license information if applicable.
- 05 Submit the application to Buckingham County Building Inspections and pay permit fees in the Treasurer's Office. No permit is issued until fees are paid.
- 06 County staff review the application. Under the Virginia USBC, compliant applications must be issued as soon as practicable.
- 07 Schedule required inspections by calling (434) 969-4243 option 2. The Permit Tech will set up an appointment with the Inspector.
- 08 Complete all required inspections and obtain final approval and any required certificate of occupancy.
Typical processing time: Not publicly stated by the county. Under the Virginia USBC, review must occur within a reasonable time and issuance must follow as soon as practicable for compliant applications.
§ 04
Fee schedule
Buckingham County building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$125.00 for new one- and two-family dwellings or additions; $50.00 for new commercial structures, alterations, repairs, pools, mobile homes, and mobile offices; $25.00 for accessory residential structures and electrical, plumbing, or mechanical-only permits; $25.00 for demolition permits
02
Plan check fee
Not separately stated; review cost is included in the permit fee.
03
Permit fee formula
New residential structures and additions: $0.23/sq ft gross area. Attached/detached garages, sheds, decks, porches (50 sq ft or larger): $0.11/sq ft gross area. Pools, hot tubs, spas: $0.23/sq ft. Mobile homes and prefabricated homes: $0.23/sq ft. New commercial structures and additions: $0.11/sq ft gross area. Mobile offices and pre-manufactured units: $0.23/sq ft. Alterations and repairs with no increase in gross area: $0.23/sq ft of floor area affected. Electrical-only, plumbing-only, mechanical-only permits: $0.02/sq ft. A mandatory 2% state levy is added to all building permit fees. County zoning permit: $10.00 flat fee.
04
Trade permit fee
$25.00 minimum for electrical, plumbing, or mechanical-only permits; $0.02/sq ft formula applies.
05
Reinspection fee
$50.00 per inspection after the second inspection of the same work. One reinspection is included within the permit fee.
Fees must be paid before permit issuance. Payment is made in cash or check payable to the County of Buckingham in the Treasurer's Office. Refunds are available on written request within six months if an application is withdrawn or voided after review but before work starts; the county retains $20.00 for processing plus any direct costs.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- (434) 969-4243 option 2 (phone)
- Schedule an Inspection page (online)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Typical sequence: The county specifically references foundation, electrical, and final inspections. A full project-specific inspection sequence is not published online. Contact the Permit Tech when scheduling for project-specific guidance.
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Buckingham County permits
01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA? ▸
Buckingham County enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC). Permits are required before construction or demolition of a building or structure; for structural work; for changes to egress, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, mechanical, fuel-supply, and other regulated equipment; for certain occupancy changes; for lot-line moves that reduce safety; and for asbestos-related disturbance during construction or demolition.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $125.00 for new one- and two-family dwellings or additions; $50.00 for new commercial structures, alterations, repairs, pools, mobile homes, and mobile offices; $25.00 for accessory residential structures and electrical, plumbing, or mechanical-only permits; $25.00 for demolition permits. Fees are calculated as: New residential structures and additions: $0.23/sq ft gross area. Attached/detached garages, sheds, decks, porches (50 sq ft or larger): $0.11/sq ft gross area. Pools, hot tubs, spas: $0.23/sq ft. Mobile homes and prefabricated homes: $0.23/sq ft. New commercial structures and additions: $0.11/sq ft gross area. Mobile offices and pre-manufactured units: $0.23/sq ft. Alterations and repairs with no increase in gross area: $0.23/sq ft of floor area affected. Electrical-only, plumbing-only, mechanical-only permits: $0.02/sq ft. A mandatory 2% state levy is added to all building permit fees. County zoning permit: $10.00 flat fee.. Plan check fee: Not separately stated; review cost is included in the permit fee..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm whether the parcel is in unincorporated Buckingham County or inside the Town of Dillwyn. If in Dillwyn, obtain town zoning approval first. 2. Obtain a Buckingham County zoning permit for county-zoned property. The zoning permit application requires a plat and site plan (unless applying only for a perk test) and a $10.00 fee. 3. Prepare the building permit package. Include the completed county building permit application with the approved zoning permit attached. Incomplete applications may be rejected. 4. Provide all required project details: owner and applicant information, tax map number, zoning district, flood-zone and dam-break inundation answers, utilities, work classification, square footage, setbacks, estimated construction cost, and contractor/license information if applicable. 5. Submit the application to Buckingham County Building Inspections and pay permit fees in the Treasurer's Office. No permit is issued until fees are paid. 6. County staff review the application. Under the Virginia USBC, compliant applications must be issued as soon as practicable. 7. Schedule required inspections by calling (434) 969-4243 option 2. The Permit Tech will set up an appointment with the Inspector. 8. Complete all required inspections and obtain final approval and any required certificate of occupancy.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA typically run Not publicly stated by the county. Under the Virginia USBC, review must occur within a reasonable time and issuance must follow as soon as practicable for compliant applications.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA. The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not exceeding 256 square feet (if not Group F-1 or H occupancy); Utility prefabricated buildings up to 150 square feet; Tents or air-supported structures of 900 square feet or less with occupant load of 50 or less; Fences of any height, unless used as a swimming-pool barrier or required for pedestrian safety; Concrete or masonry walls up to six feet high; Retaining walls supporting less than three feet of unbalanced fill (with applicable limitations); Swimming pools not greater than 150 square feet and less than 24 inches deep; Replacement of aboveground LP-gas containers of the same capacity in the same location when installed by the serving gas supplier; Flagpoles 30 feet or less in height; Temporary ramps serving certain dwelling occupancies where the entrance is no more than 30 inches above grade; Minor ordinary work deemed by the building official not to adversely affect public health or safety; Ordinary repairs such as like-for-like window and door replacement without framing changes, replacement plumbing fixtures without system alteration, certain receptacles and switches, some non-gas/non-oil mechanical appliance replacement, qualifying roof covering, limited roof decking replacement, flooring, cabinetry and trim, paint and wallpaper. Note: These exemptions are drawn from Virginia USBC Section 108.2 and apply unless the building official requires a permit due to historic-district or flood-hazard conditions. Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning requirements. Confirm with Buckingham County Building Inspections before proceeding. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Buckingham County, VA via: (434) 969-4243 option 2, Schedule an Inspection page.
last verified April 2026
source Buckingham County Building Inspections ↗
entry id permits/virginia/buckingham/buckingham-county
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Buckingham County Building Inspections before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.