Bon Air, VA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection

Street address

9800 Government Center Parkway, Chesterfield, VA 23832; Mailing: P.O. Box 40, Chesterfield, VA 23832

Phone

804-751-4990

Contact through county website: https://www.chesterfield.gov/223/Building-Inspection

Coverage

Bon Air is a Chesterfield County CDP associated with the Richmond metro area, but it is not an incorporated town or independent city. For Bon Air properties in Chesterfield County, permit administration is through Chesterfield County. Public Bon Air-specific permit guidance is thin. Bon Air also has historic-resource sensitivity because Chesterfield maintains historic landmark and certificate-of-appropriateness processes for designated properties.

Online portal

Enterprise Land Management (ELM)

Enterprise Land Management (ELM) citizen access portal

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Bon Air

Bon Air projects within Chesterfield County follow the same county permit triggers as other county locations, including structural work, additions, larger accessory buildings, demolition, regulated pools, retaining walls, and trade work.

Scope of work

Permit?

County-listed exempt work for qualifying projects, including ordinary repairs, many window and door replacements without structural change, small sheds, many fences, low-voltage work, and qualifying fixture replacements

Exempt

Exempt County-listed exempt work for qualifying projects, including ordinary repairs, many window and door replacements without structural change, small sheds, many fences, low-voltage work, and qualifying fixture replacements

Required documents

County permit applications
Plans and plot plans or plats
Any preservation, environmental, or zoning support materials needed for the specific site

Building code: 2021 Virginia Construction Code for applications dated on or after January 18, 2025.
Permit validity: Six months from last county activity on the permit.
Owner-builder: Same county homeowner-applicant and Virginia exemption rules apply.
Contractor requirements: Same county and Virginia licensure and business-license rules apply.

Source: Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No Bon Air-specific or countywide standard building permit review timeline was found on the public pages reviewed.

01

Confirm whether the Bon Air property is within Chesterfield County and whether any local historic landmark or certificate-of-appropriateness review applies in addition to the building permit.
02

Check zoning, setbacks, easements, Chesapeake Bay limits, floodplain constraints, and utility issues through county resources.
03

Prepare and submit the county permit application and plans through ELM or at the county office.
04

Pay county fees and respond to county review comments.
05

If the property is subject to historic landmark controls, obtain the needed preservation approval through Chesterfield's certificate-of-appropriateness process.
06

Receive the county permit, post it on site, and complete required inspections through county channels.

Typical processing time: No Bon Air-specific or countywide standard building permit review timeline was found on the public pages reviewed.

Source: Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Bon Air building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

No Bon Air-specific fee schedule exists; county fees apply.

Plan check fee

No separate Bon Air plan-check fee was published.

Permit fee formula

County flat-fee residential schedule and valuation-based commercial schedule, plus state levy.

Reinspection fee

County reinspection, not-ready, reinstatement, and code-investigation fees apply

Penalty (no permit)

County penalty fees for unpermitted work

Pay through Chesterfield County cashiering or ELM online payment.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

County ELM portal (online)
IVR (phone)

Inspection hours: County inspection hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Typical sequence: County sequence based on project type; structural and trade work generally moves from rough-stage inspections to finals.

Source: Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Bon Air permits

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

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

Building permit fees in Bon Air, VA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is No Bon Air-specific fee schedule exists; county fees apply.. Fees are calculated as: County flat-fee residential schedule and valuation-based commercial schedule, plus state levy.. Plan check fee: No separate Bon Air plan-check fee was published..

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

To apply for a building permit in Bon Air, VA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm whether the Bon Air property is within Chesterfield County and whether any local historic landmark or certificate-of-appropriateness review applies in addition to the building permit. 2. Check zoning, setbacks, easements, Chesapeake Bay limits, floodplain constraints, and utility issues through county resources. 3. Prepare and submit the county permit application and plans through ELM or at the county office. 4. Pay county fees and respond to county review comments. 5. If the property is subject to historic landmark controls, obtain the needed preservation approval through Chesterfield's certificate-of-appropriateness process. 6. Receive the county permit, post it on site, and complete required inspections through county channels.

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

Building permit processing times in Bon Air, VA typically run No Bon Air-specific or countywide standard building permit review timeline was found on the public pages reviewed.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in Bon Air, VA? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Bon Air, VA. The following work is generally exempt: County-listed exempt work for qualifying projects, including ordinary repairs, many window and door replacements without structural change, small sheds, many fences, low-voltage work, and qualifying fixture replacements. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Bon Air, VA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Bon Air, VA via: County ELM portal, IVR.

last verified April 2026 source Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection ↗ entry id permits/virginia/chesterfield/bon-air

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Bon Air

Other jurisdictions in Chesterfield County.