Midlothian, 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

Midlothian is a CDP in Chesterfield County, not an incorporated town or independent city. Permit issuance and inspections for Midlothian projects are handled by Chesterfield County. Midlothian-specific permit material is thin because there is no separate Midlothian local government permit office.

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 Midlothian

Same Chesterfield County permit triggers apply in Midlothian for structural work, additions, new construction, finish-offs, larger accessory structures, demolition, pools over the threshold, structural retaining walls, and trade work.

Scope of work

Permit?

County-listed exempt work for qualifying projects, including many ordinary repairs, small sheds, many fences, qualifying low-voltage work, like-for-like fixture replacements, and small pools

Exempt

Exempt County-listed exempt work for qualifying projects, including many ordinary repairs, small sheds, many fences, qualifying low-voltage work, like-for-like fixture replacements, and small pools

Required documents

County permit applications
Plans and plats or plot plans
Department-specific support documents

Building code: 2021 Virginia Construction Code for applications dated on or after January 18, 2025.
Permit validity: Six months from last activity under the county rule.
Owner-builder: County guidance allows the homeowner or contractor doing the work to apply for qualifying projects.
Contractor requirements: Virginia licensure rules apply, and county forms require licensure or exemption certification and applicable business-license compliance.

Source: Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: No Midlothian-specific or countywide public building permit review timeline was posted on the pages reviewed.

01

Treat Midlothian jobs as Chesterfield County permits because Midlothian has no separate permitting department.
02

Confirm county zoning, setback, easement, floodplain, Chesapeake Bay, historic, and utility constraints before submittal.
03

Assemble the county application, plans, plot plan, and any required sealed design documents or supporting forms.
04

Submit through ELM or at the county Building Inspection office.
05

Pay county fees and respond to plan-review comments from the relevant county departments.
06

Receive the county-issued permit, keep the permit posted, and maintain approved plans on site.
07

Schedule county inspections and complete final approvals before occupancy or closeout.

Typical processing time: No Midlothian-specific or countywide public building permit review timeline was posted on the pages reviewed.

Source: Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Midlothian building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

No separate Midlothian schedule exists; county fees apply.

Plan check fee

No separate Midlothian plan-check fee was published.

Permit fee formula

County mixed schedule of flat residential fees and valuation-based commercial fees, both with state levy.

Reinspection fee

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

Penalty (no permit)

County penalty fees for unpermitted work

Pay through county channels, including ELM online payments and county cashier methods.

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)

Scheduling deadline: Inspections may be requested up to five business days out.
Inspection hours: County inspection hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Typical sequence: County sequence tied to permit type, commonly foundation or slab, rough framing and trades, insulation, and finals.

Source: Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Midlothian permits

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

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

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

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

To apply for a building permit in Midlothian, VA, follow these steps: 1. Treat Midlothian jobs as Chesterfield County permits because Midlothian has no separate permitting department. 2. Confirm county zoning, setback, easement, floodplain, Chesapeake Bay, historic, and utility constraints before submittal. 3. Assemble the county application, plans, plot plan, and any required sealed design documents or supporting forms. 4. Submit through ELM or at the county Building Inspection office. 5. Pay county fees and respond to plan-review comments from the relevant county departments. 6. Receive the county-issued permit, keep the permit posted, and maintain approved plans on site. 7. Schedule county inspections and complete final approvals before occupancy or closeout.

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

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

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

Not all construction work requires a permit in Midlothian, VA. The following work is generally exempt: County-listed exempt work for qualifying projects, including many ordinary repairs, small sheds, many fences, qualifying low-voltage work, like-for-like fixture replacements, and small pools. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

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

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Midlothian, VA via: County ELM portal, IVR. Inspections may be requested up to five business days out..

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

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.

Midlothian

Other jurisdictions in Chesterfield County.