How much does a building permit cost in Town of Berryville, VA?

The minimum permit fee is Sign permits $35; residential accessory-building zoning permits $50; fence permits $50; residential additions $75; residential zoning permit $300; commercial or industrial zoning permit $350. Fees are calculated as: Mostly flat fees, with some per-acre, per-dwelling-unit, per-parking-space, disturbed-acre, and consultant-cost components. Rezoning base fee $5,500 plus $2,000 per acre after the first acre; residential site-development plans $2,500 plus $150 per dwelling unit; erosion-control permits $650 base plus $75 per disturbed acre.. Plan check fee: Site-development-plan review fees function as the Town's principal development-plan review charges. Consulting services billed at cost where required..

How do I apply for a building permit in Town of Berryville, VA?

1. Determine whether the project needs a Town zoning permit, sign permit, land development application, subdivision action, variance, ARB Certificate of Appropriateness, utility approval, or right-of-way permit before any County building permit is issued. 2. Download the applicable Town form from the Berryville Community Development pages. Publicly posted forms include zoning permit, sign permit, land development application, variance application, and ARB submission materials. 3. Submit the application to the Town Community Development Department with required plans, sketches, drawings, and supporting information. 4. If the property is in a local or national historic district or otherwise subject to ARB review, obtain ARB approval and the Town's Certificate of Appropriateness. Town staff issue the zoning permit and Certificate of Appropriateness after ARB approval. 5. Pay the Town zoning or development fees to the Town Treasurer at time of application submission. 6. If the work also requires a building permit, submit the building permit package to Clarke County Building Department after or alongside the Town review. Building permits are issued by Clarke County, not the Town. 7. Schedule any required building inspections through Clarke County Building Department at 540-955-5112 or permits@clarkecounty.gov.

What work is exempt from building permits in Town of Berryville, VA?

The following work is generally exempt: Signs covered by Town zoning ordinance Section 307.2; Repainting or minor structural repairs that do not exceed the dimensions of an existing sign; Changing advertising copy or messages on an approved painted or printed sign, theater marquee, or similar sign designed for replaceable copy. Note: The above exemptions apply to Town sign permits only. For structural building-permit exemptions, Clarke County and the Virginia USBC exemption list apply. Exempt from permit does not mean exempt from zoning or planning requirements. Confirm with the Town Community Development Department or Clarke County Building Department before proceeding.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Town of Berryville, VA?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Clarke County Building Department: 540-955-5112, permits@clarkecounty.gov. Provide 3 to 5 business days notice to Clarke County Building Department..

City Building Permits

Town of Berryville, VA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Town of Berryville, Virginia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Virginia Clarke County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Berryville is an incorporated town. The Town maintains its own zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinance, comprehensive plan, and erosion and sediment control program. Clarke County Building Department provides building code inspection and enforcement services to the Town and issues all building permits for work within Berryville.

Department: Town of Berryville Community Development Department (zoning and land use); Clarke County Building Department (building permits)
Address: 101 Chalmers Court, Suite A, Berryville, VA 22611
Phone: 540-955-4081
Email: planner@berryvilleva.gov
Website: https://www.berryvilleva.gov/2152/Planning-Zoning

Application Process

Determine whether the project needs a Town zoning permit, sign permit, land development application, subdivision action, variance, ARB Certificate of Appropriateness, utility approval, or right-of-way permit before any County building permit is issued.
Download the applicable Town form from the Berryville Community Development pages. Publicly posted forms include zoning permit, sign permit, land development application, variance application, and ARB submission materials.
Submit the application to the Town Community Development Department with required plans, sketches, drawings, and supporting information.
If the property is in a local or national historic district or otherwise subject to ARB review, obtain ARB approval and the Town's Certificate of Appropriateness. Town staff issue the zoning permit and Certificate of Appropriateness after ARB approval.
Pay the Town zoning or development fees to the Town Treasurer at time of application submission.
If the work also requires a building permit, submit the building permit package to Clarke County Building Department after or alongside the Town review. Building permits are issued by Clarke County, not the Town.
Schedule any required building inspections through Clarke County Building Department at 540-955-5112 or permits@clarkecounty.gov.

Typical processing time: No public Berryville zoning-review or ARB turnaround estimate published. Clarke County building plan review is 20 to 30 business days.

Source: Town of Berryville Community Development Department (zoning and land use); Clarke County Building Department (building permits)

General Requirements

The Town Community Development Department handles land use and zoning matters, sign permits, and variances. Zoning permits are required for structures, fences, signs, site plans, and additions. A sign permit is required before a sign is erected, altered, or relocated except for enumerated exceptions. Structural building permits are issued by Clarke County Building Department under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Required Documents

Relevant Town application form
Site sketch or site plan
Photographs, drawings, plans, or other documentation for ARB review (if applicable)
Sign details including area, dimensions, materials, location, mounting, and illumination details (for sign permits)
Any additional information required by the Zoning Administrator under the Town ordinance

Permit validity: A sign permit becomes null and void if the work is not completed within 6 months of issuance; the Zoning Administrator may grant one extension of up to 6 additional months on written request. For building permits, Clarke County and 2021 VCC expiration rules apply.
Building code: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code — 2021 Virginia code set, effective January 18, 2024 (enforced by Clarke County Building Department)
Owner-builder: No Berryville-specific owner-builder requirement found for Town zoning permits. For structural building permits, Clarke County's owner-contractor affidavit requirement applies.
Contractor requirements: For building permits, Clarke County requires proof of Virginia contractor licensure (regulated by DPOR) for general contractors. Berryville posts contractor certification and workers' compensation forms in its Business Forms library for Town-side business operations.

Fees

Minimum permit fee: Sign permits $35; residential accessory-building zoning permits $50; fence permits $50; residential additions $75; residential zoning permit $300; commercial or industrial zoning permit $350
Plan check fee: Site-development-plan review fees function as the Town's principal development-plan review charges. Consulting services billed at cost where required.
Permit fee formula: Mostly flat fees, with some per-acre, per-dwelling-unit, per-parking-space, disturbed-acre, and consultant-cost components. Rezoning base fee $5,500 plus $2,000 per acre after the first acre; residential site-development plans $2,500 plus $150 per dwelling unit; erosion-control permits $650 base plus $75 per disturbed acre.
Payment note: Payment of all applicable zoning and subdivision fees must be made to the Town Treasurer at the time of application submission. Convenience fees apply for online bill payments, but permit materials do not confirm that Community Development fees are payable through that system.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Signs covered by Town zoning ordinance Section 307.2
Repainting or minor structural repairs that do not exceed the dimensions of an existing sign
Changing advertising copy or messages on an approved painted or printed sign, theater marquee, or similar sign designed for replaceable copy

Important: The above exemptions apply to Town sign permits only. For structural building-permit exemptions, Clarke County and the Virginia USBC exemption list apply. Exempt from permit does not mean exempt from zoning or planning requirements. Confirm with the Town Community Development Department or Clarke County Building Department before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Clarke County Building Department: 540-955-5112 (phone)
permits@clarkecounty.gov (email)

Scheduling deadline: Provide 3 to 5 business days notice to Clarke County Building Department.
Inspection hours: Town Community Development: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Clarke County Building Department: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.).

Typical inspection sequence: Structural and building-code inspections are handled by Clarke County Building Department. Town-side materials do not publish a separate building-inspection sequence.

Additional Resources

Building code: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code — 2021 Virginia code set, effective January 18, 2024 (enforced by Clarke County Building Department)
Verify contractor license: Virginia DPOR License Lookup
Zoning information: View zoning info
ARB Submission Guidelines
Clarke County Building Department
License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Town of Berryville Community Development Department (zoning and land use); Clarke County Building Department (building permits) before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Town of Berryville Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Town of Berryville, VA?: The Town Community Development Department handles land use and zoning matters, sign permits, and variances. Zoning permits are required for structures, fences, signs, site plans, and additions. A sign permit is required before a sign is erected, altered, or relocated except for enumerated exceptions. Structural building permits are issued by Clarke County Building Department under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
How much does a building permit cost in Town of Berryville, VA?: The minimum permit fee is Sign permits $35; residential accessory-building zoning permits $50; fence permits $50; residential additions $75; residential zoning permit $300; commercial or industrial zoning permit $350. Fees are calculated as: Mostly flat fees, with some per-acre, per-dwelling-unit, per-parking-space, disturbed-acre, and consultant-cost components. Rezoning base fee $5,500 plus $2,000 per acre after the first acre; residential site-development plans $2,500 plus $150 per dwelling unit; erosion-control permits $650 base plus $75 per disturbed acre.. Plan check fee: Site-development-plan review fees function as the Town's principal development-plan review charges. Consulting services billed at cost where required..
How do I apply for a building permit in Town of Berryville, VA?: 1. Determine whether the project needs a Town zoning permit, sign permit, land development application, subdivision action, variance, ARB Certificate of Appropriateness, utility approval, or right-of-way permit before any County building permit is issued. 2. Download the applicable Town form from the Berryville Community Development pages. Publicly posted forms include zoning permit, sign permit, land development application, variance application, and ARB submission materials. 3. Submit the application to the Town Community Development Department with required plans, sketches, drawings, and supporting information. 4. If the property is in a local or national historic district or otherwise subject to ARB review, obtain ARB approval and the Town's Certificate of Appropriateness. Town staff issue the zoning permit and Certificate of Appropriateness after ARB approval. 5. Pay the Town zoning or development fees to the Town Treasurer at time of application submission. 6. If the work also requires a building permit, submit the building permit package to Clarke County Building Department after or alongside the Town review. Building permits are issued by Clarke County, not the Town. 7. Schedule any required building inspections through Clarke County Building Department at 540-955-5112 or permits@clarkecounty.gov.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Town of Berryville, VA?: Typical processing time is No public Berryville zoning-review or ARB turnaround estimate published. Clarke County building plan review is 20 to 30 business days..
What work is exempt from building permits in Town of Berryville, VA?: The following work is generally exempt: Signs covered by Town zoning ordinance Section 307.2; Repainting or minor structural repairs that do not exceed the dimensions of an existing sign; Changing advertising copy or messages on an approved painted or printed sign, theater marquee, or similar sign designed for replaceable copy. Note: The above exemptions apply to Town sign permits only. For structural building-permit exemptions, Clarke County and the Virginia USBC exemption list apply. Exempt from permit does not mean exempt from zoning or planning requirements. Confirm with the Town Community Development Department or Clarke County Building Department before proceeding.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Town of Berryville, VA?: Inspections can be scheduled via: Clarke County Building Department: 540-955-5112, permits@clarkecounty.gov. Provide 3 to 5 business days notice to Clarke County Building Department..

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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