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

1. Confirm that the property is inside the incorporated Town of New Castle and contact the town's Zoning Administrator to determine whether town zoning review or planning commission approval is required before filing the building permit. 2. Complete any required town zoning review in parallel with preparing the building permit application package. 3. Prepare the Craig County building permit application package, which is the same package used for unincorporated county properties: building and zoning permit application, site plan, building plans, sewage disposal approval, VDOT entrance permit if applicable, and erosion or stormwater materials as required. 4. Submit the application to Craig County Building & Zoning through Cloudpermit online, by email to permits@craigcountyva.gov, or in person at the Craig County office. 5. County staff reviews the application for building, zoning, floodplain, and erosion and sediment compliance. Additional drawings or engineering may be required. 6. Pay the county-calculated permit and zoning fees upon county notification. 7. Obtain the county-issued permit, post it on site, schedule required county inspections as work progresses, and obtain final approval before occupancy when applicable.

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

Inspections can be scheduled via: (540) 864-5010 (Craig County Building & Zoning), permits@craigcountyva.gov.

City Building Permits

Town of New Castle, VA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

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

Virginia Craig County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

New Castle is an incorporated town within Craig County, not an independent city. Building permits are issued by Craig County Building & Zoning, not by a separate town building department. The Town of New Castle maintains a Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator who may have a separate zoning review role for in-town projects. Applicants inside town limits should confirm any town zoning sign-off or planning review before filing the building permit application with Craig County.

Department: Craig County Building & Zoning (building permits); Town of New Castle Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator (town zoning)
Address: Town of New Castle, 339 Market St., New Castle, VA 24127; Craig County Building & Zoning at 108 Court Street, New Castle, VA 24127
Phone: (540) 864-2200 (Town of New Castle); (540) 864-5010 (Craig County Building & Zoning)
Email: permits@craigcountyva.gov
Website: https://craigcountyva.gov/town-of-new-castle/

Online Permit Portal

Open Cloudpermit

Platform: Cloudpermit • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online or in-person

Additional resources:

Application Process

Confirm that the property is inside the incorporated Town of New Castle and contact the town's Zoning Administrator to determine whether town zoning review or planning commission approval is required before filing the building permit.
Complete any required town zoning review in parallel with preparing the building permit application package.
Prepare the Craig County building permit application package, which is the same package used for unincorporated county properties: building and zoning permit application, site plan, building plans, sewage disposal approval, VDOT entrance permit if applicable, and erosion or stormwater materials as required.
Submit the application to Craig County Building & Zoning through Cloudpermit online, by email to permits@craigcountyva.gov, or in person at the Craig County office.
County staff reviews the application for building, zoning, floodplain, and erosion and sediment compliance. Additional drawings or engineering may be required.
Pay the county-calculated permit and zoning fees upon county notification.
Obtain the county-issued permit, post it on site, schedule required county inspections as work progresses, and obtain final approval before occupancy when applicable.

Source: Craig County Building & Zoning (building permits); Town of New Castle Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator (town zoning)

General Requirements

Building permit triggers follow the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code because Craig County is the verified building-permit issuing authority for New Castle. A permit is required before construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal, or demolition of a building or structure, and before structural, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fuel-gas, or fire-protection work. Town zoning approval may be an added prerequisite for in-town parcels.

Required Documents

Completed Craig County building and zoning permit application
Site plan or plot plan showing lot lines, roads, setbacks, structures, utilities, and septic or well locations
Building plans in paper or PDF with structural and life-safety details
Health Department sewage disposal permit or approval letter, or Craig County PSA approval, as applicable
VDOT entrance permit if a new entrance is needed
Erosion and sediment agreement in lieu for qualifying single-family projects; additional erosion or stormwater materials when disturbance thresholds are met
Responsible land disturber information if disturbance exceeds 10,000 square feet
Owner-builder affidavit if the owner is proceeding without licensed-contractor status
Any town zoning approval or planning commission determination required for in-town projects

Permit validity: Building permits are county-issued. Under 13VAC5-63-100, a permit may be revoked if work does not commence within 6 months after issuance or if work is suspended or abandoned for 6 months. Written extensions may be granted, up to 1 year per extension. For new detached single-family dwellings, additions, and residential accessory structures, the building official may require a 3-year completion limit.
Building code: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (2021 USBC, effective January 18, 2024), incorporating the 2021 I-Codes with Virginia amendments, administered through Craig County Building & Zoning.
Owner-builder: Owner-builder rules for building permits follow the Craig County process. The county's Owner-Builder Affidavit cites Code of Virginia Sections 54.1-1111, 54.1-1115, and 54.1-1101. The state exemption for an owner building no more than one primary residence for the owner's own use during any 24-month period applies.
Contractor requirements: Contractor licensing requirements follow Craig County and Virginia DPOR rules. Craig County's application requires the contractor name, Virginia license number, and expiration date. Virginia USBC Section 108.4 requires proof of contractor licensure or a written exemption statement before permit issuance.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Craig County Building & Zoning (building permits); Town of New Castle Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator (town zoning) to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

(540) 864-5010 (Craig County Building & Zoning) (phone)
permits@craigcountyva.gov (email)

Typical inspection sequence: Building inspections for New Castle properties are conducted by Craig County Building & Zoning. Typical sequence includes: erosion controls before land disturbance; footing; foundation; framing; and final approval before occupancy. Contact Craig County Building & Zoning for project-specific inspection requirements.

Additional Resources

Building code: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (2021 USBC, effective January 18, 2024), incorporating the 2021 I-Codes with Virginia amendments, administered through Craig County Building & Zoning.
Verify contractor license: Virginia DPOR License Lookup
Zoning information: View zoning info
Owner-builder rules: View rules
Craig County Full Permit Packet (PDF)
Craig County Building & Zoning
Craig County Zoning Ordinance
Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code
Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors
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 Craig County Building & Zoning (building permits); Town of New Castle Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator (town zoning) before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Town of New Castle Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Town of New Castle, VA?: Building permit triggers follow the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code because Craig County is the verified building-permit issuing authority for New Castle. A permit is required before construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal, or demolition of a building or structure, and before structural, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fuel-gas, or fire-protection work. Town zoning approval may be an added prerequisite for in-town parcels.
How do I apply for a building permit in Town of New Castle, VA?: 1. Confirm that the property is inside the incorporated Town of New Castle and contact the town's Zoning Administrator to determine whether town zoning review or planning commission approval is required before filing the building permit. 2. Complete any required town zoning review in parallel with preparing the building permit application package. 3. Prepare the Craig County building permit application package, which is the same package used for unincorporated county properties: building and zoning permit application, site plan, building plans, sewage disposal approval, VDOT entrance permit if applicable, and erosion or stormwater materials as required. 4. Submit the application to Craig County Building & Zoning through Cloudpermit online, by email to permits@craigcountyva.gov, or in person at the Craig County office. 5. County staff reviews the application for building, zoning, floodplain, and erosion and sediment compliance. Additional drawings or engineering may be required. 6. Pay the county-calculated permit and zoning fees upon county notification. 7. Obtain the county-issued permit, post it on site, schedule required county inspections as work progresses, and obtain final approval before occupancy when applicable.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Town of New Castle, VA?: Inspections can be scheduled via: (540) 864-5010 (Craig County Building & Zoning), permits@craigcountyva.gov.

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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.