Clifton, VA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Town of Clifton Town Clerk / Planning Commission / Architectural Review Board; Fairfax County Land Development Services as building official for county building permits

Street address

12641 Chapel Rd, Clifton, VA 20124

Phone

571-781-2404

clerk@cliftonva.gov

Coverage

The Town of Clifton is a legally separate town inside Fairfax County. The town administers local use-permit, historic-overlay, and ARB approvals, while Fairfax County issues and inspects building permits.

Online portal

Town Applications and FAQs

Town website forms and email intake; no dedicated online permit portal

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Clifton

Town approvals are required for additions, new structures, many exterior changes, fences over 6 feet, home businesses, changes in use, subdivisions, and other zoning or historic-district actions; Fairfax County building permits are still required where county code triggers apply.

Scope of work

Permit?

Storm windows and front-step repairs do not need town approval unless a Fairfax County building permit is required

Exempt

Exempt Storm windows and front-step repairs do not need town approval unless a Fairfax County building permit is required

Note: The town does not issue permits or inspect purely internal work such as plumbing, electrical, drywall modifications, and stabilizations, but town sign-off may still be required before Fairfax County will accept the county permit application

Required documents

Use Permit application
ARB certificate of appropriateness application
Design drawings
For internal work: emailed drawing set requesting a town sign-off letter for Fairfax County

Building code: Fairfax County administers the building permit and inspection function; the town pages do not publish a separate local building-code edition summary.
Permit validity: Town website states Use Permits expire 3 months after notice that BPOL is delinquent; no broader building-permit validity summary was found on the public town pages.
Owner-builder: No separate owner-builder rule was found on the town pages reviewed.
Contractor requirements: Fairfax County and Virginia contractor rules govern county building permits; the Town of Clifton also requires BPOL licensing for businesses operating in town.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Public pages do not provide a formal turnaround estimate; the Planning Commission generally meets the last Tuesday of the month and the ARB generally meets the last Thursday of the month if applications have been received.

01

Confirm the property is actually within the Town of Clifton boundaries using Fairfax County real-estate records.
02

For internal work, email clerk@cliftonva.gov with drawings to obtain the town sign-off letter needed before Fairfax County will accept the county permit application.
03

For exterior work, additions, new buildings, fences, sheds, and similar projects, obtain the required town approvals first, which may include a use permit from the Planning Commission or Town Council and a certificate of appropriateness from the ARB.
04

If the project affects setbacks, obtain Board of Zoning Appeals relief where required.
05

After town approvals, obtain the Fairfax County building permit signed by the Mayor or designated representative where required.
06

After construction, return to the town for final use-permit closure where the FAQ says final town conditions must be demonstrated as satisfied.

Typical processing time: Public pages do not provide a formal turnaround estimate; the Planning Commission generally meets the last Tuesday of the month and the ARB generally meets the last Thursday of the month if applications have been received.

Source: Town of Clifton Town Clerk / Planning Commission / Architectural Review Board; Fairfax County Land Development Services as building official for county building permits ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Clifton building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$75.00 for all other construction and other use permits

Plan check fee

No separate town plan-check fee was clearly posted in the reviewed public pages.

Permit fee formula

Town FAQ lists use-permit fees of $250 for additions to existing buildings or other new residential construction over $25,000, $500 for new home or commercial construction, $250 plus advertising costs for new special use permits or new bed and breakfast use permits, $75 plus advertising costs for amendments to those permits, and $75 for all other construction and other use permits; separate Fairfax County building-permit fees also apply.

Reinspection fee

Public town pages reviewed did not post a separate reinspection fee; BPOL delinquency can affect permit status.

Town maintains a payments portal, but the reviewed permit pages do not explain permit-payment mechanics in detail.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Fairfax County (building and trade inspections) or Town boards/staff (town approvals) (other)

Typical sequence: Town approvals first, Fairfax County building inspections during construction, then final town demonstration that preliminary use-permit conditions were satisfied so a final use permit can issue. Fairfax County handles building and trade inspections for county-issued permits; town final approval items are handled through town boards and staff rather than a posted inspection portal

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Clifton permits

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

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

Building permit fees in Clifton, VA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $75.00 for all other construction and other use permits. Fees are calculated as: Town FAQ lists use-permit fees of $250 for additions to existing buildings or other new residential construction over $25,000, $500 for new home or commercial construction, $250 plus advertising costs for new special use permits or new bed and breakfast use permits, $75 plus advertising costs for amendments to those permits, and $75 for all other construction and other use permits; separate Fairfax County building-permit fees also apply.. Plan check fee: No separate town plan-check fee was clearly posted in the reviewed public pages..

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

To apply for a building permit in Clifton, VA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the property is actually within the Town of Clifton boundaries using Fairfax County real-estate records. 2. For internal work, email clerk@cliftonva.gov with drawings to obtain the town sign-off letter needed before Fairfax County will accept the county permit application. 3. For exterior work, additions, new buildings, fences, sheds, and similar projects, obtain the required town approvals first, which may include a use permit from the Planning Commission or Town Council and a certificate of appropriateness from the ARB. 4. If the project affects setbacks, obtain Board of Zoning Appeals relief where required. 5. After town approvals, obtain the Fairfax County building permit signed by the Mayor or designated representative where required. 6. After construction, return to the town for final use-permit closure where the FAQ says final town conditions must be demonstrated as satisfied.

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

Building permit processing times in Clifton, VA typically run Public pages do not provide a formal turnaround estimate; the Planning Commission generally meets the last Tuesday of the month and the ARB generally meets the last Thursday of the month if applications have been received.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

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

Not all construction work requires a permit in Clifton, VA. The following work is generally exempt: Storm windows and front-step repairs do not need town approval unless a Fairfax County building permit is required. Note: The town does not issue permits or inspect purely internal work such as plumbing, electrical, drywall modifications, and stabilizations, but town sign-off may still be required before Fairfax County will accept the county permit application When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

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

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Clifton, VA via: Fairfax County (building and trade inspections) or Town boards/staff (town approvals).

last verified April 2026 source Town of Clifton Town Clerk / Planning Commission / Architectural Review Board; Fairfax County Land Development Services as building official for county building permits ↗ entry id permits/virginia/fairfax/clifton

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Town of Clifton Town Clerk / Planning Commission / Architectural Review Board; Fairfax County Land Development Services as building official for county building permits before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Town of Clifton

Other jurisdictions in Fairfax County.