Unincorporated Fauquier County

A building permit is required for most new construction or alterations to buildings and for most electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work. A zoning permit is required before any structure is placed on a property and before a property is used for any activity other than agriculture, horticulture, or forestry. Agricultural buildings still require zoning permits. Grading or excavation also requires zoning review.

• Exempt One-story accessory residential structures under 256 square feet, subject to zoning compliance
• Exempt Fences (do not require a County building permit)
• Exempt Ordinary repair work such as replacing toilets, sinks, electrical fixtures, switches, or appliances in the same location, so long as fixtures are not moved and the appliance is not fuel-fired

Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning requirements. Other USBC exemption categories may still apply. Confirm with the Fauquier County Department of Community Development, Building, Permitting & Inspections before proceeding.

Building code

2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, effective January 18, 2024

Permit validity

The application is deemed abandoned after 6 months if not pursued in good faith. A permit may be revoked if work does not begin within 6 months after issuance or is suspended or abandoned for 6 months. The Building Official may impose a 3-year completion limit for new detached single-family dwellings, additions to detached single-family dwellings, and residential accessory structures.

Owner-builder

An owner may pull permits if the owner meets DPOR owner-builder criteria, including that the work is on the owner's primary residence and that permits have not been pulled for another property within the prior 24 months, subject to statutory exemptions.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must hold the appropriate Virginia license as required by the state through DPOR and must also possess a Fauquier County business license or exemption affidavit.

Source: Fauquier County Department of Community Development, Building, Permitting & Inspections ↗

1. 01
   Confirm whether the project needs a zoning permit, building permit, land-disturbing permit, Health Department approval, VDOT entrance permit, Water and Sanitation Authority approval, floodplain review, or other prerequisite approvals.
2. 02
   Complete the combined Fauquier County Zoning/Building Permit Application and collect any supporting forms such as contractor identification, soils form, asbestos certification, in lieu of agreement, or trade forms.
3. 03
   Submit the complete package to the County. For parcels in the Town of Remington or the Town of The Plains, include the Town-approved zoning permit instead of a County zoning permit.
4. 04
   County zoning and building staff review concurrently. The County's goal is to complete the initial building-plan review within three weeks of submission, though actual timing varies by volume.
5. 05
   Respond to correction comments if plans are returned. Once approved, the applicant or agent is contacted to pay remaining fees.
6. 06
   Obtain the issued permit and approved plans, post the placard on site, and keep stamped plans available during construction.
7. 07
   Schedule inspections through the County as work reaches required stages and obtain a final inspection and certificate of occupancy where required before use or occupancy.

Typical processing time: County goal for initial building-plan review is within three weeks of submission. Residential trade permits are issued over the counter the same day when the application is complete.

Source: Fauquier County Department of Community Development, Building, Permitting & Inspections ↗

Base or minimum fee is paid at submission; balance is paid before issuance. Fees payable by exact cash, check (payable to Treasurer, Fauquier County), or in-person credit card. A convenience fee is added to credit card transactions. A 10 percent technology surcharge is added to each transaction, and a 2 percent Virginia fee levy applies where applicable.

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

• 540-422-8230 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

3:00 p.m. is the cutoff to schedule for the next day if space allows. Inspections are typically available the next business day but can run 2 to 3 days out during peak periods.

Time windows

After 8:30 a.m. on the inspection day staff can usually provide a 2-hour inspection window.

Typical sequence: Every permit requires a final inspection. Most permits require inspections at specific intervals before final. Typical sequence includes footing, foundation, framing, trade, and final inspections depending on scope. Commercial inspections other than finals may be handled through the County third-party inspection program.

Source: Fauquier County Department of Community Development, Building, Permitting & Inspections ↗