Unincorporated Giles County

A permit must be obtained before starting new construction or other building operations that require a building permit under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

• Exempt One-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses not exceeding 256 square feet
• Exempt Fences of any height (unless required for pedestrian safety or as a pool barrier)
• Exempt Concrete or masonry walls not exceeding six feet above finished grade
• Exempt Retaining walls supporting less than three feet of unbalanced fill
• Exempt Small pools not greater than 150 square feet and less than 24 inches deep (qualifying installations only)
• Exempt Flagpoles 30 feet or less in height
• Exempt Ordinary repairs such as qualifying window and door replacements, fixture replacements, certain non-gas and non-oil appliance replacements, limited roofing and roof-deck replacements, cabinetry and trim work, and paint or wallpaper

Note: No public county-specific exempt-work list was found on the Giles County Building, Planning and Zoning page. The items above reflect Virginia USBC section 108.2 statewide exemptions. The building official may require a permit in floodplain or special conditions even for otherwise exempt work. Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning, floodplain, or other requirements. Confirm any claimed exemption directly with Giles County Department of Building, Planning and Zoning before proceeding.

Building code

Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC). Virginia's 2021 code cycle, including the 2021 Virginia Construction Code and the 2020 National Electrical Code, became effective January 18, 2024.

Owner-builder

Giles County publishes an owner-builder affidavit. The owner signing the affidavit is the responsible party for the work.

Contractor requirements

Giles County links to the Virginia DPOR contractor license lookup, indicating state contractor licensing requirements apply. Virginia USBC section 108.4 requires either proof of licensure or a written statement that the applicant is not subject to contractor licensure.

Source: Giles County Department of Building, Planning and Zoning ↗

1. 01
   Confirm the project location and whether it lies in unincorporated Giles County, or in a town with separate local routing. Glen Lyn, Pembroke, and Rich Creek route to Giles County; Pearisburg has its own building official.
2. 02
   Download the applicable Giles County permit and support forms from the county Building, Planning and Zoning page. Forms include the building permit application, owner-builder affidavit, zoning certificate, floodplain permit, manufactured home setup requirements, and single-family plan requirements as applicable.
3. 03
   Assemble the complete application package with all required supporting documents, plans, and forms for your project type.
4. 04
   Submit the completed application package and supporting plans to the Giles County Department of Building, Planning and Zoning at 1 Taylor Avenue, Suite 2, Pearisburg, VA 24134.
5. 05
   Pay the required permit fee per the county fee schedule before the county issues a permit. No permit to begin work will be issued until required fees have been paid.
6. 06
   Schedule required inspections through the county building office as work progresses and obtain final approval before occupancy or project closeout.

Source: Giles County Department of Building, Planning and Zoning ↗

• (540) 921-2527 (Giles County Building, Planning and Zoning) (phone)

Typical sequence: Giles County does not publish a single public inspection-sequence chart. Under Virginia USBC section 113.3, minimum applicable inspections include: footing excavation and reinforcement, foundation systems, preparatory work before concrete placement, structural members and fasteners before concealment, electrical/mechanical/plumbing before concealment, energy-conservation materials before concealment, and final inspection. Floodplain projects may require lowest-floor elevation documentation before further vertical construction and before final inspection.

Source: Giles County Department of Building, Planning and Zoning ↗