Gloucester County, VA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Gloucester County is a Virginia county locality. No incorporated towns with separate building-permit authority were identified within county limits. Gloucester County Building Inspection is the permit authority countywide. Planning and Zoning handles zoning permits and commercial site-plan review; Environmental Programs administers land-disturbance, Chesapeake Bay, stormwater, floodplain, and wetlands approvals.

Department

Gloucester County Building Inspection

Address

6489 Main St., Suite 247, Gloucester, VA 23061

Phone

804-693-2744

Email

BuildingInspectionsStaff@gloucesterva.info

Website

https://gloucesterva.gov/building-inspection

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the correct review path before filing. Work may require permits from Building Inspection, Planning and Zoning, or Environmental Programs — or parallel approvals from more than one department. Commercial and multifamily development may require county site-plan review; land disturbance over 2,500 square feet requires a land-disturbance permit; floodplain work in a special flood hazard area requires floodplain review; and tidal wetlands work requires Wetlands Board approval.
2. Download and complete the correct application package. Building Inspection publishes separate forms for building, zoning, demolition, sign, trade, plan-review-only, floodplain, and owner-affidavit filings. Planning and Zoning publishes site-plan, rezoning, conditional use permit, subdivision, and zoning forms. Environmental Programs publishes land-disturbance, Chesapeake Bay, stormwater, and wetlands applications.
3. Submit the package through the applicable pathway. Building permits may be submitted in person at 6489 Main St., by mail, or by email if plan size permits. Site-plan submittals must be sent electronically via a secure link requested from siteplans@gloucesterva.info. Environmental applications may be submitted by email, mail, or in person.
4. Include all required supporting materials for the chosen path. Site-plan submissions require the electronic plan set, site-plan application, site-plan checklist, erosion and sediment checklist, stormwater checklist, project narrative, site-plan fee, and stormwater registration statement plus 50% of the VSMP permit fee when applicable. Wetlands applications require project drawings and proceed to a Wetlands Board public hearing.
5. Pay the applicable fees. Planning and Zoning requires an application number before accepting fee payment. Environmental Programs accepts online card or e-check payment, mailed check, or Treasurer drop-box payment and allows payment after emailed submission once an application number is assigned.
6. Receive the permit and complete required inspections. Building permits may be picked up in person; trade permits may be emailed; permits may also be mailed depending on plan size. Request each inspection by phone, provide the permit number, and proceed through the required inspection sequence to final approval and certificate of occupancy.

Typical processing time: No countywide public turnaround estimate is published. The Site Plan Committee meets on the second Monday of each month at 3:00 p.m. and the fourth Monday of each month at 8:30 a.m. Inspection requests made before 4:00 p.m. are generally attempted the next business day, pending workload.

Source: Gloucester County Building Inspection

General Requirements

Permits are required for construction or improvements in a flood zone; altered, constructed, converted, demolished, enlarged, improved, or repaired buildings and structures; new houses and other structures; alterations and renovations; decks; ramps and wheelchair lifts; pools and pool barriers; piers, boathouses, boatlifts, retaining walls, bulkheads, and finger piers; foundation repair; sheathing and floor joists; commercial reroofing and structural residential reroofing; new windows or doors when openings are added or enlarged; attic or basement conversions; demolition; solar panels and windmills; signs; tenant and commercial buildouts; change of use; asbestos removal; tents over 900 square feet; construction trailers; amusement devices; electrical, plumbing, and mechanical trade work; and elevators. Land disturbance over 2,500 square feet requires a county land-disturbance permit. Tidal wetlands activities such as bulkheads, riprap, groins, piers, marinas, and boat ramps require wetlands authorization.

Required Documents

• Completed building, zoning, demolition, trade, or applicable application form
• Construction documents and site plan where required
• Owner affidavit (Property Owners Affidavit) for owner-builders not subject to contractor licensure
• Floodplain development form for work in a special flood hazard area
• For site-plan projects: electronic PDF plan set, site-plan application, site-plan checklist, erosion and sediment checklist, stormwater checklist, and project narrative
• For wetlands projects: project drawings and Joint Permit Application for related state and federal wetland review

Permit validity

Permits are valid for 6 months from issuance, or 6 months from the last passed inspection when there is inspection activity. Contact Building Inspection by phone or email to request an extension before expiration. Expired permits may be renewed for $35. Wetlands Board permits are valid for 3 years from board approval and may be extended upon written request and board approval at a public hearing.

Building code

Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (2021 Virginia Construction Code, effective January 18, 2024; 2020 National Electrical Code)

Owner-builder

Gloucester publishes a Property Owners Affidavit for owners who affirm they are not subject to contractor licensure under Code of Virginia Section 54.1-1111. The form is available from Building Inspection.

Contractor requirements

Trade permit applications require the Virginia state contractor license number, tradesman license number, and city or county business license number. Contractor licensing is regulated at the state level by Virginia DPOR.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$35.00 minimum building permit fee; $35.00 zoning permit (all others category)

Plan check fee

Residential plan review: $50.00. Commercial or industrial plan review: $150.00. Plan review fees are required with the application and are non-refundable.

Permit fee formula

Mixed schedule. Residential building permits: $0.12 per square foot. Accessory structures (decks, sheds, detached garages, piers, bulkheads): $0.10 per square foot. Commercial and industrial permits: $0.20 per square foot. Demolition: $35 flat. Zoning permits: $35 flat. Signs: $35 base plus area-based adders on the building fee sheet ($50 under current planning fee schedule). Site-plan review: $500 plus $50 per acre of disturbance or fraction thereof. Residential development plans: $500 plus $50 per acre. Residential erosion and sediment fees: $45 for first acre plus $5 per additional acre or fraction. Commercial erosion and sediment fees: $300 base plus $50 per disturbed acre or fraction. Wetlands permit fees: $250 for non-commercial and residential projects; $500 for commercial projects.

Reinspection fee

$50 for first offense; $100 thereafter

Payment note

Planning and Zoning requires an application number before accepting fee payment. Environmental Programs accepts online card or e-check (USAePay), mailed check, or Treasurer drop-box payment. E-checks may take 5 to 7 business days to settle. Permit reissuance fee: $10 per six months on the building fee schedule; expired permit renewal: $35 per the renewal handout — confirm current office practice when renewing.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Farm buildings exempt from permit as outlined in USBC Section 102.3.7
• Site-plan exemptions for: single-family detached dwellings, two-family dwellings, accessory buildings to single-family and two-family dwellings, subdivisions for dwellings or mobile homes where a county site development plan has already been submitted and approved under the subdivision ordinance, and agricultural, horticultural, or silvicultural activity

Important: Gloucester does not publish a comprehensive exempt-work list; the county's public guidance focuses on what requires a permit. Even where building-code exemptions apply, county floodplain, Chesapeake Bay, wetlands, zoning, and site-development rules can still trigger separate local review. Confirm whether your project requires a permit with Gloucester County Building Inspection before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Call Building Inspection at 804-693-2744 with the permit number (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Requests made before 4:00 p.m. during office hours are generally attempted the next business day, pending workload. Requests made after 4:00 p.m. are attempted two days after the request, pending workload. Voice mail is available 24 hours per day for after-hours requests.

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Gloucester publishes a 17-step sequence: footing; projection or foundation; slab; basement or foundation; floor joist; fireplace; exterior framing; electrical rough-in; plumbing rough-in; mechanical rough-in; interior framing; insulation; electrical meter; electrical final; plumbing final; mechanical final; and final building. Floodplain projects additionally require an under-construction elevation certificate before foundation inspection and a finished-construction elevation certificate before final inspections. A certificate of occupancy requires a Gloucester County Health Department operation permit, blower-door testing, and an approved erosion and sediment final inspection or posting of surety with the county.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (2021 Virginia Construction Code, effective January 18, 2024; 2020 National Electrical Code)
• Verify contractor license: Virginia DPOR License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• What Requires a Permit
• Inspection Procedure
• Floodplain Development Permitting Form
• Plan Review Only Application
• Environmental Programs (land disturbance, Chesapeake Bay, wetlands)
• Environmental Programs FAQ
• Virginia DHCD Building Codes
• License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Gloucester County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Gloucester County, VA?

Permits are required for construction or improvements in a flood zone; altered, constructed, converted, demolished, enlarged, improved, or repaired buildings and structures; new houses and other structures; alterations and renovations; decks; ramps and wheelchair lifts; pools and pool barriers; piers, boathouses, boatlifts, retaining walls, bulkheads, and finger piers; foundation repair; sheathing and floor joists; commercial reroofing and structural residential reroofing; new windows or doors when openings are added or enlarged; attic or basement conversions; demolition; solar panels and windmills; signs; tenant and commercial buildouts; change of use; asbestos removal; tents over 900 square feet; construction trailers; amusement devices; electrical, plumbing, and mechanical trade work; and elevators. Land disturbance over 2,500 square feet requires a county land-disturbance permit. Tidal wetlands activities such as bulkheads, riprap, groins, piers, marinas, and boat ramps require wetlands authorization.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Gloucester County, VA?

The minimum permit fee is $35.00 minimum building permit fee; $35.00 zoning permit (all others category). Fees are calculated as: Mixed schedule. Residential building permits: $0.12 per square foot. Accessory structures (decks, sheds, detached garages, piers, bulkheads): $0.10 per square foot. Commercial and industrial permits: $0.20 per square foot. Demolition: $35 flat. Zoning permits: $35 flat. Signs: $35 base plus area-based adders on the building fee sheet ($50 under current planning fee schedule). Site-plan review: $500 plus $50 per acre of disturbance or fraction thereof. Residential development plans: $500 plus $50 per acre. Residential erosion and sediment fees: $45 for first acre plus $5 per additional acre or fraction. Commercial erosion and sediment fees: $300 base plus $50 per disturbed acre or fraction. Wetlands permit fees: $250 for non-commercial and residential projects; $500 for commercial projects.. Plan check fee: Residential plan review: $50.00. Commercial or industrial plan review: $150.00. Plan review fees are required with the application and are non-refundable..

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Gloucester County, VA?

1. Confirm the correct review path before filing. Work may require permits from Building Inspection, Planning and Zoning, or Environmental Programs — or parallel approvals from more than one department. Commercial and multifamily development may require county site-plan review; land disturbance over 2,500 square feet requires a land-disturbance permit; floodplain work in a special flood hazard area requires floodplain review; and tidal wetlands work requires Wetlands Board approval. 2. Download and complete the correct application package. Building Inspection publishes separate forms for building, zoning, demolition, sign, trade, plan-review-only, floodplain, and owner-affidavit filings. Planning and Zoning publishes site-plan, rezoning, conditional use permit, subdivision, and zoning forms. Environmental Programs publishes land-disturbance, Chesapeake Bay, stormwater, and wetlands applications. 3. Submit the package through the applicable pathway. Building permits may be submitted in person at 6489 Main St., by mail, or by email if plan size permits. Site-plan submittals must be sent electronically via a secure link requested from siteplans@gloucesterva.info. Environmental applications may be submitted by email, mail, or in person. 4. Include all required supporting materials for the chosen path. Site-plan submissions require the electronic plan set, site-plan application, site-plan checklist, erosion and sediment checklist, stormwater checklist, project narrative, site-plan fee, and stormwater registration statement plus 50% of the VSMP permit fee when applicable. Wetlands applications require project drawings and proceed to a Wetlands Board public hearing. 5. Pay the applicable fees. Planning and Zoning requires an application number before accepting fee payment. Environmental Programs accepts online card or e-check payment, mailed check, or Treasurer drop-box payment and allows payment after emailed submission once an application number is assigned. 6. Receive the permit and complete required inspections. Building permits may be picked up in person; trade permits may be emailed; permits may also be mailed depending on plan size. Request each inspection by phone, provide the permit number, and proceed through the required inspection sequence to final approval and certificate of occupancy.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Gloucester County, VA?

Typical processing time is No countywide public turnaround estimate is published. The Site Plan Committee meets on the second Monday of each month at 3:00 p.m. and the fourth Monday of each month at 8:30 a.m. Inspection requests made before 4:00 p.m. are generally attempted the next business day, pending workload..

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Gloucester County, VA?

The following work is generally exempt: Farm buildings exempt from permit as outlined in USBC Section 102.3.7; Site-plan exemptions for: single-family detached dwellings, two-family dwellings, accessory buildings to single-family and two-family dwellings, subdivisions for dwellings or mobile homes where a county site development plan has already been submitted and approved under the subdivision ordinance, and agricultural, horticultural, or silvicultural activity. Note: Gloucester does not publish a comprehensive exempt-work list; the county's public guidance focuses on what requires a permit. Even where building-code exemptions apply, county floodplain, Chesapeake Bay, wetlands, zoning, and site-development rules can still trigger separate local review. Confirm whether your project requires a permit with Gloucester County Building Inspection before starting work.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Gloucester County, VA?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Call Building Inspection at 804-693-2744 with the permit number. Requests made before 4:00 p.m. during office hours are generally attempted the next business day, pending workload. Requests made after 4:00 p.m. are attempted two days after the request, pending workload. Voice mail is available 24 hours per day for after-hours requests..