Goochland County, VA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Goochland County Department of Building Inspection is the permit authority for all properties in Goochland County. The county is a Virginia county locality under the Uniform Statewide Building Code. No incorporated town within Goochland County was identified with a separate building department. Community Development, Planning and Zoning, Environmental and Land Development Review, and Public Utilities handle prerequisite and parallel approvals such as zoning, floodplain, land disturbance, stormwater, and utility permits.

Department

Goochland County Department of Building Inspection

Address

1800 Sandy Hook Road, Goochland, VA 23063 (physical); P.O. Box 119, Goochland, VA 23063 (mailing)

Phone

Building Inspection: (804) 556-5815; Community Development: (804) 556-5860

Email

bi-emails@goochlandva.us (inspection requests) , CommDev@goochlandva.us (portal setup) , clittlefield@goochlandva.us , ltucker@goochlandva.us , lsalyer@goochlandva.us

Website

https://www.goochlandva.us/168/Building-Inspection

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is in Goochland County and identify all approval tracks that apply. Building Inspection issues the permit, but Planning and Zoning review, flood-zone review, and environmental review are built into the intake path. If the site is in an overlay district, a Certificate of Approval may be required before permit issuance.
2. Determine whether the project also triggers zoning, land disturbance, stormwater, floodplain, or utility approvals. For single-family projects disturbing more than 10,000 square feet, an RLD and erosion paperwork are required. Floodplain development requires a separate county environmental permit.
3. Prepare the permit application package. Include owner, applicant, contractor, and scope information; two copies of construction drawings; two copies of the survey or plat for new construction or footprint expansion; site plan with setbacks, lot lines, roads, easements, existing structures, and well/septic locations; and a shrink-swell soil report for new construction.
4. Submit through the EnerGov Citizen Self Service portal or at the permit counter in person (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Since January 1, 2026, Plans of Development, Land Disturbance Permits, and Stormwater Management Permits must be submitted through the EP&L portal with one paper plan set. Licensed-contractor residential building applications must be filed electronically through EnerGov as of March 1, 2026.
5. County reviewers complete zoning, building, and any applicable environmental or Health Department review. The new-single-family process lists Planning and Zoning, Health Department (where private well or septic applies), Building Inspection, and Environmental review if stormwater approval is required.
6. Respond to any corrections and pay permit and related fees. Contractor credentials and Goochland County business license are verified before intake when project value exceeds $25,000.
7. Receive permit issuance after all approvals and payment. Post the permit and site plan on site before beginning work.

Typical processing time: Goochland publishes a typical turnaround of 4 weeks for new single-family dwelling permit review. Certificate of Approval review has a published 10 working-day staff review window after a complete application is filed. No universal SLA was published for all permit categories.

Source: Goochland County Department of Building Inspection

General Requirements

A permit is required in Goochland County when constructing, altering, demolishing, or moving a building or structure; installing or altering code-regulated mechanical, electrical, or plumbing equipment; changing occupancy; moving lot lines where fire-separation conditions could be affected; disturbing asbestos; and for additions, accessory structures over 256 square feet, swimming pools, and most electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work.

Required Documents

• Completed permit application with owner, applicant, contractor, and scope information
• Contractor license details or owner statement (if owner is applicant, signed affirmation under Virginia Code Section 54.1-1111)
• Two copies of construction drawings
• Two copies of survey or plat (for new construction or footprint expansion)
• Site plan with setbacks, lot lines, roads, easements, existing structures, and well/septic locations
• Shrink-swell soil report (for new construction)
• Flood-zone and environmental impact disclosures
• Lien-agent information where applicable
• RLD, erosion, stormwater, floodplain, or Certificate of Approval materials when triggered
• Well and septic application where applicable

Permit validity

A permit expires if work has not begun within 6 months after issuance or if work is suspended or abandoned for 6 months after issuance.

Building code

2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), effective January 18, 2024 for permits submitted after January 17, 2024

Owner-builder

If the owner is the applicant, the owner must affirm on the application that the owner is not subject to licensure as a contractor or subcontractor under Virginia Code Section 54.1-1111.

Contractor requirements

Engineers, architects, contractors, and subcontractors must be licensed to practice in Virginia (DPOR). County staff verifies DPOR licensing and local business-license status before intake. Out-of-county contractors with work value in Goochland exceeding $25,000 are subject to Goochland County business-license tax and must obtain a county business license before permit issuance.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$30 for residential building permits; $50 zoning fee for residential single-family dwellings; $25 zoning fee for other structures; $100 RLD fee for land disturbance over 10,000 sq ft; stormwater fees from $200 depending on project type

Plan check fee

No separate general building plan-check fee was identified on public building-permit fee materials. Separate planning, zoning, stormwater, subdivision, and COA review fees apply where those approvals are triggered.

Permit fee formula

Residential building permit fees: $30 plus $4.50 per $1,000 above $4,000 of job value, plus 2% state levy. Commercial permit fees are valuation-based using the county's commercial construction value table by occupancy type and square footage. Planning, zoning, and COA fees are flat by application type. Stormwater fees are flat by disturbed acreage tier.

Reinspection fee

$100 reinspection fee when work is not ready; additional reinspection fees may be charged after the second failed inspection for the same deficiency. No further inspections may be scheduled until reinspection fees are paid.

Payment note

Community Development payments must be made through the county's EnerGov system. The Citizen Self Portal sends invoices and receipts by email. The county's fraud alert states permit payments should be made only through EnerGov.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached tool sheds, playhouses, and similar detached structures not more than 256 square feet (except certain occupancies)
• Utility-prefabricated buildings not over 150 square feet
• Tents or air-supported structures not more than 900 square feet with occupant load 50 or less
• Fences, unless required for pedestrian safety or used as a swimming-pool barrier
• Concrete or masonry walls not more than 6 feet high
• Retaining walls supporting less than 3 feet of unbalanced fill and not supporting surcharge
• Swimming pools not over 150 square feet and less than 24 inches deep
• Flagpoles 30 feet or less
• Temporary ramps meeting Virginia Construction Code criteria
• Certain low-voltage wiring and equipment under Virginia Construction Code conditions
• Ordinary repairs under the Virginia Construction Code, such as qualifying same-size window and door replacements, certain finish work, cabinetry, trim, painting, and certain replacement plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work that does not alter system capacity or layout

Important: Exempt from a building permit does not mean exempt from zoning or other requirements. Goochland zoning requires a separate zoning compliance application for some small structures, including residential accessory structures 256 square feet or less, even where no building permit is required. Overlay districts, floodplain rules, and other land-use controls may still apply. Confirm with Goochland County Building Inspection and Community Development before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• EnerGov Citizen Self Service portal (online)
• bi-emails@goochlandva.us (email)
• (804) 556-5815 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. the prior business day for next-business-day inspections. Work must be ready by 8:00 a.m. on the inspection day. Applicants may call after 9:00 a.m. on the inspection day for an AM or PM window; specific appointment times are not guaranteed.

Inspection hours

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

Time windows

AM and PM windows available; call after 9:00 a.m. on the day of inspection to inquire. Specific times are not guaranteed.

Typical inspection sequence: Typical residential sequence: erosion control inspection first (where RLD applies), then footing and setbacks, projection/stem wall/foundation items as applicable, pre-slab and groundwork inspections, framing with all rough-ins scheduled together, insulation with intermediate erosion review (if RLD applies), exterior utility inspections, Health Department final (if well or septic applies), blower door and duct leakage submittals before final, stormwater final before final building inspection (if stormwater permit required), then final inspections and Certificate of Occupancy issuance.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), effective January 18, 2024 for permits submitted after January 17, 2024
• Verify contractor license: Virginia DPOR License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• Permit requirements
• Inspections
• Site-plan notes
• Permit fees
• Environmental and land development applications
• Floodplain
• Planning and zoning applications and COA materials
• Design Review Committee
• Business license
• Goochland Health Department (well and septic)
• Community Development
• License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Goochland County Building Permit FAQ

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

A permit is required in Goochland County when constructing, altering, demolishing, or moving a building or structure; installing or altering code-regulated mechanical, electrical, or plumbing equipment; changing occupancy; moving lot lines where fire-separation conditions could be affected; disturbing asbestos; and for additions, accessory structures over 256 square feet, swimming pools, and most electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work.

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

The minimum permit fee is $30 for residential building permits; $50 zoning fee for residential single-family dwellings; $25 zoning fee for other structures; $100 RLD fee for land disturbance over 10,000 sq ft; stormwater fees from $200 depending on project type. Fees are calculated as: Residential building permit fees: $30 plus $4.50 per $1,000 above $4,000 of job value, plus 2% state levy. Commercial permit fees are valuation-based using the county's commercial construction value table by occupancy type and square footage. Planning, zoning, and COA fees are flat by application type. Stormwater fees are flat by disturbed acreage tier.. Plan check fee: No separate general building plan-check fee was identified on public building-permit fee materials. Separate planning, zoning, stormwater, subdivision, and COA review fees apply where those approvals are triggered..

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

1. Confirm the property is in Goochland County and identify all approval tracks that apply. Building Inspection issues the permit, but Planning and Zoning review, flood-zone review, and environmental review are built into the intake path. If the site is in an overlay district, a Certificate of Approval may be required before permit issuance. 2. Determine whether the project also triggers zoning, land disturbance, stormwater, floodplain, or utility approvals. For single-family projects disturbing more than 10,000 square feet, an RLD and erosion paperwork are required. Floodplain development requires a separate county environmental permit. 3. Prepare the permit application package. Include owner, applicant, contractor, and scope information; two copies of construction drawings; two copies of the survey or plat for new construction or footprint expansion; site plan with setbacks, lot lines, roads, easements, existing structures, and well/septic locations; and a shrink-swell soil report for new construction. 4. Submit through the EnerGov Citizen Self Service portal or at the permit counter in person (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Since January 1, 2026, Plans of Development, Land Disturbance Permits, and Stormwater Management Permits must be submitted through the EP&L portal with one paper plan set. Licensed-contractor residential building applications must be filed electronically through EnerGov as of March 1, 2026. 5. County reviewers complete zoning, building, and any applicable environmental or Health Department review. The new-single-family process lists Planning and Zoning, Health Department (where private well or septic applies), Building Inspection, and Environmental review if stormwater approval is required. 6. Respond to any corrections and pay permit and related fees. Contractor credentials and Goochland County business license are verified before intake when project value exceeds $25,000. 7. Receive permit issuance after all approvals and payment. Post the permit and site plan on site before beginning work.

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

Typical processing time is Goochland publishes a typical turnaround of 4 weeks for new single-family dwelling permit review. Certificate of Approval review has a published 10 working-day staff review window after a complete application is filed. No universal SLA was published for all permit categories..

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

The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached tool sheds, playhouses, and similar detached structures not more than 256 square feet (except certain occupancies); Utility-prefabricated buildings not over 150 square feet; Tents or air-supported structures not more than 900 square feet with occupant load 50 or less; Fences, unless required for pedestrian safety or used as a swimming-pool barrier; Concrete or masonry walls not more than 6 feet high; Retaining walls supporting less than 3 feet of unbalanced fill and not supporting surcharge; Swimming pools not over 150 square feet and less than 24 inches deep; Flagpoles 30 feet or less; Temporary ramps meeting Virginia Construction Code criteria; Certain low-voltage wiring and equipment under Virginia Construction Code conditions; Ordinary repairs under the Virginia Construction Code, such as qualifying same-size window and door replacements, certain finish work, cabinetry, trim, painting, and certain replacement plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work that does not alter system capacity or layout. Note: Exempt from a building permit does not mean exempt from zoning or other requirements. Goochland zoning requires a separate zoning compliance application for some small structures, including residential accessory structures 256 square feet or less, even where no building permit is required. Overlay districts, floodplain rules, and other land-use controls may still apply. Confirm with Goochland County Building Inspection and Community Development before proceeding.

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

Inspections can be scheduled via: EnerGov Citizen Self Service portal, bi-emails@goochlandva.us, (804) 556-5815. Requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. the prior business day for next-business-day inspections. Work must be ready by 8:00 a.m. on the inspection day. Applicants may call after 9:00 a.m. on the inspection day for an AM or PM window; specific appointment times are not guaranteed..