Independence, VA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Town of Independence Town Administration (zoning); Grayson County Building Department (building permits and inspections)

Street address

317 East Main Street, Independence, VA 24348

Phone

276-773-3703

townmanager@independenceva.com

Coverage

Independence is an incorporated town within Grayson County. The town handles zoning approval. Grayson County Building Department issues the building permit and conducts all building inspections. Applicants must obtain a certified zoning permit from Independence Town Administration before the county will issue a building permit.

Online portal

Town of Independence Construction and Zoning

No public self-service permit portal identified

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Independence

For work requiring Grayson County building inspection services, the town requires a certified zoning permit first. Building permit triggers follow Grayson County and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Note: No separate Independence exempt-work list was identified. Building-permit exemptions are the same Grayson County exemptions because the county issues the building permit. Contact Grayson County Building Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit.

Required documents

Town certified zoning permit from Independence Town Administration
Grayson County building permit application
Plans where required by the county
All county prerequisite approvals applicable to the project (VDH, VDOT, erosion/sediment, stormwater, tax ticket, etc.)

Building code: 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code suite, administered by Grayson County
Permit validity: No separate town zoning expiration rule identified. County-issued building permits follow the 2021 Virginia Construction Code: application abandoned after 6 months if not issued; permit may be revoked if work does not start within 6 months or is abandoned for 6 months.
Owner-builder: No separate town owner-builder rule. County Form AFF-1100 and Virginia owner-builder rules apply for the building permit.
Contractor requirements: County and Virginia DPOR licensing requirements apply to the building permit. No separate Independence contractor licensing requirement was identified.

Source: Town of Independence Town Administration (zoning); Grayson County Building Department (building permits and inspections) ↗

§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

01

Contact Independence Town Administration to confirm zoning requirements for the parcel and proposed work.
02

Obtain the town's certified zoning permit before seeking county building permits. There is no cost for the town zoning permit.
03

If the work also requires building inspection services, submit the Grayson County building permit application to the Grayson County Building Department with the town zoning approval and all county-required supporting documents.
04

County staff reviews the submission, collects county permit fees, and issues the building permit.
05

Schedule required inspections through Grayson County and obtain final approval or certificate of occupancy when applicable.

Source: Town of Independence Town Administration (zoning); Grayson County Building Department (building permits and inspections) ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Independence building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

Town zoning permit: $0. County building permit minimums apply: $60 for most categories; $275 for new residential and new commercial construction; $125 for additions and renovations.

Plan check fee

$60 if reviewed in-house by the county; cost of third-party review if outsourced

Permit fee formula

Town zoning permit is free. County building fees apply: new residential $0.20/sq ft for first 2,000 sq ft, $0.30/sq ft above; new commercial $4.00 per $1,000 up to $50,000, $2.00 per $1,000 above; renovation $0.20/sq ft.

Trade permit fee

County flat-plus-unit formulas with $60 minimums per trade

Reinspection fee

$60 per reinspection (county fee)

Penalty (no permit)

$60 or 20% of project permit fee for work started without a permit, in addition to permit fees (county fee)

County permit fees must be paid in full before issuance.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

276-773-2322 (Grayson County Building Department) (phone)

Inspection hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Grayson County Building Department)

Typical sequence: Town zoning approval first, then county permit issuance, then county inspections through final approval or certificate of occupancy.

Source: Town of Independence Town Administration (zoning); Grayson County Building Department (building permits and inspections) ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Independence permits

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

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

Building permit fees in Independence, VA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Town zoning permit: $0. County building permit minimums apply: $60 for most categories; $275 for new residential and new commercial construction; $125 for additions and renovations.. Fees are calculated as: Town zoning permit is free. County building fees apply: new residential $0.20/sq ft for first 2,000 sq ft, $0.30/sq ft above; new commercial $4.00 per $1,000 up to $50,000, $2.00 per $1,000 above; renovation $0.20/sq ft.. Plan check fee: $60 if reviewed in-house by the county; cost of third-party review if outsourced.

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

To apply for a building permit in Independence, VA, follow these steps: 1. Contact Independence Town Administration to confirm zoning requirements for the parcel and proposed work. 2. Obtain the town's certified zoning permit before seeking county building permits. There is no cost for the town zoning permit. 3. If the work also requires building inspection services, submit the Grayson County building permit application to the Grayson County Building Department with the town zoning approval and all county-required supporting documents. 4. County staff reviews the submission, collects county permit fees, and issues the building permit. 5. Schedule required inspections through Grayson County and obtain final approval or certificate of occupancy when applicable.

04 How do I schedule a building inspection in Independence, VA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Independence, VA via: 276-773-2322 (Grayson County Building Department).

last verified April 2026 source Town of Independence Town Administration (zoning); Grayson County Building Department (building permits and inspections) ↗ entry id permits/virginia/grayson/independence

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Town of Independence Town Administration (zoning); Grayson County Building Department (building permits and inspections) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Town of Independence

Other jurisdictions in Grayson County.