Greene County, VA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Greene County Building Inspections is the building-permit issuer for all county territory, including the Town of Stanardsville for building-code permits. Greene County is a county locality, not an independent city. Planning and zoning functions are handled by Greene County Planning and Zoning (434-990-2519; planning@gcva.us). Erosion, sediment control, and stormwater management are handled by a separate county office (434-985-5282; es-swmgreene@gcva.us).

Department

Greene County Building Inspections Department

Address

40 Celt Road, Room 226, Stanardsville, VA 22973

Phone

434-985-5204

Email

inspections@gcva.us

Website

https://greenecountyva.gov/164/Building-Inspections

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine which county approvals apply to your project. Greene County separates building permits (USBC work), planning and zoning approvals (zoning, signs, subdivisions, site plans), and land-disturbance permits (erosion, sediment control, stormwater management).
2. For building permits, download the correct packet from the Building Inspections page, complete the application and checklist, and submit with all required attachments by email to inspections@gcva.us, by mail, or at the office at 40 Celt Road, Room 226. The county will not accept submissions missing required checklist items.
3. For Planning and Zoning applications, create a CivicGov4 account, select Planning and Zoning as the project type, choose the application type and parcel, complete all portal fields, attach required documents, submit, and monitor the dashboard for comments and requested revisions.
4. For land-disturbance coverage, submit land-disturbance materials with the building permit for single-family construction. For commercial and other non-single-family projects, complete a pre-application meeting before submitting land-disturbance application and plans.
5. County staff review the package for zoning, building, utilities or septic, VDOT, erosion and sediment control, stormwater, and any other triggered approvals. Payment must be received before applications are processed.
6. Respond to any correction comments and provide revised documents as required.
7. After review, corrections, and fee payment, the county issues the applicable permit. For new buildings, the county may assign the address during review.

Typical processing time: Detailed building permits may take up to two to three weeks to process. No universal public turnaround is published for Planning and Zoning or land-disturbance reviews.

Source: Greene County Building Inspections Department

General Requirements

A building permit is required before construction or demolition of a building or structure, including installation or alteration of equipment regulated by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC). The county specifically requires permits for decks, sheds, garages, carports, oversized tents, new gas installations and appliances, basement finishing, new chimneys, generators, gas logs or stoves, demolition, enclosing a porch or deck, and remodeling. A separate land-disturbance permit is required for non-exempt land-disturbing activity, including single-family residences and projects disturbing more than 10,000 square feet.

Required Documents

• Completed permit application
• Copies of contractor Virginia state licenses
• Greene County business license information for all contractors
• Two sets of plans for new single-family work
• Site sketch on a survey plat
• VDOT entrance permit (where applicable)
• Health Department septic or well approval (where applicable)
• Water or sewer EDU documentation (where applicable)
• T and L Water service letter (if applicable)
• Land-disturbance forms (where applicable)

Permit validity

The permit becomes null and void if work is not commenced within 6 months of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 6 months after commencement.

Building code

2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), effective January 18, 2025

Owner-builder

The owner may act as their own general contractor for single-family construction.

Contractor requirements

All contractors are required to hold a valid Virginia state license (issued through DPOR) and a Greene County business license. Copies of Virginia state licenses must be submitted with the building permit application.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$300 minimum for residential additions, remodels, and repairs; $500 minimum for commercial new, addition, remodel, or repair; $100 minimum for residential trade permits

Plan check fee

Preliminary building plan review: $0.05 per square foot ($100 residential minimum; $250 commercial minimum)

Permit fee formula

Mixed schedule. Residential additions, remodels, and repairs: $0.48 per finished square foot ($300 minimum). Residential trade permits: $0.10 per square foot ($100 minimum). Commercial building work: $0.20 per square foot ($500 minimum). New single-family residences: flat fees by square-foot band. Demolitions and many miscellaneous permits: flat fees. Planning and Zoning applications: flat fees by application type.

Trade permit fee

$0.10 per square foot, $100 minimum

Reinspection fee

$100 beginning with the third inspection

Penalty (no permit)

Working without a permit: up to double the permit fee at the chief building official's discretion, $100 minimum. Amend or revise permit: $100. Permit renewal: $100.

Payment note

Greene County accepts check, cash, and credit card. Credit card payments must be made online through PayGov and carry a 3% convenience fee ($1 minimum). Online payments are forwarded to the office on the following business day. Do not pay online until the application has been emailed or dropped off.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Residential accessory storage structures 256 square feet or less (exempt from both building and zoning permits)

Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from all land-disturbance or environmental requirements. Refer to County Code sections 38-72 and 38-122(b) for land-disturbance exemptions. Confirm with Greene County Building Inspections before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 434-985-5204 (phone)
• inspections@gcva.us (email)

Scheduling deadline

Requests must be made at least 2 to 3 days in advance. Requests called in less than 48 hours in advance will not be scheduled for the next day. Requests must be made by 4:00 PM. Note: on the third Thursday morning of each month, staff attend required continuing education; inspections scheduled that day occur in the afternoon.

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence for new residential work (inferred from county packet and standard USBC workflow, not a verbatim county checklist): site and erosion controls as applicable, footing or foundation, framing and rough trade inspections, insulation or energy testing documentation, and final inspection.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), effective January 18, 2025
• Verify contractor license: Virginia DPOR Contractor License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Greene County Zoning Ordinance (PDF)
• Planning and Zoning Fee Schedule
• Erosion and Sediment Control / Stormwater Applications
• CivicGov4 Citizen Portal User Guide
• License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Greene County Building Permit FAQ

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

A building permit is required before construction or demolition of a building or structure, including installation or alteration of equipment regulated by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC). The county specifically requires permits for decks, sheds, garages, carports, oversized tents, new gas installations and appliances, basement finishing, new chimneys, generators, gas logs or stoves, demolition, enclosing a porch or deck, and remodeling. A separate land-disturbance permit is required for non-exempt land-disturbing activity, including single-family residences and projects disturbing more than 10,000 square feet.

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

The minimum permit fee is $300 minimum for residential additions, remodels, and repairs; $500 minimum for commercial new, addition, remodel, or repair; $100 minimum for residential trade permits. Fees are calculated as: Mixed schedule. Residential additions, remodels, and repairs: $0.48 per finished square foot ($300 minimum). Residential trade permits: $0.10 per square foot ($100 minimum). Commercial building work: $0.20 per square foot ($500 minimum). New single-family residences: flat fees by square-foot band. Demolitions and many miscellaneous permits: flat fees. Planning and Zoning applications: flat fees by application type.. Plan check fee: Preliminary building plan review: $0.05 per square foot ($100 residential minimum; $250 commercial minimum).

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

1. Determine which county approvals apply to your project. Greene County separates building permits (USBC work), planning and zoning approvals (zoning, signs, subdivisions, site plans), and land-disturbance permits (erosion, sediment control, stormwater management). 2. For building permits, download the correct packet from the Building Inspections page, complete the application and checklist, and submit with all required attachments by email to inspections@gcva.us, by mail, or at the office at 40 Celt Road, Room 226. The county will not accept submissions missing required checklist items. 3. For Planning and Zoning applications, create a CivicGov4 account, select Planning and Zoning as the project type, choose the application type and parcel, complete all portal fields, attach required documents, submit, and monitor the dashboard for comments and requested revisions. 4. For land-disturbance coverage, submit land-disturbance materials with the building permit for single-family construction. For commercial and other non-single-family projects, complete a pre-application meeting before submitting land-disturbance application and plans. 5. County staff review the package for zoning, building, utilities or septic, VDOT, erosion and sediment control, stormwater, and any other triggered approvals. Payment must be received before applications are processed. 6. Respond to any correction comments and provide revised documents as required. 7. After review, corrections, and fee payment, the county issues the applicable permit. For new buildings, the county may assign the address during review.

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

Typical processing time is Detailed building permits may take up to two to three weeks to process. No universal public turnaround is published for Planning and Zoning or land-disturbance reviews..

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

The following work is generally exempt: Residential accessory storage structures 256 square feet or less (exempt from both building and zoning permits). Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from all land-disturbance or environmental requirements. Refer to County Code sections 38-72 and 38-122(b) for land-disturbance exemptions. Confirm with Greene County Building Inspections before proceeding.

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

Inspections can be scheduled via: 434-985-5204, inspections@gcva.us. Requests must be made at least 2 to 3 days in advance. Requests called in less than 48 hours in advance will not be scheduled for the next day. Requests must be made by 4:00 PM. Note: on the third Thursday morning of each month, staff attend required continuing education; inspections scheduled that day occur in the afternoon..