City Building Permits
Town of Windsor, VA - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Town of Windsor, Virginia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Windsor is an incorporated town within Isle of Wight County, not an independent city. The town administers zoning and land development approvals within town limits. Isle of Wight County is the building permit and inspection authority for all construction in Windsor — a copy of the Windsor zoning permit must be presented to the Isle of Wight County Department of Inspections to obtain a county building permit.
- Department
- Town of Windsor Planning and Zoning (town zoning and land development approvals); Isle of Wight County Central Permitting and Building Inspections (building permits and inspections)
- Address
- 8 East Windsor Boulevard, Windsor, VA 23487
- Phone
- 757-242-4288
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
- Determine whether the project is inside Windsor town limits and whether it needs a Windsor zoning permit, subdivision approval, sign permit, variance, rezoning, conditional use permit, Chesapeake Bay review, floodplain review, or other town land development approval.
- Download the appropriate town form from the Planning and Zoning page, or obtain it from the Municipal Building at 8 East Windsor Boulevard.
- Prepare the town zoning package: applicant and owner information, parcel details, project description, a site plan showing dimensions and footprints, erosion and sediment control measures, flood zone information, Chesapeake Bay information where applicable, and copies of all permits from applicable agencies necessary to develop the project, especially wetlands permits.
- Submit the application to the town and pay the applicable Windsor fee.
- Receive the decision from the Zoning Administrator or, where required, proceed through Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, or other town review bodies.
- If the project also requires a building permit, present the approved Windsor zoning permit to the Isle of Wight County Department of Inspections and apply for the county building permit through OpenGov or in person.
- Complete county building inspections for the permitted work.
General Requirements
A Windsor zoning permit is required for development within town limits, including erecting, enlarging, or demolishing structures and for other land-use actions determined by the Zoning Administrator. The town zoning permit application states that all applicable federal, state, and local permits must be obtained before starting construction. A county building permit must also be obtained from Isle of Wight County when the scope of work requires one.
Required Documents
- Completed Windsor zoning permit application
- Applicant and owner information
- Parcel and zoning information
- Project description
- Site plan showing dimensions, footprints of existing and proposed construction, erosion and sediment control measures, and flood zone information
- Chesapeake Bay information (where applicable)
- Copies of all permits from applicable agencies, especially wetlands permits
- Permit validity
- No public Windsor zoning permit expiration rule was identified in public materials. County building permit validity rules apply once the county building permit is issued (work must begin within 6 months; extensions available).
- Building code
- All construction in Windsor shall conform to the Town of Windsor Land Development Ordinance and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2021 edition.
- Contractor requirements
- Isle of Wight County and Virginia state contractor licensing rules apply for county-issued building permits. Contractors must be licensed or registered through the Commonwealth of Virginia DPOR.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $25 for a zoning permit; $25 for a sign permit
- Permit fee formula
- Mostly flat-fee schedule. Zoning permit: $25. Sign permit: $25. Subdivision minor: $250. Subdivision major: $250 plus $75 per acre. Residential site plan review: $150 plus $50 per lot over 3. Commercial and industrial site plan review: $400 plus $50 per acre. Variance appeal: $800. Rezoning: $800. Conditional use permit: $800.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Town of Windsor Planning and Zoning (town zoning and land development approvals); Isle of Wight County Central Permitting and Building Inspections (building permits and inspections) to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Isle of Wight County OpenGov portal (building inspections) (online)
- Isle of Wight County inspection hotline: 757-365-1666 (phone)
- to-inspect@iwus.net (county building inspections) (email)
- Inspection hours
- Isle of Wight County inspectors are generally in the field between 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Typical inspection sequence: After Windsor zoning approval, county building inspections apply through Isle of Wight County where a county building permit is required. Standard county sequence: footing, foundation or slab, sheathing, rough-in, insulation, final.
Additional Resources
- Building code: All construction in Windsor shall conform to the Town of Windsor Land Development Ordinance and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2021 edition.
- Verify contractor license: Virginia DPOR License Lookup
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Land Development Ordinance (PDF)
- Conditional Use Permit Application (PDF)
- Variance Application (PDF)
- Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act
- Isle of Wight County Permits (building permits)
- License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Town of Windsor Planning and Zoning (town zoning and land development approvals); Isle of Wight County Central Permitting and Building Inspections (building permits and inspections) before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Town of Windsor Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Town of Windsor, VA?
- A Windsor zoning permit is required for development within town limits, including erecting, enlarging, or demolishing structures and for other land-use actions determined by the Zoning Administrator. The town zoning permit application states that all applicable federal, state, and local permits must be obtained before starting construction. A county building permit must also be obtained from Isle of Wight County when the scope of work requires one.
- How much does a building permit cost in Town of Windsor, VA?
- The minimum permit fee is $25 for a zoning permit; $25 for a sign permit. Fees are calculated as: Mostly flat-fee schedule. Zoning permit: $25. Sign permit: $25. Subdivision minor: $250. Subdivision major: $250 plus $75 per acre. Residential site plan review: $150 plus $50 per lot over 3. Commercial and industrial site plan review: $400 plus $50 per acre. Variance appeal: $800. Rezoning: $800. Conditional use permit: $800..
- How do I apply for a building permit in Town of Windsor, VA?
- 1. Determine whether the project is inside Windsor town limits and whether it needs a Windsor zoning permit, subdivision approval, sign permit, variance, rezoning, conditional use permit, Chesapeake Bay review, floodplain review, or other town land development approval. 2. Download the appropriate town form from the Planning and Zoning page, or obtain it from the Municipal Building at 8 East Windsor Boulevard. 3. Prepare the town zoning package: applicant and owner information, parcel details, project description, a site plan showing dimensions and footprints, erosion and sediment control measures, flood zone information, Chesapeake Bay information where applicable, and copies of all permits from applicable agencies necessary to develop the project, especially wetlands permits. 4. Submit the application to the town and pay the applicable Windsor fee. 5. Receive the decision from the Zoning Administrator or, where required, proceed through Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, or other town review bodies. 6. If the project also requires a building permit, present the approved Windsor zoning permit to the Isle of Wight County Department of Inspections and apply for the county building permit through OpenGov or in person. 7. Complete county building inspections for the permitted work.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Town of Windsor, VA?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Isle of Wight County OpenGov portal (building inspections), Isle of Wight County inspection hotline: 757-365-1666, to-inspect@iwus.net (county building inspections).
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