How much does a building permit cost in Town of Jonesville, VA?

The minimum permit fee is $35 for residential building permits; $50 for commercial building permits (Lee County minimums). Fees are calculated as: Lee County building fees apply: residential building $0.10 per square foot ($35 minimum), unfinished basements and storage buildings $0.03 per square foot ($35 minimum), commercial building $0.15 per square foot ($50 minimum), structure fee $5.00 per $1,000 ($50 minimum). A 2% state surcharge applies to all building permit fees. Jonesville town business license: $30 for first year or first $20,000 gross; 0.15% of yearly gross thereafter. No separate public Jonesville zoning-fee schedule was found..

How do I apply for a building permit in Town of Jonesville, VA?

1. Determine whether the project is inside Jonesville town limits. If so, both a Lee County building permit and a Town of Jonesville zoning permit may be required. 2. Use Lee County as the building-permit issuer. DHCD lists Jonesville Town under Lee County for building official coverage, and no separate town building department was identified. 3. Download the county building permit application form from the Lee County Building Safety / Inspection page and the town zoning permit application from the Jonesville ordinances-and-zoning page. 4. Contact Jonesville Municipal Building at (276) 346-1151 if town zoning confirmation is needed. Town public-facing guidance is limited and does not publish a detailed zoning checklist. 5. Submit the county building-permit paperwork in printed form to Lee County's Building Inspector office at the Lee County Courthouse. Submit any town zoning paperwork to Jonesville Municipal Building at 842 Park Street. 6. If the applicant or contractor will operate a business or perform work as a contractor within Jonesville town limits, secure the required Jonesville business license in addition to state and county licensing compliance. 7. Complete county building inspections and obtain county occupancy approval where required. Jonesville does not have a separate town building inspection process.

What work is exempt from building permits in Town of Jonesville, VA?

The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached tool or storage sheds and similar detached structures not over 256 square feet; Fences, unless required for pedestrian safety or as pool barriers; Qualifying masonry walls and retaining walls supporting less than 3 feet of unbalanced fill; Qualifying small shallow pools; Flagpoles 30 feet or less; Certain LP-gas tank replacements of the same capacity; Qualifying ordinary repairs, including like-for-like window and door replacements, plumbing-fixture replacements without piping alteration, certain light fixtures and devices, qualifying residential roof-covering or siding replacement, limited roof-decking replacement, cabinetry, trim, paint, and wallpaper. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from Jonesville town zoning requirements or other land-use requirements. Even where work is building-permit exempt under the Virginia USBC, town zoning review may still be required under Jonesville's town ordinance. Confirm with both Lee County Building Safety / Inspection and Jonesville Municipal Building before proceeding.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Town of Jonesville, VA?

Inspections can be scheduled via: (276) 346-7715 (Lee County Building Safety / Inspection).

City Building Permits

Town of Jonesville, VA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Town of Jonesville, Virginia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Virginia Lee County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Jonesville is an incorporated town in Lee County, not an independent city. Virginia DHCD's June 2024 directory of building officials lists 'Jonesville Town — See Lee County,' confirming that Lee County is the building-permit issuer for properties within Jonesville town limits. The Town of Jonesville separately administers town-level zoning permits and requires a town business license for contractors and businesses operating within town limits.

Department: Lee County Department of Building Safety / Inspection
Address: Lee County Courthouse, 2nd Floor, Room 206, P.O. Box 367, Jonesville, VA 24263
Phone: (276) 346-7715
Email: jcox@leecova.org
Website: https://www.leecova.com/building-safety-inspection

Online Permit Portal

Open Lee County Building Safety / Inspection

Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only

Additional resources:

Application Process

Determine whether the project is inside Jonesville town limits. If so, both a Lee County building permit and a Town of Jonesville zoning permit may be required.
Use Lee County as the building-permit issuer. DHCD lists Jonesville Town under Lee County for building official coverage, and no separate town building department was identified.
Download the county building permit application form from the Lee County Building Safety / Inspection page and the town zoning permit application from the Jonesville ordinances-and-zoning page.
Contact Jonesville Municipal Building at (276) 346-1151 if town zoning confirmation is needed. Town public-facing guidance is limited and does not publish a detailed zoning checklist.
Submit the county building-permit paperwork in printed form to Lee County's Building Inspector office at the Lee County Courthouse. Submit any town zoning paperwork to Jonesville Municipal Building at 842 Park Street.
If the applicant or contractor will operate a business or perform work as a contractor within Jonesville town limits, secure the required Jonesville business license in addition to state and county licensing compliance.
Complete county building inspections and obtain county occupancy approval where required. Jonesville does not have a separate town building inspection process.

Source: Lee County Department of Building Safety / Inspection

General Requirements

Building-permit triggers are the same Lee County triggers that apply throughout Lee County, since Lee County is the building-permit issuer for Jonesville. A permit is required for new construction, additions, major renovations, electrical work, fire protection and mechanical systems, fuel supply systems, tanks, manufactured homes, demolitions, and structural alterations. A separate town zoning permit may also be required under Jonesville's town ordinance for qualifying work within town limits.

Required Documents

Completed Lee County building permit application form
General description of work and site location
Owner and applicant contact information
Copy of recorded deed (required for zoning permits)
Proof of Virginia contractor licensure or written exemption statement
Jonesville town zoning permit application (if town zoning review is required)
Jonesville business license (if operating a business or performing contractor work within town limits)

Permit validity: Virginia USBC permit validity rules apply to the Lee County building permit. Under USBC section 108.8, an application is abandoned after six months if not pursued in good faith. Under section 110.6, an issued permit may be revoked if work does not commence within six months after issuance or if work is suspended or abandoned for six months. No separate current public Jonesville zoning expiration policy was found.
Building code: Building permits in Jonesville are issued by Lee County under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (2021 USBC), effective January 18, 2024, incorporating 2020 NEC references.
Owner-builder: County and Virginia owner-applicant rules apply to the Lee County building permit. State law requires either proof of Virginia contractor licensure or a written statement that licensure is not required before permit issuance. No separate Jonesville owner-builder handout was found.
Contractor requirements: Virginia contractor licensure rules apply through the Lee County building permit process and DPOR. The Town of Jonesville also requires a business license for anyone operating a business or working as a contractor within town limits. The town business license costs $30 for the first year or first $20,000 gross, and 0.15% of yearly gross proceeds thereafter.

Fees

Minimum permit fee: $35 for residential building permits; $50 for commercial building permits (Lee County minimums)
Permit fee formula: Lee County building fees apply: residential building $0.10 per square foot ($35 minimum), unfinished basements and storage buildings $0.03 per square foot ($35 minimum), commercial building $0.15 per square foot ($50 minimum), structure fee $5.00 per $1,000 ($50 minimum). A 2% state surcharge applies to all building permit fees. Jonesville town business license: $30 for first year or first $20,000 gross; 0.15% of yearly gross thereafter. No separate public Jonesville zoning-fee schedule was found.
Payment note: County permit fees must be paid before permit issuance at Lee County. No online payment workflow for county building permit applications was identified. Jonesville's public website does not describe an online payment workflow for town zoning permits.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

One-story detached tool or storage sheds and similar detached structures not over 256 square feet
Fences, unless required for pedestrian safety or as pool barriers
Qualifying masonry walls and retaining walls supporting less than 3 feet of unbalanced fill
Qualifying small shallow pools
Flagpoles 30 feet or less
Certain LP-gas tank replacements of the same capacity
Qualifying ordinary repairs, including like-for-like window and door replacements, plumbing-fixture replacements without piping alteration, certain light fixtures and devices, qualifying residential roof-covering or siding replacement, limited roof-decking replacement, cabinetry, trim, paint, and wallpaper

Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from Jonesville town zoning requirements or other land-use requirements. Even where work is building-permit exempt under the Virginia USBC, town zoning review may still be required under Jonesville's town ordinance. Confirm with both Lee County Building Safety / Inspection and Jonesville Municipal Building before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

(276) 346-7715 (Lee County Building Safety / Inspection) (phone)

Inspection hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Lee County); Jonesville Municipal Building: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, closed daily for lunch 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM

Typical inspection sequence: County building inspections apply and are conducted by Lee County Building Safety / Inspection at required stages of construction. Jonesville does not have a separate town building inspection process. Contact Lee County to schedule required inspections.

Additional Resources

Building code: Building permits in Jonesville are issued by Lee County under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (2021 USBC), effective January 18, 2024, incorporating 2020 NEC references.
Verify contractor license: Virginia DPOR License Lookup
Zoning information: View zoning info
Jonesville Zoning Permit Application
Jonesville Business License
Lee County Building Safety / Inspection
Virginia USBC — Permit Applications and Exemptions (13VAC5-63-80)
Virginia USBC — Permits and Permit Validity (13VAC5-63-100)
Virginia DHCD Building Officials Directory
Virginia DPOR Board for Contractors
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 Lee County Department of Building Safety / Inspection before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Town of Jonesville Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Town of Jonesville, VA?: Building-permit triggers are the same Lee County triggers that apply throughout Lee County, since Lee County is the building-permit issuer for Jonesville. A permit is required for new construction, additions, major renovations, electrical work, fire protection and mechanical systems, fuel supply systems, tanks, manufactured homes, demolitions, and structural alterations. A separate town zoning permit may also be required under Jonesville's town ordinance for qualifying work within town limits.
How much does a building permit cost in Town of Jonesville, VA?: The minimum permit fee is $35 for residential building permits; $50 for commercial building permits (Lee County minimums). Fees are calculated as: Lee County building fees apply: residential building $0.10 per square foot ($35 minimum), unfinished basements and storage buildings $0.03 per square foot ($35 minimum), commercial building $0.15 per square foot ($50 minimum), structure fee $5.00 per $1,000 ($50 minimum). A 2% state surcharge applies to all building permit fees. Jonesville town business license: $30 for first year or first $20,000 gross; 0.15% of yearly gross thereafter. No separate public Jonesville zoning-fee schedule was found..
How do I apply for a building permit in Town of Jonesville, VA?: 1. Determine whether the project is inside Jonesville town limits. If so, both a Lee County building permit and a Town of Jonesville zoning permit may be required. 2. Use Lee County as the building-permit issuer. DHCD lists Jonesville Town under Lee County for building official coverage, and no separate town building department was identified. 3. Download the county building permit application form from the Lee County Building Safety / Inspection page and the town zoning permit application from the Jonesville ordinances-and-zoning page. 4. Contact Jonesville Municipal Building at (276) 346-1151 if town zoning confirmation is needed. Town public-facing guidance is limited and does not publish a detailed zoning checklist. 5. Submit the county building-permit paperwork in printed form to Lee County's Building Inspector office at the Lee County Courthouse. Submit any town zoning paperwork to Jonesville Municipal Building at 842 Park Street. 6. If the applicant or contractor will operate a business or perform work as a contractor within Jonesville town limits, secure the required Jonesville business license in addition to state and county licensing compliance. 7. Complete county building inspections and obtain county occupancy approval where required. Jonesville does not have a separate town building inspection process.
What work is exempt from building permits in Town of Jonesville, VA?: The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached tool or storage sheds and similar detached structures not over 256 square feet; Fences, unless required for pedestrian safety or as pool barriers; Qualifying masonry walls and retaining walls supporting less than 3 feet of unbalanced fill; Qualifying small shallow pools; Flagpoles 30 feet or less; Certain LP-gas tank replacements of the same capacity; Qualifying ordinary repairs, including like-for-like window and door replacements, plumbing-fixture replacements without piping alteration, certain light fixtures and devices, qualifying residential roof-covering or siding replacement, limited roof-decking replacement, cabinetry, trim, paint, and wallpaper. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from Jonesville town zoning requirements or other land-use requirements. Even where work is building-permit exempt under the Virginia USBC, town zoning review may still be required under Jonesville's town ordinance. Confirm with both Lee County Building Safety / Inspection and Jonesville Municipal Building before proceeding.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Town of Jonesville, VA?: Inspections can be scheduled via: (276) 346-7715 (Lee County Building Safety / Inspection).

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Town of Jonesville can be complicated.

Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.

Learn how Jaspector works

Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

Other cities in Lee County

Pennington Gap

View all Lee County jurisdictions →