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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Pennington Gap
The Pennington Gap town zoning permit applies to structural alteration or new construction within town limits under the town zoning ordinance. The town zoning application also requires applicants to obtain any necessary Lee County building permits. County building-permit triggers are the same as those that apply throughout Lee County: new construction, additions, major renovations, electrical work, fire protection and mechanical systems, fuel supply systems, tanks, manufactured homes, demolitions, and structural alterations.
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
- Exempt One-story detached tool or storage sheds and similar detached structures not over 256 square feet
- Exempt Fences, unless required for pedestrian safety or as pool barriers
- Exempt Qualifying masonry walls and retaining walls supporting less than 3 feet of unbalanced fill
- Exempt Qualifying small shallow pools
- Exempt Flagpoles 30 feet or less
- Exempt Certain LP-gas tank replacements of the same capacity
- Exempt 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 Lee County building permit does not mean exempt from Pennington Gap town zoning requirements. Even where work is building-permit exempt under the Virginia USBC, town zoning review may still be required under the Pennington Gap town zoning ordinance. Confirm with both Lee County Building Safety / Inspection and Pennington Gap Town Hall before proceeding.
Required documents
- Completed Pennington Gap Application for Zoning Permit and Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance
- $15.00 town zoning permit filing fee
- Compliance with town zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations
- Lee County building permit application and supporting documents (submitted separately to Lee County)
- Proof of Virginia contractor licensure or written exemption statement (for Lee County building permit)
- Copy of recorded deed (required for county zoning permits)
- Proof that required local taxes or license fees have been paid (for Lee County building permit)
- Building code
- Building permits in Pennington Gap are issued by Lee County under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (2021 USBC), effective January 18, 2024, incorporating 2020 NEC references.
- Permit validity
- No separate town zoning expiration rule was found in current Pennington Gap public-facing materials. Virginia USBC permit validity rules apply to the Lee County building permit: an application is abandoned after six months if not pursued in good faith, and an issued permit may be revoked if work does not commence within six months after issuance or is suspended or abandoned for six months.
- Owner-builder
- No Pennington Gap-specific owner-builder handout was found. County and Virginia owner-applicant rules apply on the Lee County building-permit side. State law requires either proof of Virginia contractor licensure or a written statement that licensure is not required before permit issuance.
- Contractor requirements
- Virginia contractor licensure rules apply through the Lee County building permit process and DPOR. Pennington Gap also publishes business-license applications and annual renewals through Town Hall. Contractors should verify town business-license obligations with Pennington Gap Town Hall in addition to county and state requirements.
§ 03
Application process
Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final
- 01 Determine whether the project is inside Pennington Gap town limits. If so, both a Lee County building permit and a Pennington Gap town zoning permit are likely required for structural alteration or new construction.
- 02 Complete the Town of Pennington Gap Application for Zoning Permit and Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance. The town form states it must be completed in compliance with the town zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations.
- 03 Obtain the necessary Lee County building permits in addition to the town zoning permit. The Pennington Gap zoning application expressly states that the applicant must comply with all building requirements and obtain necessary permits for Lee County before the town permit can be issued.
- 04 Submit the town zoning application and required attachments to Pennington Gap Town Hall and pay the required $15.00 filing fee.
- 05 Submit the county building-permit application package in printed form to Lee County's Building Inspector office at the Lee County Courthouse. Pay all county permit fees before issuance.
- 06 Complete work in compliance with both the town zoning approval and the county building permit.
- 07 Within 10 days of completing the structural alteration or new construction, notify the town's Zoning Administrator so the final town zoning inspection can be performed.
- 08 After the town's final zoning inspection confirms compliance, the Zoning Administrator issues the town Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance. County building inspections and county occupancy approval also apply under the county building-permit track.
§ 04
Fee schedule
Pennington Gap building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$15.00 town zoning permit filing fee; $35 minimum for residential Lee County building permits; $50 minimum for commercial Lee County building permits
02
Permit fee formula
Pennington Gap town zoning permit: flat $15.00 filing fee. Lee County building fees: 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 county building permit fees.
The town zoning filing fee must be paid for the zoning permit to become official upon Zoning Administrator approval. County permit fees must be paid before the Lee County building permit is issued. No online payment workflow was identified for either the town zoning permit or county building permits.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- (276) 346-7715 (Lee County Building Safety / Inspection) (phone)
- (276) 546-1177 (Pennington Gap Town Hall — town zoning inspection) (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM (Lee County and Pennington Gap Town Hall)
Typical sequence: County building inspections are conducted by Lee County Building Safety / Inspection at required stages during construction. After structural alteration or new construction is complete, the applicant must notify Pennington Gap's Zoning Administrator within 10 days so the final town zoning inspection can be performed. The Zoning Administrator issues the town Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance after the final zoning inspection confirms the work conforms to the town zoning ordinance. County building inspections and county occupancy approval apply separately under the Lee County building-permit track.
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Pennington Gap permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Pennington Gap, VA? ▸
The Pennington Gap town zoning permit applies to structural alteration or new construction within town limits under the town zoning ordinance. The town zoning application also requires applicants to obtain any necessary Lee County building permits. County building-permit triggers are the same as those that apply throughout Lee County: new construction, additions, major renovations, electrical work, fire protection and mechanical systems, fuel supply systems, tanks, manufactured homes, demolitions, and structural alterations.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Pennington Gap, VA? ▸
Building permit fees in Pennington Gap, VA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $15.00 town zoning permit filing fee; $35 minimum for residential Lee County building permits; $50 minimum for commercial Lee County building permits. Fees are calculated as: Pennington Gap town zoning permit: flat $15.00 filing fee. Lee County building fees: 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 county building permit fees..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Pennington Gap, VA? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Pennington Gap, VA, follow these steps: 1. Determine whether the project is inside Pennington Gap town limits. If so, both a Lee County building permit and a Pennington Gap town zoning permit are likely required for structural alteration or new construction. 2. Complete the Town of Pennington Gap Application for Zoning Permit and Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance. The town form states it must be completed in compliance with the town zoning ordinance and subdivision regulations. 3. Obtain the necessary Lee County building permits in addition to the town zoning permit. The Pennington Gap zoning application expressly states that the applicant must comply with all building requirements and obtain necessary permits for Lee County before the town permit can be issued. 4. Submit the town zoning application and required attachments to Pennington Gap Town Hall and pay the required $15.00 filing fee. 5. Submit the county building-permit application package in printed form to Lee County's Building Inspector office at the Lee County Courthouse. Pay all county permit fees before issuance. 6. Complete work in compliance with both the town zoning approval and the county building permit. 7. Within 10 days of completing the structural alteration or new construction, notify the town's Zoning Administrator so the final town zoning inspection can be performed. 8. After the town's final zoning inspection confirms compliance, the Zoning Administrator issues the town Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance. County building inspections and county occupancy approval also apply under the county building-permit track.
04 What work is exempt from building permits in Pennington Gap, VA? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Pennington Gap, 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 Lee County building permit does not mean exempt from Pennington Gap town zoning requirements. Even where work is building-permit exempt under the Virginia USBC, town zoning review may still be required under the Pennington Gap town zoning ordinance. Confirm with both Lee County Building Safety / Inspection and Pennington Gap Town Hall before proceeding. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Pennington Gap, VA? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Pennington Gap, VA via: (276) 346-7715 (Lee County Building Safety / Inspection), (276) 546-1177 (Pennington Gap Town Hall — town zoning inspection).
last verified April 2026
source Lee County Department of Building Safety / Inspection (building permits); Town of Pennington Gap Zoning Administrator (town zoning permits and Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance) ↗
entry id permits/virginia/lee/pennington-gap
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Lee County Department of Building Safety / Inspection (building permits); Town of Pennington Gap Zoning Administrator (town zoning permits and Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.