Town of Leesburg

The town requires permit applications for many property improvement and use changes, including decks, sheds, patios, pools, screened porches, finishing a basement, new construction, construction trailers, new businesses, changes of use, home occupations, signs, and temporary uses.

Note: No town-wide exemption list was found on a single public page; applicants should not assume county building-permit exemptions eliminate town zoning review. County building permit exemptions still generally include fences, sheds up to 256 square feet, small retaining walls, shallow small pools, and ordinary repairs under VCC 108.2. In Leesburg, exterior changes, accessory structures, and district-specific work often still need town zoning or preservation review even where the county building permit is exempt.

Building code

Local land use review is under the Town of Leesburg Zoning Ordinance; building and trade permits are administered by Loudoun County under the 2021 Virginia Construction Code / USBC.

Permit validity

Town zoning permits lapse if work does not commence within 1 year of issuance; the Zoning Administrator may extend for up to 1 additional year for good cause.

Owner-builder

Owner consent is required with the town application. County building permits then follow Virginia owner/agent application rules.

Contractor requirements

Town work requiring county building permits must use contractors meeting Virginia licensing rules; for work in incorporated towns, Loudoun states the contractor should obtain BPOL licensing from the respective town.

1. 01
   Create an eTRAKiT account.
2. 02
   Submit the zoning permit application electronically with the Property Owner's Consent Form and required supporting documents.
3. 03
   If the property is in the Old and Historic District, Gateway District, or H-2 corridor area, file any needed Certificate of Appropriateness materials through eTRAKiT as part of the review path.
4. 04
   Pay the fee at submission through eTRAKiT or town payment channels.
5. 05
   Town staff reviews for zoning compliance and issues or denies the zoning permit. Town ordinance states zoning permits are issued or denied within 10 business days of application.
6. 06
   If the project also needs building or trade permits, apply separately to Loudoun County after town zoning approval. Schedule supported town inspections through eTRAKiT.

Typical processing time: Town zoning permits are to be issued or denied within 10 business days of application.

Source: Town of Leesburg Department of Community Development ↗

Fees are collected at submittal. Town notes a 2.49% convenience fee for credit cards and $0.50 for online check payments. eTRAKiT payments are processed through Paymentus.

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

• eTRAKiT for supported town permit types (online)
• County building and trade inspections through Loudoun LandMARC (online)

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Typical sequence: Town zoning review first, then any needed county building permit, then applicable town or county inspections depending on permit type; occupancy-related inspections follow permit-specific requirements.