Sterling (Loudoun County), VA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Loudoun County Department of Building and Development

Street address

Permitting and Land Development Counters, Government Center, 1 Harrison St. SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, VA 20175

Phone

703-777-0220

dbd@loudoun.gov

Coverage

Sterling appears in Loudoun's county community materials but is not one of the seven incorporated towns listed by the county. Based on official county scope pages, Sterling permitting runs through Loudoun County.

Online portal

LandMARC / Tyler EnerGov Self Service

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Sterling (Loudoun County)

County VCC and zoning triggers apply.

Scope of work

Permit?

County VCC exemption list applies to Sterling addresses in unincorporated Loudoun

Exempt

Exempt County VCC exemption list applies to Sterling addresses in unincorporated Loudoun

Required documents

County plats
Plans and setbacks
Easement or buffer information
Owner signature
Construction documents as applicable

Building code: 2021 Virginia Construction Code / USBC, enforced by Loudoun County.
Permit validity: County application and permit expiration rules apply.
Owner-builder: County follows VCC 108.3 and 108.4.
Contractor requirements: Virginia DPOR license plus Loudoun County BPOL.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Same county residential intake benchmarks apply: 2 to 5 business days for some standard residential permits and up to 10 business days for other residential permits.

01

Confirm the Sterling address is in unincorporated Loudoun and not in an incorporated town.
02

File the permit in LandMARC with plans and county-required supporting materials.
03

Wait for intake completeness review and fee invoicing.
04

Pay fees, then proceed through county review.
05

Revise and resubmit if comments are issued.
06

Receive permit and complete county inspections.

Typical processing time: Same county residential intake benchmarks apply: 2 to 5 business days for some standard residential permits and up to 10 business days for other residential permits.

Source: Loudoun County Department of Building and Development ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Sterling (Loudoun County) building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$65

Plan check fee

County residential plan review $170 per review; miscellaneous plan review $130.

Permit fee formula

County formula and flat-fee schedule.

Reinspection fee

$65

County LandMARC invoice workflow, with county payment options and card convenience fee.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

County LandMARC (online)

Inspection hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Typical sequence: County review, issuance, required stage inspections, final inspections, then occupancy/use approval if applicable.

Source: Loudoun County Department of Building and Development ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Sterling (Loudoun County) permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA? ▸

County VCC and zoning triggers apply.

02 How much does a building permit cost in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA? ▸

Building permit fees in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $65. Fees are calculated as: County formula and flat-fee schedule.. Plan check fee: County residential plan review $170 per review; miscellaneous plan review $130..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the Sterling address is in unincorporated Loudoun and not in an incorporated town. 2. File the permit in LandMARC with plans and county-required supporting materials. 3. Wait for intake completeness review and fee invoicing. 4. Pay fees, then proceed through county review. 5. Revise and resubmit if comments are issued. 6. Receive permit and complete county inspections.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA? ▸

Building permit processing times in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA typically run Same county residential intake benchmarks apply: 2 to 5 business days for some standard residential permits and up to 10 business days for other residential permits.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA. The following work is generally exempt: County VCC exemption list applies to Sterling addresses in unincorporated Loudoun. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Sterling (Loudoun County), VA via: County LandMARC.

last verified April 2026 source Loudoun County Department of Building and Development ↗ entry id permits/virginia/loudoun/sterling

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Loudoun County Department of Building and Development before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Sterling (Loudoun County)

Other jurisdictions in Loudoun County.