Madison County, VA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Covers unincorporated Madison County. Per the Virginia DHCD Building Official Directory, Madison County also serves as the actual building permit issuer for the Town of Madison. Separate town zoning administration applies inside town limits.

Department

Madison County Building Department; Madison County Zoning & Planning

Address

410 N Main Street, Madison, VA 22727

Phone

540-948-6102

Email

permit-tech@madisonco.virginia.gov

Website

https://www.madisonco.virginia.gov/160/Building-Department

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the project requires a building permit, a flood-zone development permit, and/or county zoning approval. Madison County requires permits before construction, demolition, alteration, change of occupancy, asbestos disturbance, and all work in a FEMA special flood hazard area.
2. Download and complete the applicable county forms. Available forms include the building permit application, trade permit application, asbestos certification, AG-UG mitigation form, flood-zone permit form, demolition packet, and manufactured-home forms.
3. Assemble supporting documents. Depending on the project, supporting materials may include plans, construction documents, project description and estimated cost, contractor information or owner exemption certification, health department approval, and other required trade or floodplain documentation.
4. Submit the permit package to the Madison County Building Department at 410 N Main Street or by mail to PO Box 1206, Madison, VA 22727. No dedicated online permit-submittal workflow was identified on the county's public pages.
5. County staff review the application and calculate applicable fees, including building permit charges, plan review charges, zoning fees, and the mandatory 2 percent state levy.
6. Pay fees through the county's Tyler Portico permit payment page or through county staff. Use the property owner name and tax map or parcel ID to locate the fee record. A 3 percent convenience fee is added for credit-card payments.
7. After payment, the county will email the permit to the applicant within 2 business days.
8. Post the approved plans onsite and request inspections as work progresses by phone or through the county's online inspection request form. Final inspection approval and a certificate of occupancy are required before occupancy or change of occupancy.

Typical processing time: No overall permit-review turnaround estimate was published. Once payment is made, allow 2 business days for the permit to be emailed.

Source: Madison County Building Department; Madison County Zoning & Planning

General Requirements

A permit must be obtained before construction or demolition of a building or structure, change of occupancy, movement of a lot line that increases hazard or decreases safety to an existing building or structure, and removal or disturbance of asbestos-containing materials. All work or development in a FEMA-designated special flood hazard area must also be permitted.

Required Documents

• Completed building or trade permit application
• Plans and construction documents as applicable
• Project description and estimated cost
• Contractor information or owner exemption certification
• Asbestos certification when applicable
• Flood-zone permit for work in a FEMA special flood hazard area
• County health department approval where required
• Specialized manufactured-home, pool, demolition, or code-modification forms when applicable

Permit validity

Permits are valid for one year. Inspections are required at minimum 6-month intervals to avoid permit lapse, and the permit holder must demonstrate that work has not been abandoned. The Building Official may grant an extension upon written request; additional fees may apply.

Building code

2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) — now in full effect; the one-year grace period has ended.

Owner-builder

The county may issue a permit to persons exempt from state contractor-licensing requirements under Virginia Code section 54.1-1101. Owners may qualify under specific circumstances, including building their primary residence and related accessory structures. If an owner obtains the permit and later hires contractors, the owner remains legally responsible for ensuring proper licensing.

Contractor requirements

Virginia contractor license information is required on building and trade permit forms. Virginia code requires a contractor to be properly licensed before bidding or undertaking contracting work of $1,000 or more. Applicants must certify either proper licensure or a lawful exemption.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$75.00 for residential and commercial new construction/remodel building permits; county zoning permit fees begin at $50.00 for accessory-structure zoning permits

Plan check fee

Residential plan review or plan amendment: $50.00. Commercial plan review: $300.00. Commercial plan amendment: $60.00. Commercial trade review or plan amendment: $50.00 each. E&S control plan review: $200 plus $100 for each additional acre.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are primarily square-foot based for residential and commercial work, with flat fees for many specific permit types. Solar fees are based on estimated cost. Zoning and land-use fees are flat or acreage-based depending on application type.

Reinspection fee

$100.00 per reinspection for building permits

Penalty (no permit)

Working without a permit is charged at double the permit fee. Permit renewal: $50.00 residential and $75.00 commercial, maximum $300.00.

Payment note

Pay online via Tyler Portico using property owner name and tax map or parcel ID. A 3 percent convenience fee is added for credit-card payments. After payment, allow 2 business days for the permit to be emailed.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective January 2024).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Madison County Building Department; Madison County Zoning & Planning to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 540-948-6102 (phone)
• Inspection Request Form (online)

Scheduling deadline

Inspection requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. the day prior to the desired date.

Time windows

AM and PM requests are considered; specific inspection times cannot be given in advance.

Typical inspection sequence: Typical inspections include footing, concrete wall, drain tile/waterproofing, backfill/green plate, crawlspace framing, ground works, water line, slab, gas lines, rough-in stages, framing, and other project-specific inspections, followed by final inspection and certificate of occupancy before occupancy or change of occupancy.

Third-party inspections are allowed only under the county's third-party inspection policy; outside-agency requests must be approved in advance.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) — now in full effect; the one-year grace period has ended.
• Verify contractor license: Virginia DPOR License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Zoning Map & Ordinances
• Certificate of Occupancy
• Required Inspections (2026)
• Flood Zone Permit
• Local Design Criteria
• Madison County GIS / WebGIS
• Madison County Code of Ordinances
• License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Madison County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, VA?

A permit must be obtained before construction or demolition of a building or structure, change of occupancy, movement of a lot line that increases hazard or decreases safety to an existing building or structure, and removal or disturbance of asbestos-containing materials. All work or development in a FEMA-designated special flood hazard area must also be permitted.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Madison County, VA?

The minimum permit fee is $75.00 for residential and commercial new construction/remodel building permits; county zoning permit fees begin at $50.00 for accessory-structure zoning permits. Fees are calculated as: Building permit fees are primarily square-foot based for residential and commercial work, with flat fees for many specific permit types. Solar fees are based on estimated cost. Zoning and land-use fees are flat or acreage-based depending on application type.. Plan check fee: Residential plan review or plan amendment: $50.00. Commercial plan review: $300.00. Commercial plan amendment: $60.00. Commercial trade review or plan amendment: $50.00 each. E&S control plan review: $200 plus $100 for each additional acre..

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, VA?

1. Confirm whether the project requires a building permit, a flood-zone development permit, and/or county zoning approval. Madison County requires permits before construction, demolition, alteration, change of occupancy, asbestos disturbance, and all work in a FEMA special flood hazard area. 2. Download and complete the applicable county forms. Available forms include the building permit application, trade permit application, asbestos certification, AG-UG mitigation form, flood-zone permit form, demolition packet, and manufactured-home forms. 3. Assemble supporting documents. Depending on the project, supporting materials may include plans, construction documents, project description and estimated cost, contractor information or owner exemption certification, health department approval, and other required trade or floodplain documentation. 4. Submit the permit package to the Madison County Building Department at 410 N Main Street or by mail to PO Box 1206, Madison, VA 22727. No dedicated online permit-submittal workflow was identified on the county's public pages. 5. County staff review the application and calculate applicable fees, including building permit charges, plan review charges, zoning fees, and the mandatory 2 percent state levy. 6. Pay fees through the county's Tyler Portico permit payment page or through county staff. Use the property owner name and tax map or parcel ID to locate the fee record. A 3 percent convenience fee is added for credit-card payments. 7. After payment, the county will email the permit to the applicant within 2 business days. 8. Post the approved plans onsite and request inspections as work progresses by phone or through the county's online inspection request form. Final inspection approval and a certificate of occupancy are required before occupancy or change of occupancy.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Madison County, VA?

Typical processing time is No overall permit-review turnaround estimate was published. Once payment is made, allow 2 business days for the permit to be emailed..

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Madison County, VA?

Inspections can be scheduled via: 540-948-6102, Inspection Request Form. Inspection requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. the day prior to the desired date..