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When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Madison
A town zoning permit is required for renovation, new build, and other land-use changes inside town limits. Additional town review is triggered for signage, food preparation, private well or septic service, and exterior work in the Historic Overlay Zoning District. Building permits and code inspections are issued separately by Madison County.
Note: No public exempt-work list was found in the Town of Madison's zoning materials. Town forms focus on when zoning review is required rather than what is exempt. Contact the Town Administrator at 540-948-3202 or townoffice@townofmadisonva.com to confirm whether your project requires a town zoning permit before starting work.
- Completed town zoning permit application or other applicable town form
- Physical survey or sketch plan showing setbacks and proposed improvements
- Plans or sketches for proposed exterior work in the Historic Overlay Zoning District
- Madison County Health Department approval for private well or septic where applicable
- Virginia Department of Health approval for food preparation where applicable
- Owner authorization if applying through an agent
- Other plans, photos, sketches, or supporting documents requested by town staff
- Building code
- Building-code enforcement for projects in the Town of Madison is administered by Madison County under the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
- Owner-builder
- No town-specific owner-builder rule was published in the town's zoning materials. For the building-permit portion, Madison County's owner exemption rules and Virginia state contractor-licensing requirements control.
- Contractor requirements
- No standalone contractor license requirement was published in the town's zoning forms. The actual building-permit step is controlled by Madison County, whose permit forms require Virginia DPOR contractor-license information unless the applicant is exempt under state law.
Application process
Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final
- 01 Confirm whether the property is inside Town of Madison limits and determine which town zoning approvals are needed: zoning permit, zoning determination, special use permit or special exception, variance, rezoning, sign permit, or historic-overlay review.
- 02 Contact the Town Administrator and Zoning Administrator at 540-948-3202 or townoffice@townofmadisonva.com for zoning questions and to confirm filing requirements.
- 03 Complete the appropriate town zoning form. Download forms from the Town of Madison Document Center. Each form requires a physical survey or sketch plan showing setbacks and proposed improvements.
- 04 Include any required supporting approvals: Madison County Health Department approval for private well or septic, Virginia Department of Health approval for food preparation where applicable, a town sign permit number if new signage is proposed, and a sketch or plan of proposed exterior work if the property is in the Historic Overlay Zoning District.
- 05 Submit applications by emailing electronic PDF files to the Town Administrator, or deliver materials in person to Town Hall during office hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays).
- 06 If the proposed use is not by right, pursue the additional town zoning pathway identified by staff, such as a special use permit, variance, zoning text or map amendment, or rezoning. Town review includes a site inspection before approval.
- 07 After receiving town zoning approval, apply separately to Madison County for any required building permit, trade permit, flood-zone permit, inspections, and certificate of occupancy. Madison County — not the town — is the building official for all USBC permitting.
Fee schedule
Madison building permit fees
Town zoning fees are paid with the filed application. No dedicated online payment portal was identified for town zoning fees. For Madison County building permit fees, use the county's Tyler Portico payment page; a 3 percent convenience fee applies for credit-card payments.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
- Madison County Building Department: 540-948-6102 (phone)
- Madison County Inspection Request Form (online)
- Scheduling deadline
- Madison County requires inspection requests by 3:00 p.m. the day prior to the desired date.
- Inspection hours
- Town office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding state holidays.
Typical sequence: Town zoning review first; any additional town zoning action if needed (special use permit, variance, rezoning); then Madison County building permit and county code inspections for work requiring a building permit; final county inspection and certificate of occupancy before occupancy when applicable.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Madison permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Madison, VA? ▸
02 How much does a building permit cost in Madison, VA? ▸
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Madison, VA? ▸
04 How do I schedule a building inspection in Madison, VA? ▸
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Town of Madison Town Administrator and Zoning Administrator (town zoning); Madison County Building Department (building permits) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.