Patrick County, VA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Patrick County Building Inspections is the USBC permit issuer and inspection office for all of Patrick County, including the incorporated Town of Stuart. For projects inside the Town of Stuart, prior land use approval from the Town of Stuart Land Use Administrator is required before the county will process the building permit application. Patrick County also administers countywide Erosion and Sediment Control and Stormwater Management permitting, including for the Town of Stuart.

Department

Patrick County Building Inspections

Address

106 Rucker Street, Stuart, VA 24171

Phone

276-694-4143

Email

mtaylor@co.patrick.va.us

Website

https://www.co.patrick.va.us/160/Building-Inspections

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine whether the project is in unincorporated Patrick County or inside the incorporated Town of Stuart. If it is inside Stuart, obtain prior approval from the Town of Stuart Land Use Administrator — the county application requires the Town Land Use Administrator's signature before the county will process the permit.
2. Download the Patrick County building permit application and assemble all required supporting documents, including Health Department well and sewage permits for new dwellings, structural building plans, AEP work order information for electrical service, and any other site-specific approvals.
3. Determine whether separate land-disturbance or stormwater permits are required before site work begins. A land-disturbing permit is required for non-exempt disturbance of 10,000 square feet or more. A VSMP permit and state VAR10 coverage are required for qualifying disturbance of 1 acre or more, or for projects within a common plan of development.
4. Submit the completed application and all supporting documents to Patrick County Building Inspections. Completed applications may be emailed to mtaylor@co.patrick.va.us or submitted in person at 106 Rucker Street, Stuart, VA 24171.
5. Pay permit fees. Fees are payable by cash, check (payable to Treasurer Patrick County), or card. Card payments carry a 3 percent convenience fee.
6. Await county review and permit issuance. No standard turnaround time is published.
7. After issuance, call required inspections into the building office between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Inspectors are in the field from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Source: Patrick County Building Inspections

General Requirements

Patrick County adopts the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) by reference. Permits are required for construction, demolition, structural alterations, most electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fuel-gas, and fire-protection work, certain occupancy changes, and asbestos-disturbing work, unless exempt under the current USBC. Covered work types include residential construction, remodeling and additions, multi-family, commercial and industrial work, garages, storage buildings, HVAC, electrical service and upgrades, plumbing, sprinklers, gas fitting, demolition, tank installation and removal, sign installation, mobile homes, modular homes, and temporary recreational dwellings.

Required Documents

• Completed Patrick County building permit application
• Structural building plans for new dwellings and other projects as required
• Approved sewage disposal and well construction permits from the Health Department for private systems where applicable
• AEP work order number for electrical service applications
• VDOT driveway permit documentation when a new driveway is proposed
• Flood elevation certificate when the project is in or within 200 feet of a flood plain and the county requires one
• Town of Stuart Land Use Administrator signature for any project within town limits
• PSA Director approval for PSA water or Town of Stuart Cross Connection Control Administrator signature for Town water, as applicable
• Contractor register with copies of state contractor licenses and tradesman cards, or owner affidavit if owner-builder
• Asbestos form for reroofing, additions, renovation, or demolition where applicable

Permit validity

Permits expire 2 years after issuance. A permit also expires if construction has not commenced within 6 months of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 6 months after commencement. The county may extend a permit for up to an additional 2 years without additional fee if the applicant applies in time. Refund requests must be made within 2 years of initial issuance; the county withholds a 30 percent administrative fee and will not refund permits after an on-site inspection has occurred.

Building code

2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), effective January 18, 2024. Permit applications submitted after January 18, 2025 must comply with the 2021 Virginia USBC.

Owner-builder

The county application allows the owner to indicate they will perform the work and to complete the owner affidavit page. The affidavit states that failure to list subcontractors or tradesmen means the owner is the sole builder physically performing the work. The county strongly suggests that contractors obtain permits themselves, because USBC enforcement actions run against the permit holder.

Contractor requirements

Virginia Code 54.1-1111 requires proof that the applicant is properly licensed or exempt before permit issuance. Each listed contractor must provide copies of state contractor licenses or tradesman cards and a letter stating the work being performed and for whom services are rendered. Virginia DPOR issues contractor licenses to business entities: Class A covers projects of $150,000 or more, Class B covers $30,000 to under $150,000, and Class C covers over $1,000 to under $30,000, subject to specialty rules and exemptions.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$10.00 permit-issuance fee plus category-specific inspection charges. For most new-construction and alteration building permits, the minimum inspection fee is $70.00, making a typical minimum building permit total $80.00 before any card convenience charge.

Permit fee formula

New residential, retail/commercial, manufacturing/warehouse, and additions/alterations/renovations: $0.15 per square foot with listed minimums. Swimming pools: $0.25 per square foot of surface area, minimum $100.00. Reroofing with structural members: flat fee by job valuation bracket. Mobile homes, modular units, temporary recreational dwellings, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, signs, tanks, sprinkler systems, elevator/conveyance systems, and appeals: flat schedule items. All listed fees include a 2 percent surcharge levied by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

Reinspection fee

$60.00 for the first extra trip; $120.00 for the second and each subsequent extra trip

Penalty (no permit)

$250.00 pre-inspection fee for work started without a required permit. $250.00 Building Board of Appeals filing fee.

Payment note

Fees payable by cash, check (payable to Treasurer Patrick County), or card. Card payments carry a 3 percent convenience fee.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not over 256 square feet
• Certain utility prefabricated buildings not over 150 square feet
• Tents or air-supported structures 900 square feet or less with an occupant load of 50 or fewer
• Fences of any height unless required for pedestrian safety or used as a swimming-pool barrier
• Concrete or masonry walls not over 6 feet high
• Retaining walls supporting less than 3 feet of unbalanced fill, subject to limits
• Small pools not over 150 square feet and less than 24 inches deep
• Flagpoles 30 feet or less in height
• Certain low-voltage wiring and monitoring or automation systems under listed conditions
• Certain ordinary repairs such as like-for-like window and door replacement in qualifying residential occupancies, plumbing-fixture replacement without system alteration, replacement of receptacles and fixtures in qualifying dwellings, limited roof-deck replacement, flooring replacement, cabinetry and trim replacement, and paint or wallpaper

Important: These exemptions are drawn from the Virginia USBC. Patrick County's fee ordinance defers to the current adopted USBC for its exemption list. The building official may require permits for otherwise exempt items in special flood hazard areas or certain local historic districts. Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from land use, zoning, or stormwater requirements. Confirm with Patrick County Building Inspections before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 276-694-4143 (call 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.) (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Inspection calls are accepted Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Inspection hours

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Building Official office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Time windows

Inspectors are in the field Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. No specific appointment windows are published.

Typical inspection sequence: No universal stage-by-stage inspection sequence is published. The county application states all work to be inspected must be completed before requesting inspection, and the applicant is responsible for all required inspections. Inspections are staged by permit type and can include building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, mobile-home setup, and final approvals as applicable. A reinspection charge applies if work is incomplete, unsatisfactory, inaccessible, or otherwise not ready when the inspector arrives.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), effective January 18, 2024. Permit applications submitted after January 18, 2025 must comply with the 2021 Virginia USBC.
• Verify contractor license: Virginia DPOR License Lookup
• Building Permit Application (PDF)
• Building Ordinance and Fee Schedule (PDF)
• Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC)
• Stormwater Management (SWM)
• Virginia USBC — 2021 Effective Provisions
• Virginia DPOR Contractor Licensing Overview
• Patrick County Enterprise Zone
• License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Patrick County Building Permit FAQ

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

Patrick County adopts the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) by reference. Permits are required for construction, demolition, structural alterations, most electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fuel-gas, and fire-protection work, certain occupancy changes, and asbestos-disturbing work, unless exempt under the current USBC. Covered work types include residential construction, remodeling and additions, multi-family, commercial and industrial work, garages, storage buildings, HVAC, electrical service and upgrades, plumbing, sprinklers, gas fitting, demolition, tank installation and removal, sign installation, mobile homes, modular homes, and temporary recreational dwellings.

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

The minimum permit fee is $10.00 permit-issuance fee plus category-specific inspection charges. For most new-construction and alteration building permits, the minimum inspection fee is $70.00, making a typical minimum building permit total $80.00 before any card convenience charge.. Fees are calculated as: New residential, retail/commercial, manufacturing/warehouse, and additions/alterations/renovations: $0.15 per square foot with listed minimums. Swimming pools: $0.25 per square foot of surface area, minimum $100.00. Reroofing with structural members: flat fee by job valuation bracket. Mobile homes, modular units, temporary recreational dwellings, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, signs, tanks, sprinkler systems, elevator/conveyance systems, and appeals: flat schedule items. All listed fees include a 2 percent surcharge levied by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development..

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

1. Determine whether the project is in unincorporated Patrick County or inside the incorporated Town of Stuart. If it is inside Stuart, obtain prior approval from the Town of Stuart Land Use Administrator — the county application requires the Town Land Use Administrator's signature before the county will process the permit. 2. Download the Patrick County building permit application and assemble all required supporting documents, including Health Department well and sewage permits for new dwellings, structural building plans, AEP work order information for electrical service, and any other site-specific approvals. 3. Determine whether separate land-disturbance or stormwater permits are required before site work begins. A land-disturbing permit is required for non-exempt disturbance of 10,000 square feet or more. A VSMP permit and state VAR10 coverage are required for qualifying disturbance of 1 acre or more, or for projects within a common plan of development. 4. Submit the completed application and all supporting documents to Patrick County Building Inspections. Completed applications may be emailed to mtaylor@co.patrick.va.us or submitted in person at 106 Rucker Street, Stuart, VA 24171. 5. Pay permit fees. Fees are payable by cash, check (payable to Treasurer Patrick County), or card. Card payments carry a 3 percent convenience fee. 6. Await county review and permit issuance. No standard turnaround time is published. 7. After issuance, call required inspections into the building office between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Inspectors are in the field from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Patrick County, VA?

The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not over 256 square feet; Certain utility prefabricated buildings not over 150 square feet; Tents or air-supported structures 900 square feet or less with an occupant load of 50 or fewer; Fences of any height unless required for pedestrian safety or used as a swimming-pool barrier; Concrete or masonry walls not over 6 feet high; Retaining walls supporting less than 3 feet of unbalanced fill, subject to limits; Small pools not over 150 square feet and less than 24 inches deep; Flagpoles 30 feet or less in height; Certain low-voltage wiring and monitoring or automation systems under listed conditions; Certain ordinary repairs such as like-for-like window and door replacement in qualifying residential occupancies, plumbing-fixture replacement without system alteration, replacement of receptacles and fixtures in qualifying dwellings, limited roof-deck replacement, flooring replacement, cabinetry and trim replacement, and paint or wallpaper. Note: These exemptions are drawn from the Virginia USBC. Patrick County's fee ordinance defers to the current adopted USBC for its exemption list. The building official may require permits for otherwise exempt items in special flood hazard areas or certain local historic districts. Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from land use, zoning, or stormwater requirements. Confirm with Patrick County Building Inspections before proceeding.

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

Inspections can be scheduled via: 276-694-4143 (call 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.). Inspection calls are accepted Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m..