Unincorporated Patrick County

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.

• Exempt One-story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not over 256 square feet
• Exempt Certain utility prefabricated buildings not over 150 square feet
• Exempt Tents or air-supported structures 900 square feet or less with an occupant load of 50 or fewer
• Exempt Fences of any height unless required for pedestrian safety or used as a swimming-pool barrier
• Exempt Concrete or masonry walls not over 6 feet high
• Exempt Retaining walls supporting less than 3 feet of unbalanced fill, subject to limits
• Exempt Small pools not over 150 square feet and less than 24 inches deep
• Exempt Flagpoles 30 feet or less in height
• Exempt Certain low-voltage wiring and monitoring or automation systems under listed conditions
• Exempt 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.

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.

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.

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.

Source: Patrick County Building Inspections ↗

1. 01
   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. 02
   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. 03
   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. 04
   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. 05
   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. 06
   Await county review and permit issuance. No standard turnaround time is published.
7. 07
   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 ↗

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

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

• 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 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.

Source: Patrick County Building Inspections ↗