Unincorporated Southampton County

A building permit is required before constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, altering, or demolishing any structure, or changing the use of a structure, in Southampton County. Common examples include new dwellings, additions, garages, decks, sheds over the exempt threshold, pool installations, and trade work (electrical, plumbing, mechanical). Projects in an incorporated town also require a town zoning clearance before the county building permit is issued.

• Exempt One-story detached sheds, playhouses, and similar accessory structures up to 256 square feet (2021 Virginia Construction Code)
• Exempt Fences of any height unless required for pedestrian safety or used as a swimming-pool barrier
• Exempt Retaining walls supporting less than 3 feet of unbalanced fill
• Exempt Concrete or masonry walls up to 6 feet in height
• Exempt Reroofing and residential exterior siding replacement
• Exempt Floor-covering replacement
• Exempt Painting and similar wall-covering work
• Exempt Same-kind residential window and door replacement (no structural change)
• Exempt Ordinary repairs and maintenance that do not affect structural, fire-protection, plumbing, mechanical, or electrical systems
• Exempt Nonresidential farm buildings exempt under Virginia law
• Exempt Wiring or equipment operating at less than 50 volts

Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning and planning requirements. Projects in incorporated towns still require town zoning clearance. Confirm any exemption with Southampton County Community Development before starting work.

Building code

Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) — 2021 Virginia codes effective January 18, 2024, including the Virginia Construction Code and Virginia Residential Code

Permit validity

Under the 2021 Virginia Construction Code, an application is deemed abandoned if not pursued in good faith within six months of submittal. A permit may be revoked if work does not commence within six months of issuance or if work is suspended or abandoned for six months. The building official may impose a three-year completion limit on new detached single-family dwellings, additions, and residential accessory structures.

Owner-builder

No separate county owner-builder handout has been identified on the county's public pages. Virginia owner-builder exemption rules should be confirmed directly with Community Development and DPOR for the specific project type.

Contractor requirements

Virginia contractor and trade licensing is regulated at the state level through the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Verify current license requirements at https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Contractors before applying.

Source: Southampton County Department of Community Development ↗

1. 01
   Confirm the project location. If the parcel is within an incorporated town (Boykins, Branchville, Capron, Courtland, Ivor, or Newsoms), obtain the required Special Zoning Approval Letter or town zoning permit before or alongside the county building permit application.
2. 02
   Contact Southampton County Community Development at (757) 653-3015 or visit the office at 22350 Main Street, Courtland, VA 23837 to obtain the applicable permit application (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or other trade permit).
3. 03
   Assemble all required supporting materials, including a site/plot plan, construction plans, contractor information, and any Health Department approvals for well or septic systems where applicable.
4. 04
   Submit the completed application package in person at the Community Development office. Fees are due at the time of submittal.
5. 05
   County staff reviews the application for compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and applicable county ordinances. Residential projects typically receive a plan-review determination within a few business days; larger or more complex projects may take longer.
6. 06
   After permit issuance, post the permit card on site and request required inspections before work proceeds beyond each required inspection stage.
7. 07
   Obtain a certificate of occupancy before occupying any new structure or structure with a change of use.

Typical processing time: Residential plan review is typically a few business days. Nonresidential review time varies by project complexity. Contact Community Development for current workload estimates.

Source: Southampton County Department of Community Development ↗

• (757) 653-3015 (Community Development) (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Contact the Community Development office at least one business day in advance to schedule an inspection.

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Typical sequence: Inspections are required at each mandatory stage before work proceeds. Typical sequence for new construction: footing and foundation, framing, rough-in trades (electrical, plumbing, mechanical), insulation, and final inspections for each trade and the overall structure. The building official may require additional inspections depending on project type and complexity.

Source: Southampton County Department of Community Development ↗