Chesterfield County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Chesterfield County is the permit-issuing locality for unincorporated areas in the county. The county administers building permits, trade permits, plan review, inspections, certificates of occupancy, and related zoning and environmental review under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and local ordinances.

Department

Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection

Address

9800 Government Center Parkway, Chesterfield, VA 23832; Mailing: P.O. Box 40, Chesterfield, VA 23832

Phone

804-751-4990

Email

Contact through county website: https://www.chesterfield.gov/223/Building-Inspection

Website

https://www.chesterfield.gov/223/Building-Inspection

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the project needs a building permit, trade permits, zoning review, environmental review, Chesapeake Bay review, floodplain review, utilities review, or a certificate of appropriateness for designated historic resources.
2. Prepare the correct application package. Chesterfield publishes separate residential, commercial, multi-family, and trade permit applications plus plan-review guidance and checklists.
3. Submit through the ELM portal, or deliver or mail the application package to Building Inspection at 9800 Government Center Parkway or P.O. Box 40, Chesterfield, VA 23832.
4. Upload or provide required plans and supporting documents. Residential and commercial pages state that plans are routed to Building Inspection and, as needed, Planning, Environmental Engineering, Utilities, Fire Life Safety, and other reviewers.
5. Pay permit fees at application. Chesterfield accepts checks payable to Treasurer, Chesterfield County, plus major credit cards; ELM also supports online fee payment.
6. Respond to plan review comments, amendments, or revision requests until all reviews are approved.
7. Receive permit issuance, print the permit and approved plans, and keep them on site. Chesterfield says the permit must be posted on the construction site for public inspection.
8. Request required inspections through ELM or the IVR line and complete all required finals before occupancy or closeout.

Typical processing time: No standard countywide building permit turnaround time was published on the public pages reviewed.

Source: Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection

General Requirements

Chesterfield states that whenever you construct, reconstruct, enlarge, alter, or demolish a structure, a permit is required before work starts. Residential examples include new houses, additions, structural repairs, garage conversions, decks, sheds 257 square feet or larger, finish-offs, larger pools, structural retaining walls, and demolition. Commercial pages also require permits for new construction, additions, tenant upfits, alterations, change of use or occupancy, and regulated trade work.

Required Documents

• Correct permit application
• Construction plans
• Plot plan or plat showing setbacks and easements
• Permit delivery form for residential work
• Supporting structural details
• Project-specific items such as engineering seals, pool barrier details, stormwater or erosion materials, or owner authorization

Permit validity

Permits are valid for six months from the date of last activity, including completed inspections, amendments, and issuance of associated permits. Chesterfield advises applicants to request an extension before expiration or pay a reinstatement fee if the permit lapses.

Building code

Chesterfield states that the Virginia Construction Code 2021 edition became mandatory for all projects with a permit application date on or after January 18, 2025.

Owner-builder

Chesterfield's residential guide says the homeowner or contractor doing the work may apply. The commercial permit application also includes the Virginia contractor exemption statement under Code of Virginia 54.1-1101 for exempt owner or lessee work.

Contractor requirements

Chesterfield's commercial permit application requires contractors either to provide licensure or certify that they are exempt under Virginia law. The same form also requires confirmation that required local taxes or license fees have been paid and states that if business done in Chesterfield County exceeds $25,000 year to date, a Chesterfield County business license is required.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Residential schedule contains many flat fees with common minimum administrative charges of $57. Commercial schedule states minimums such as $297 for new construction and $178 for additions.

Plan check fee

Not shown as a separate universal plan-check line item on the public building fee schedules reviewed. Plan review is built into the county permit-review process and some related Planning or Environmental Engineering fees may apply separately.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Residential permits are mostly flat-fee by project type plus a 2 percent state levy. Commercial building permits are largely valuation-based by estimated construction cost, with separate auxiliary permit and fixed-fee items, plus a 2 percent state levy.

Reinspection fee

$57 for each like or same-type inspection in excess of two; $57 not-ready fee

Penalty (no permit)

Past-due penalties of the greater of 10 percent or $10; code investigation fees for work started without a permit

Payment note

Fees are due at application. Chesterfield accepts checks payable to Treasurer, Chesterfield County, cash, and major credit cards. ELM supports online payments.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Painting interior or exterior surfaces
• Many ordinary repairs such as drywall, plaster, siding, reroofing, floor coverings, cabinetry, trim, and wallpaper
• Replacement of doors and windows without structural change, unless a historic-district exception applies
• Gutters and downspouts
• Driveways and sidewalks
• Residential sheds, playhouses, and similar detached structures 256 square feet or less
• Fences that are not pool barriers and are not required for pedestrian safety
• Residential recreational equipment such as swings and jungle gyms
• Insulation
• Low-voltage wiring and equipment under 50 volts in qualifying conditions
• Security alarm systems
• Replacement electric water heaters, switches, receptacles, and certain like-for-like residential electrical fixtures
• Replacement plumbing fixtures without system alteration
• Retaining walls under 3 feet of retained earth for landscaping only and qualifying concrete or masonry walls not over 6 feet above grade
• Small pools not over 150 square feet, 5,000 gallons, and less than 24 inches deep
• Replacement of above-ground LP-gas containers of the same capacity in the same location by the serving gas supplier
• Flagpoles 30 feet or less
• Temporary ramps serving qualifying dwelling units
• Other work the building official deems minor and ordinary

Inspections

How to Schedule

• ELM portal (online)
• IVR phone scheduling (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Requests can be made up to five business days in advance; if requested by 11:59 p.m., inspection is performed the next open business day.

Inspection hours

Office hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Inspection hours Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Typical residential sequence is footing, foundation or slab, framing and rough trades, insulation, and final building plus final trade inspections. Commercial inspections typically include footing, foundation, slabs, structural members before concealment, rough MEP and fire protection, fire-rated assemblies, energy conservation materials, and finals. CO issuance requires all required finals and departmental approvals.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Chesterfield states that the Virginia Construction Code 2021 edition became mandatory for all projects with a permit application date on or after January 18, 2025.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Zoning Process
• Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas
• Development and Construction Services
• Preservation Committee
• Zoning Ordinance
• License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub