Town of Clifton, VIRGINIA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The Town of Clifton is a legally separate town inside Fairfax County. The town administers local use-permit, historic-overlay, and ARB approvals, while Fairfax County issues and inspects building permits.

Department

Town of Clifton Town Clerk / Planning Commission / Architectural Review Board; Fairfax County Land Development Services as building official for county building permits

Address

12641 Chapel Rd, Clifton, VA 20124

Phone

571-781-2404

Email

clerk@cliftonva.gov

Website

https://cliftonva.gov/town_administration/faqs.php

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is actually within the Town of Clifton boundaries using Fairfax County real-estate records.
2. For internal work, email clerk@cliftonva.gov with drawings to obtain the town sign-off letter needed before Fairfax County will accept the county permit application.
3. For exterior work, additions, new buildings, fences, sheds, and similar projects, obtain the required town approvals first, which may include a use permit from the Planning Commission or Town Council and a certificate of appropriateness from the ARB.
4. If the project affects setbacks, obtain Board of Zoning Appeals relief where required.
5. After town approvals, obtain the Fairfax County building permit signed by the Mayor or designated representative where required.
6. After construction, return to the town for final use-permit closure where the FAQ says final town conditions must be demonstrated as satisfied.

Typical processing time: Public pages do not provide a formal turnaround estimate; the Planning Commission generally meets the last Tuesday of the month and the ARB generally meets the last Thursday of the month if applications have been received.

Source: Town of Clifton Town Clerk / Planning Commission / Architectural Review Board; Fairfax County Land Development Services as building official for county building permits

General Requirements

Town approvals are required for additions, new structures, many exterior changes, fences over 6 feet, home businesses, changes in use, subdivisions, and other zoning or historic-district actions; Fairfax County building permits are still required where county code triggers apply.

Required Documents

• Use Permit application
• ARB certificate of appropriateness application
• Design drawings
• For internal work: emailed drawing set requesting a town sign-off letter for Fairfax County

Permit validity

Town website states Use Permits expire 3 months after notice that BPOL is delinquent; no broader building-permit validity summary was found on the public town pages.

Building code

Fairfax County administers the building permit and inspection function; the town pages do not publish a separate local building-code edition summary.

Owner-builder

No separate owner-builder rule was found on the town pages reviewed.

Contractor requirements

Fairfax County and Virginia contractor rules govern county building permits; the Town of Clifton also requires BPOL licensing for businesses operating in town.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$75.00 for all other construction and other use permits

Plan check fee

No separate town plan-check fee was clearly posted in the reviewed public pages.

Permit fee formula

Town FAQ lists use-permit fees of $250 for additions to existing buildings or other new residential construction over $25,000, $500 for new home or commercial construction, $250 plus advertising costs for new special use permits or new bed and breakfast use permits, $75 plus advertising costs for amendments to those permits, and $75 for all other construction and other use permits; separate Fairfax County building-permit fees also apply.

Reinspection fee

Public town pages reviewed did not post a separate reinspection fee; BPOL delinquency can affect permit status.

Payment note

Town maintains a payments portal, but the reviewed permit pages do not explain permit-payment mechanics in detail.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Town of Clifton Town Clerk / Planning Commission / Architectural Review Board; Fairfax County Land Development Services as building official for county building permits to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Fairfax County (building and trade inspections) or Town boards/staff (town approvals) (other)

Typical inspection sequence: Town approvals first, Fairfax County building inspections during construction, then final town demonstration that preliminary use-permit conditions were satisfied so a final use permit can issue. Fairfax County handles building and trade inspections for county-issued permits; town final approval items are handled through town boards and staff rather than a posted inspection portal

Additional Resources

• Building code: Fairfax County administers the building permit and inspection function; the town pages do not publish a separate local building-code edition summary.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Town Council Applications
• Architectural Review Board
• Planning Commission
• Fairfax County iCare Search
• Fairfax County PLUS Portal
• License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub

Other cities in Fairfax County