City Building Permits

Fairfax, VIRGINIA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Fairfax, Virginia. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Virginia Fairfax County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Independent city permit authority; Fairfax County permits are not valid in the City of Fairfax.

Department
Office of Code Administration and Fire Marshal's Office, City of Fairfax Fire Department
Address
10455 Armstrong Street, Room 208, Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone
703-385-7830
Website
https://www.fairfaxva.gov/Government/Departments/Fire-Department/Code-Administration

Online Permit Portal

Open Accela Citizen Access

Platform: Accela Citizen Access • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Use the Permit FAQ and Permit Process Guides to confirm the correct building, trade, zoning, fire, or occupancy record.
  2. Apply in the City of Fairfax permit portal for portal-enabled record types; submit supporting plans and documents listed in the guide for that permit type.
  3. Respond to staff comments and resubmit through the portal until reviews are approved.
  4. Pay assessed fees online through the portal.
  5. Schedule required inspections in the permit portal; certificates of occupancy issue as the final step for applicable projects.

Typical processing time: The city states residential building-permit submissions generally take up to 3 weeks for review and comment or issuance, and commercial submissions up to 4 weeks; Jan. 13, 2025 metrics also showed averages such as 2.96 weeks for residential alterations and 6.64 weeks for commercial tenant build-outs.

Source: Office of Code Administration and Fire Marshal's Office, City of Fairfax Fire Department

General Requirements

Required for residential demolition, new construction, additions, alterations, relocatable buildings, load-bearing and non-load-bearing wall changes, framing changes, opening-size changes, asbestos disturbance, occupancy changes, decks, footings, foundations, large detached structures, pools, retaining walls, canopies, balcony repair, and commercial tenant fit-outs.

Required Documents

  • Permit-specific submissions vary by guide
  • Plans and permit-specific application materials
  • Sealed design-professional plans may be required by state law or at the building official's discretion
Permit validity
Current public-facing summary pages reviewed do not restate a local expiration rule; the city administers permits under the Virginia USBC.
Building code
City page states that, starting January 18, 2025, all applications and plans must follow the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
Owner-builder
No clear city-specific owner-builder summary was found in the public pages reviewed.
Contractor requirements
Contractors should hold required Virginia licenses; city permit pages direct applicants to Code Administration and city development contacts, and city permits are city-issued rather than county-issued.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
No single minimum building-permit fee was clearly posted on the current public summary pages reviewed.
Plan check fee
Not shown as a standalone line item on the current public fee summary reviewed.
Permit fee formula
Code Administration posts residential at $0.11 per square foot, commercial at $0.16 per square foot, and remodeling at $90 plus 1% of project cost over $1,000; separate zoning and development fees also apply by permit type.
Reinspection fee
Reinspection fee may apply when inspections are requested before the work is ready; Public Works site reinspection or rescheduling fee is $50 where applicable.
Payment note
The permit portal accepts secure online payments; some city pages also note in-person payment options for non-portal processes.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Office of Code Administration and Fire Marshal's Office, City of Fairfax Fire Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Inspection hours
AM inspections: 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; PM inspections: 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Time windows
AM or PM

Typical inspection sequence: The city lists preconstruction meeting, footing, foundation, trench, slab, backfill, wind bracing, framing, close-in, insulation, final, and fire alarm or suppression as typical building inspection stages; trade inspections typically include service, trenching, close-in, and final.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Office of Code Administration and Fire Marshal's Office, City of Fairfax Fire Department before applying.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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