City Building Permits

Town of Herndon, VIRGINIA Building Permit Guide

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

Virginia Fairfax County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Town permit authority for properties inside the Town of Herndon.

Department
Building Inspections, Department of Public Works
Address
777 Lynn Street, Herndon, VA 20170
Phone
703-435-6850
Website
https://www.herndon-va.gov/departments/public-works/building-inspections

Online Permit Portal

Open Building Inspections Page

Platform: No dedicated self-service permit portal; email intake • Account required: No • Submission: Online only

Application Process

  1. Confirm permit need under the Virginia USBC and the town's Building Inspections guidance.
  2. Ensure contractor finance prerequisites are satisfied, including town business-license requirements if the work threshold is met.
  3. Email all applications and plans to buildinginspections@herndon-va.gov.
  4. Obtain any required outside approvals, including Fairfax County Fire Marshal approval where applicable.
  5. Receive review comments and town approval, then pay assessed fees and proceed to inspections.

Typical processing time: No general permit-review turnaround estimate was posted on the reviewed public Building Inspections pages.

Source: Building Inspections, Department of Public Works

General Requirements

Required for constructing, enlarging, altering, or demolishing a building or structure and for installing or altering regulated equipment; town guidance specifically calls out additions, alterations, decks, garages, retaining walls over 3 feet, sheds over 256 square feet or more than one story, and separate electrical, plumbing, or mechanical changes.

Required Documents

  • Permit application
  • Plans
  • Permit-specific forms
  • All applications and plans must be submitted by email
Permit validity
No public-facing town summary of permit expiration was found in the reviewed pages.
Building code
Town code page references Virginia versions of the building codes and lists the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code among adopted code materials.
Owner-builder
No clear owner-builder summary was found on the reviewed public pages.
Contractor requirements
Virginia state contractor licensing applies; town page states a permit will only be issued to a tradesman if the contract total is under $1,000. A Town of Herndon business license is required when the total cost of work in town exceeds $25,000 in a calendar year.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
$60.00
Plan check fee
Residential new-construction guidance publicly references a $135 plan-review fee.
Permit fee formula
Mixed fee schedule under Town Code Chapter 10 and linked municode fee tables; the public Building Inspections page links permit fees, water availability fees, and sewer availability fees.
Reinspection fee
$108 if the inspection is canceled or postponed because the requested inspection conditions are not met.
Payment note
Public-facing summary pages reviewed did not clearly describe online payment mechanics.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Building Inspections, Department of Public Works to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

  • buildinginspections@herndon-va.gov (email)
  • 703-435-6850 (phone)
Scheduling deadline
Requests must be made 1 business day in advance
Inspection hours
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; inspections run 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Time windows
AM: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; PM: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Applicants must identify permit number, permit type, inspection type such as close-in or final, and whether inspection is in person or virtual.

Virtual inspections available

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Building Inspections, Department of Public Works before applying.

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Town of Herndon can be complicated.

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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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