County Building Permits

Loudoun County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

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

Virginia Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

County building permits are issued countywide. County zoning permits apply only outside incorporated town limits; within towns, zoning approval comes from the town first.

Department
Loudoun County Department of Building and Development
Address
Permitting and Land Development Counters, Government Center, 1 Harrison St. SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, VA 20175
Phone
703-777-0220
Website
https://www.loudoun.gov/buildinganddevelopment

Online Permit Portal

Open LandMARC / Tyler EnerGov Self Service

Platform: LandMARC / Tyler EnerGov Self Service • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Confirm whether county zoning approval is needed. Outside incorporated towns, zoning approval is required for new construction, additions, and change of use or tenant.
  2. Create a LandMARC account, choose the permit type, and upload the application, plans, and supporting documents.
  3. County intake performs an application completeness check. Residential intake is generally 2 to 5 business days for county-typical deck, county-typical basement, and residential trade permits, and up to 10 business days for other residential permits.
  4. Pay the invoiced fees. Loudoun states review does not start until intake is complete and fees are paid.
  5. Respond to review comments and resubmit if revisions are required.
  6. When all reviews are approved, the county issues the permit through LandMARC.

Typical processing time: Intake review is 2 to 5 business days for some standard residential permits and up to 10 business days for other residential permits; broader review timing is tracked on the county dashboard.

Source: Loudoun County Department of Building and Development

General Requirements

Under VCC Section 108.1, permits are required before construction or demolition, structural changes, changes affecting egress, water, sewer, electric, fire protection, mechanical or fuel systems, regulated equipment work, some change-of-occupancy work, certain lot line moves, and asbestos disturbance.

Required Documents

  • County zoning applications outside towns require a survey plat
  • Existing and proposed structures with dimensions and square footage
  • Setbacks to property lines
  • Easements, buffers, and tree save areas
  • Adjacent roads
  • Property owner signature
  • Construction documents when applicable
Permit validity
Permit applications are abandoned after 6 months if not pursued in good faith or issued. Issued permits may be revoked if work does not start within 6 months or is suspended or abandoned for 6 months.
Building code
Virginia enforces the 2021 Virginia Construction Code as part of the USBC, effective January 18, 2024; local enforcement is by Loudoun County.
Owner-builder
VCC Section 108.3 allows the owner, lessee, agent, RDP, contractor, or subcontractor to apply. Section 108.4 requires either proof of contractor licensure or a written statement that the applicant is not subject to licensure.
Contractor requirements
Contractors on building permit applications must hold a valid Virginia DPOR contractor license and a Loudoun County BPOL license for county jobs.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
$65
Plan check fee
Residential plan review is $170 per review; miscellaneous building permit plan review is $130; commercial plan review starts at $425 depending on size.
Permit fee formula
New construction uses building gross area x type of construction x county permit fee multiplier; alterations without additions are generally 1.0% of actual cost; many trades and occupancy permits are flat-fee items.
Reinspection fee
$65 for building permits
Payment note
Loudoun invoices fees at intake. Payment is available in LandMARC by card, by cash/check in person or by mail, and by ACH for totals of $1,500 or more. A 2.65% card convenience fee applies.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Scheduling deadline
Cutoff for next-day requests is midnight
Inspection hours
8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

Typical inspection sequence: Typical county building permit sequence is application intake, plan review, permit issuance, required footing/foundation and framing or trade rough inspections as applicable, then finals and occupancy/use approval.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development 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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