Montgomery County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

County office administers building permits and inspections for unincorporated Montgomery County only, not the incorporated Town of Blacksburg, Town of Christiansburg, or the independent City of Radford.

Department

Montgomery County Building Inspections

Address

755 Roanoke St., Suite 1D, Christiansburg, VA 24073

Phone

540-382-5750

Email

mcbuildingsinspections@montgomerycountyva.gov

Website

https://www.montgomerycountyva.gov/1/departments-services/building-permits-inspections

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm zoning and development compliance with Montgomery County Planning and GIS Services before filing; the residential permit application requires certification that you contacted Planning and GIS.
2. Select the correct county application form from the Building Permit Applications and Forms page.
3. Prepare required submittals, including VDOT property entrance documentation and one set of construction plans.
4. Submit through OpenGov or by email to mcbuildingsinspections@montgomerycountyva.gov with completed forms.
5. For commercial work, complete third-party plan review before applying for a non-residential permit.
6. Pay permit fees, including any Virginia state levy or technology fee assessed by the county.
7. After permit issuance, schedule required inspections online or by phone. County asks for about 36 hours advance notice.

Typical processing time: No general permit turnaround is posted on the county permit pages.

Source: Montgomery County Building Inspections

General Requirements

County states the Building Inspections office handles plan review, permit issuance, and inspections for buildings and structures during construction in unincorporated Montgomery County. Residential permit form states permit must be issued before construction begins.

Required Documents

• Correct permit application
• VDOT property entrance documentation
• One set of construction plans (for residential)
• Project details, owner and contractor information
• Any applicable trade forms

Permit validity

County pages do not publish a county-specific validity rule. Virginia USBC state rules apply.

Building code

County uses the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Residential permit form lists USBC Code Year 2021.

Owner-builder

Residential form allows applicant to be property owner, lessee, agent, or contractor, but no separate county owner-builder affidavit or policy was found in public materials.

Contractor requirements

Residential form requires contractor name and license number when a contractor is used. State contractor licensing is regulated by Virginia DPOR.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$45

Plan check fee

Commercial plans require third-party plan review before application. No separate county in-house plan review fee schedule posted.

Permit fee formula

Residential construction: $0.22 per sq. ft. with $45 minimum. Non-residential: $0.32 per sq. ft. with $45 minimum, or $2.75 per $1,000 estimated cost where floor area does not adequately reflect construction extent. Trade permits: $0.03 per sq. ft. with $45 minimum. Some items are flat fees.

Reinspection fee

$50

Payment note

County adds Virginia state levy of 2 percent of each fee and a technology fee of 2 percent with a $10 minimum. Payment questions: mcbuildingsinspections@montgomerycountyva.gov or 540-382-5750.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Montgomery County Building Inspections to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online request form linked from county page (online)
• 540-382-5750 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

County asks for about 36 hours advance notice.

Inspection hours

Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Sequence appears to be project-specific; not posted as a consolidated county checklist on public pages.

Additional Resources

• Building code: County uses the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Residential permit form lists USBC Code Year 2021.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building Code
• Planning Services
• Planning Fee Schedule
• License lookup guide: Virginia Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Virginia Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Virginia hub: Virginia Contractor License & Permit Hub