Virginia Beach Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Virginia Beach Building Department: Contact & Office Information

The City of Virginia Beach does not use “Building Department” as the formal name of its primary building-permitting office. The responsible office is the Permits & Inspections Division, which administers the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and applicable local requirements.

For zoning and setback questions, contact the City’s Zoning Administration at 757-385-8074. For land-development and right-of-way permits, contact the Development Services Center at 757-385-4621.

What Do You Need to Do?

Which Construction Projects Require Permits?

Virginia Beach generally requires permits for new buildings, additions, structural alterations, and regulated electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and related construction. Some projects also need separate zoning, environmental, or land-development approval.

Sheds, Garages & Accessory Buildings

Virginia Beach specifically identifies detached sheds larger than 256 square feet among projects requiring building permits. A smaller shed is not automatically exempt from zoning requirements. The City’s zoning guidance also limits the size, height, and placement of accessory structures.

Before purchasing or constructing a shed, confirm the proposed size, distance from property lines, easements, and any special environmental restrictions with Zoning Administration.

Fence & Swimming Pool Requirements

A zoning fence permit is generally required for fences or walls located within 30 feet of a public right-of-way, subject to stated exceptions. The City lists specific exemptions for qualifying residential fences. Swimming pool barriers have separate building-code requirements, and pool installations require building permits.

See the City’s Fence/Wall Permits guide before installing a fence near a street or around a pool.

How to Apply for a Virginia Beach Building Permit

The City’s public permitting portal supports applications for building and trade permits. Use the following process for a typical application.

1. Identify the permit type.
   Determine whether your work requires a residential building, commercial building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas, or other permit. Review the City’s building permit requirements.
2. Check zoning and site approvals.
   Confirm setbacks, permitted land use, and any required site-plan or environmental approvals before submitting construction plans.
3. Prepare your documents.
   Gather the property address, project description, construction value, required drawings, owner information, contractor registration details, and applicable approvals.
4. Open the official public portal.
   Visit the Virginia Beach Public Portal. Select the building and trade permit application service. Sign in or register if prompted.
5. Complete the application.
   Choose the correct permit category, provide property and applicant information, and upload the required documents. Review all entries before submitting.
6. Follow the review and approval process.
   Monitor the application, respond to correction requests, pay applicable fees, and obtain permit issuance before beginning work that requires an approved permit.

Documents Required for Building Permits

The documents depend on whether the project involves new construction, an addition, remodeling, or commercial work.

Residential Projects

• Completed building permit application with the property address and project description.
• Owner or applicant information and contractor registration details, where applicable.
• Construction drawings showing the proposed work.
• Approved site plan when required by Zoning or the Development Services Center.
• Project square footage and construction value.
• Applicable water and sewer fee receipts or exemption documentation.
• Health Department approvals for well or septic service where applicable.
• Mechanic’s lien agent information when required.

New homes have more extensive documentation requirements than many minor alterations. The City’s published guidance specifies approved site plans, construction plan sets, and relevant utility and health approvals for new-house applications.

Download the official residential permit application (PDF) →

Commercial Projects

Commercial applications may require signed and sealed architectural and structural plans, a site plan, occupancy and construction classifications, accessible-route details, egress information, fire-protection information, and relevant engineering calculations.

The City also identifies a $200 commercial plan-review fee in its published fee schedule. Additional requirements depend on the proposed building use, construction type, and project complexity.

Review commercial plan-submission requirements →

Virginia Beach Building Permit Fees

Permit charges depend on the type of construction, floor area, project value, and additional reviews or inspections. The amounts below come from the City’s residential and commercial fee schedules revised in July 2025. Confirm the current fee before paying for a 2026 application.

Example: Under the published residential alteration formula, a project with a $10,000 construction value has a $100 base permit fee. Applicable technology fees, the state levy, and additional reviews can increase the total.

These are published schedule amounts, not a guaranteed final permit quotation. Other trade, zoning, utility, and development fees may apply separately.

Permit Plan Review: Processing Time

Virginia Beach publishes an initial review timeframe of 15–45 business days for online building plan submissions. The City states that revisions generally take approximately half the original review timeframe.

This is a published review window, not a guaranteed permit approval date. Incomplete drawings, zoning issues, outside-agency approvals, and correction cycles may extend the process.

Which Plans Qualify for Counter Review?

Some smaller projects can be submitted for counter review at Municipal Center Building 3.

Projects that do not meet the counter-review criteria must generally be submitted online. Counter acceptance does not guarantee immediate approval.

How to Schedule a Building Inspection

Virginia Beach offers online scheduling for eligible building and trade inspections. Permit holders can also review inspection information and results through the City’s permitting service.

1. Open the official permitting portal.
2. Sign in if required for inspection scheduling.
3. Locate the active permit using its record or permit number.
4. Open the available inspection scheduling option and choose the required inspection type.
5. Select an available inspection date and submit the request.
6. Save the confirmation and ensure the work is ready for inspection.

Special inspections may use different arrangements. For example, elevator inspections require coordination with the elevator technician, and underground or aboveground storage tank inspections have separate scheduling instructions.

Common Building Inspection Stages

Required inspections vary by project. For example, the City’s residential inspection table lists footing, foundation, framing/insulation, and final inspections for typical new buildings and additions, while many interior alterations require framing/insulation and final inspections.

How to Check Building Permit Status & Records

The City’s Public Portal includes building and trade permit record searches. Public searches can use details such as an address, record type, GPIN (the property’s geographic parcel identification number), contact information, or contractor license information.

1. Visit the Virginia Beach Public Portal.
2. Select Search Building & Trade Permit Records.
3. Enter the available permit number, property address, GPIN, or other supported search criteria.
4. Open the matching record to review the information available to the public.
5. For restricted details or records not found, contact Permits & Inspections at 757-385-4211.

When searching a property before purchase or renovation, check whether relevant permits exist and whether available records show final inspections or completion. A public search result does not by itself certify that every alteration on the property was legally permitted.

Virginia Beach Building Codes in 2026

Virginia Beach enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), including the Virginia Construction Code and other applicable regulations.

Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development identifies the 2021 Virginia codes, effective January 18, 2024, as the adopted code set in its published code resources. Those regulations reference the 2021 International Codes with Virginia amendments and the 2020 National Electrical Code.

The state has also been conducting a 2024 code-development cycle. A proposed code edition should not be treated as effective merely because it has been published for review. Check the legally effective code edition and any transition provisions when submitting plans.

View Virginia’s officially adopted building codes and regulations →

Local Zoning, Flood Zones & Coastal Development

Virginia Beach projects can require more than building-code compliance. Site location may trigger zoning, stormwater, floodplain, or environmental review.

• Zoning: Regulates building placement, setbacks, allowable uses, and accessory structures.
• Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area (CBPA): Certain projects may need additional environmental review.
• Flood zones: Construction may involve flood-resistant design and related development requirements.
• Southern Rivers Watershed: Applicable properties may require additional environmental approvals.
• Right-of-way work: Construction or utility work within public rights-of-way may require permits from the Development Services Center.

For waterfront or environmentally sensitive construction, the City directs applicants to its Planning Administration Environmental Team at Waterfront@vbgov.com.

Confirm these requirements before finalizing plans or paying contractors for construction that may not be allowed at the proposed location.

Official Virginia Beach Permit Resources

Virginia Beach Building Department FAQs