Fairfax County Building Permits, Inspections and Office Help
If you are looking for the “Fairfax County Office Building Department,” the county office you normally need is Fairfax County Land Development Services (LDS). Its Building Division, permit staff and Building & Trade Inspections teams handle building-plan review, construction permits and required inspections for projects under Fairfax County jurisdiction.
Fairfax County Building Department Contact Information
Fairfax County does not formally use “Office Building Department” as the main department name for permitting. Land Development Services is the county agency responsible for reviewing building and site plans, issuing applicable permits and performing required construction inspections.
| Service | Fairfax County information |
|---|---|
| Department | Land Development Services (LDS) |
| Address | 12055 Government Center Pkwy, Suite 324, Fairfax, VA 22035 |
| Main phone | 703-222-0801, TTY 711 |
| LandDevelopmentServices@fairfaxcounty.gov | |
| Monday–Thursday | 8 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Friday | 9:15 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Online permit portal | Fairfax County PLUS portal |
Walk-in assistance is available in Room 324 of the Herrity Building. The county notes that customers may not be added to the in-person queue after about 3:45 p.m., so arriving earlier is sensible if your permit question may take time.
First Check: Does Fairfax County Handle Your Property?
This is worth checking before you upload plans or pay anything. A Fairfax postal address does not always tell you which local government controls every approval.
Fairfax County also has cross-jurisdiction arrangements with some incorporated towns. For example, a project in the Town of Vienna can require coordination between the town and Fairfax County. County building permit review, approval and inspections may be handled through Fairfax County, while site-related plans may need separate town review.
Projects in the towns of Vienna or Clifton may require town approval documents to be uploaded with the Fairfax County permit record. Always confirm jurisdiction before preparing a large submission.
If your project is actually in another Northern Virginia jurisdiction, use that government’s process instead. For example, see our guides to Arlington County building permits and inspections or the Alexandria building department process.
Do You Need a Fairfax County Building Permit?
The answer depends on the work. Fairfax County issues building permits, electrical permits, mechanical permits, plumbing permits and certain land-development permits. Zoning, environmental, health, fire or right-of-way approvals can also apply.
Common residential work that generally requires a permit
- New houses, townhouses and qualifying detached structures.
- Home additions, decks, porches, garages and carports.
- Finished basements and many interior renovations.
- Adding, removing or relocating walls.
- New or relocated electrical fixtures, circuits or panels.
- New or relocated plumbing fixtures or piping.
- HVAC, gas equipment and related mechanical work.
- Swimming pools and many pool-related installations.
- Solar installations.
- Demolition.
- Certain retaining walls.
- Detached sheds and similar structures when they exceed applicable permit exemptions.
One useful Fairfax County threshold is detached residential storage structures: a shed that does not exceed 256 square feet and is no more than one story may fall within the county’s building-permit exemption. Zoning, placement, easement, floodplain or other rules can still apply.
Common work that may not need a building permit
County guidance lists examples such as painting, wallpaper, flooring replacement, cabinets, countertops, gutters, certain like-for-like replacements, ordinary roof-shingle replacement and some small sheds. Exceptions matter, so check the official project list instead of assuming.
How to Apply for a Fairfax County Building Permit
Fairfax County uses PLUS as its central online system for building and land-development applications. Older systems such as FIDO and PAWS have been replaced for current permitting work.
Step 1: Identify the correct permit type
Open the county’s Permit Library. Choose residential or commercial, then select the actual work type rather than guessing from a general category.
Step 2: Read the project-specific requirements
The Permit Library explains what record type to create, what plans may be required, related trade permits, inspection requirements and project-specific forms.
Step 3: Create or sign in to your PLUS account
Go to plus.fairfaxcounty.gov. First-time applicants need an account to submit applications and manage their records.
Step 4: Start the appropriate application
Choose the applicable building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical or other record type. Enter the property and project information carefully. A wrong record type can slow review.
Step 5: Upload required plans and documents
Upload the required coversheet, construction drawings and any property, grading, authorization or jurisdictional documents identified for your permit type.
Step 6: Submit, monitor comments and pay required fees
After submission, use PLUS to follow the record. If reviewers issue comments or “Issues,” respond to each open item and upload corrected plans when required.
Step 7: Wait for permit issuance before beginning regulated work
Do not treat application submission as permit approval. Start regulated construction only after the required permit has actually been issued.
What Documents Should You Prepare?
The exact list changes by project, but Fairfax County permit pages commonly identify the following items for new construction and alteration work:
| Document or information | When it may matter |
|---|---|
| Fairfax Coversheet | Common building-plan submission document. |
| Architectural / structural drawings | New buildings, additions, alterations and structural work. |
| House location plat, survey or grading record | Projects involving exterior construction or land disturbance. |
| Permit authorization | May be needed when the applicant is not the owner or licensed contractor. |
| Property ownership affidavit | May be needed when ownership information does not match current tax records. |
| License exemption affidavit | May apply when a licensed contractor is not listed on the application. |
| Town approval | Some projects in Vienna or Clifton require separate town approvals. |
Commercial projects may need additional design, accessibility, fire-protection, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing or special-inspection information depending on the building and scope of work.
How Fairfax County Building Inspections Work
Getting the permit is only part of the process. Once construction begins, required inspections must be completed at the correct stages before work is covered or the project is finalized.
Fairfax County performs building and trade inspections for structural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work. The permit holder is responsible for requesting them.
Schedule an inspection in PLUS
- Open PLUS.
- Enter the permit number in the search field.
- Open the matching permit record.
- Select Record Info.
- Choose Inspections.
- Select Schedule or Request an Inspection.
- Choose the required inspection and available date.
- Submit the request and recheck the permit record for status or results.
For a next-business-day request, Fairfax County says the inspection request should be submitted in PLUS before 11:59 p.m., subject to availability.
To see current capacity before planning your day, Fairfax County now provides a Building Inspections Availability Dashboard showing availability for the next 10 business days.
Check Permit Status, Records and Construction Activity
You do not always need to call the office just to check a permit. PLUS can be used to search current records, application status and available permit information.
Micro-step: search a permit in PLUS
- Open the PLUS portal.
- Use the main search box.
- Enter the permit or record number when available.
- Open the matching record.
- Review record information, status, inspections and available public details.
Fairfax County also provides an interactive Development Tracker that can show active construction, recent building permits, zoning applications, plan amendments and certificates of occupancy by location. Start from the county’s LDS Public Records page.
Permit Fees and Building Codes in 2026
Permit fees
There is no single flat Fairfax County building-permit price that applies to every project. Fees vary by application type, project scope, construction value and related review or inspection services.
Fairfax County publishes its LDS fees through Appendix Q of the County Code. The county’s current code resources identify a fee schedule effective July 1, 2026. Because fee calculations can change and may include multiple components, check the current schedule for your exact permit rather than relying on an old fee quoted on another website.
Open Fairfax County Codes, Standards & Current Fee Schedule →
Building codes
Fairfax County enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and applicable county provisions. For current applications, the county states that the 2021 USBC technical requirements became mandatory for new applications beginning January 18, 2025.
Do not simply download the newest International Code edition and assume it controls your project. Virginia adoption, state amendments and applicable Fairfax County provisions matter.
For a broader explanation of how adopted local codes work, see our city building code guide.
Certificate of Occupancy and Final Approval
A permit is not necessarily complete just because construction looks finished.
Residential projects
For applicable residential projects, Fairfax County uses a Residential Use Permit (RUP) as the occupancy approval after required permits receive final inspections and applicable conditions are satisfied.
Commercial projects
For applicable commercial projects, the occupancy approval is generally handled through a Certificate of Occupancy / Non-Residential Use Permit (Non-RUP). Fairfax County describes the Non-RUP as the final inspection issued for commercial projects.
A commercial Certificate of Occupancy may be required for a new structure or premises and for certain changes in use. Commercial Non-RUP applications are submitted in PLUS.
When You Should Contact Fairfax County Staff
Online instructions solve many routine questions, but some projects deserve a real conversation before you spend money on plans.
Contact LDS if you are unsure about:
- whether your project requires a permit;
- which PLUS record type to use;
- whether a grading or site plan is also required;
- permit jurisdiction in Vienna, Clifton or another special area;
- how to respond to plan-review comments;
- inspection sequencing;
- occupancy approval;
- code requirements that depend on the exact project.
You can visit the Meet With Staff page to find walk-in help, phone assistance or request a project meeting.
For complicated commercial or residential designs, Fairfax County also offers review programs such as Fast Track, expedited/peer review and other specialized review options where eligibility requirements are met.
Fairfax County Building Department FAQs
1. What is the official Fairfax County Building Department called?
The main county agency is Fairfax County Land Development Services (LDS). Its Building Division and related permit and inspection teams handle building-plan review, permits and construction inspections for projects under county jurisdiction.
2. Where is the Fairfax County building permit office?
Land Development Services is at 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 324, Fairfax, VA 22035. The main permit assistance number is 703-222-0801, TTY 711.
3. Can I apply for a Fairfax County building permit online?
Yes. Fairfax County uses the PLUS portal for current building and land-development applications. Applicants can create records, upload documents, pay applicable fees, monitor review and manage permitting tasks online.
4. How do I check a Fairfax County building permit status?
Open PLUS, search for the permit or record number, open the matching record and review the available record information, status, inspections and related details.
5. Do I need a permit for a shed in Fairfax County?
A detached residential storage shed that does not exceed 256 square feet and is no more than one story may fall within the county’s building-permit exemption. Zoning setbacks, location restrictions, easements or other approvals can still apply.
6. How do I schedule a Fairfax County building inspection?
Search your permit in PLUS, open the permit, select Record Info, choose Inspections and then Schedule or Request an Inspection. For next-business-day requests, the county says requests should be entered before 11:59 p.m., subject to inspection availability.
7. What building code does Fairfax County use in 2026?
Fairfax County enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code and applicable county provisions. The county states that 2021 USBC technical requirements became mandatory for applications beginning January 18, 2025.
8. How much is a Fairfax County building permit?
The cost depends on the permit type, project scope, valuation and related reviews or inspections. Fairfax County publishes the applicable LDS fees in Appendix Q of the County Code; the county lists a fee schedule effective July 1, 2026.
9. Does Fairfax County handle permits in the Town of Vienna?
Some Vienna projects involve both governments. Fairfax County handles certain building permit review, approval and inspections, while the town handles some site-related approvals. Commercial occupancy approvals also have a Vienna-specific process, so confirm the correct route before applying.
10. Who should I call if I am unsure which permit I need?
Call Fairfax County Land Development Services at 703-222-0801, TTY 711. For a detailed project, you can also use the county’s Meet With Staff service before submitting an application.
Best Way to Avoid Permit Delays
The most useful first step is not filling out a form—it is choosing the correct permit path. Confirm the property jurisdiction, identify the exact project type in the Permit Library, gather the required plans before opening the application and use PLUS to follow reviewer comments and inspections.
For most projects, you should only need the official county site when you are ready to perform the actual action: submit or search in PLUS, schedule the correct inspection, or confirm a project-specific rule with county staff.
Information reviewed for 2026 using Fairfax County Land Development Services resources. Permit requirements, fees, inspection availability and office procedures can change. For a property-specific code or permit determination, confirm the final requirement with Fairfax County or the government that has jurisdiction over the property.