Building Permits in Arlington County, Virginia

Arlington County requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work affecting structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Permits are issued by the Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) — Inspection Services Division. Applications are submitted and managed through the Permit Arlington / ePlan Review portal at arlingtonva.us.

Arlington is a county, not a city. Under Virginia law, Arlington County is a county-government jurisdiction — not an independent city. There are no incorporated municipalities inside the county. This means CPHD is the single, exclusive permitting authority for all property within Arlington County's boundaries; there is no city building department or additional municipal layer. The county government handles planning, permits, inspections, and all other local government functions directly.

Arlington County is located directly across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., and is one of the most densely developed jurisdictions in Virginia, home to the Pentagon, Reagan National Airport, the Rosslyn-Ballston Metro corridor, and Amazon HQ2 at National Landing.

The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC)

Arlington County does not adopt its own local building code. Like every Virginia locality, it is governed by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC), which is:

• Mandatory statewide — every Virginia locality, including counties, must enforce it
• Administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development
• Based on the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) with Virginia-specific amendments
• Updated on a cycle tied to new editions of the I-Codes

Local amendments are not permitted. Arlington County cannot adopt code standards different from the VUSBC. The same building code requirements apply across all Virginia localities — whether independent cities like Virginia Beach or counties like Arlington. The current edition in effect is the 2021 VUSBC; always confirm the active edition with the CPHD Inspection Services Division or the Virginia DHCD website.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need a building permit in Arlington County for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures (including ADUs and detached garages)
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) changes
• Reroofing and changes to exterior wall openings (windows, doors)
• Swimming pools and spas
• Retaining walls above a height threshold
• Demolition of habitable structures

Minor cosmetic work — interior painting, floor coverings, cabinet replacement without plumbing or electrical changes — is typically exempt. When in doubt, contact the CPHD Inspection Services Division before beginning work.

The County Government Structure and Permitting

Because Arlington is a county (not an independent city), understanding who issues your permit is straightforward: all permits come from Arlington County CPHD. There is no city within the county that has its own building department. Whether your project is in Ballston, Clarendon, Crystal City, Shirlington, or any other Arlington neighborhood, CPHD Inspection Services is the permitting authority.

This is in contrast to Virginia's independent cities (like Virginia Beach, Norfolk, or Chesapeake), which are not part of any county. Arlington County is governed by a County Board and a County Manager, and CPHD reports to that structure. Projects near the boundary with Washington, D.C., or Fairfax County are still solely Arlington County's jurisdiction once the parcel is within county limits.

Permit Arlington — The Online Portal

Permit Arlington / ePlan Review at arlingtonva.us is the County's primary channel for permit applications and electronic plan review. Through the portal you can:

• Create an individual or contractor account
• Submit permit applications for residential and commercial projects
• Upload construction documents for electronic plan review
• Respond to plan review correction comments
• Pay fees online
• Request and track inspections

In-person service is also available at CPHD offices. Contact the Inspection Services Division for current walk-in hours and location details.

Permit Costs

Arlington County permit fees are based on project valuation and the County's adopted fee schedule. Typical fee components include:

• Building permit fee — scales with construction valuation
• Plan review fee — a percentage of the building permit fee, charged at application
• Trade permit fees — separate fees for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits
• Impact or connection fees — may apply for new construction or added square footage (water, sewer)

Do not rely on third-party estimates. Always check the current official fee schedule published by Arlington County CPHD at arlingtonva.us before submitting.

Typical Timeline

Actual timelines vary with project complexity and current Inspection Services Division workload. General expectations:

Second and subsequent correction cycles are typically faster than the initial review if all comments are fully addressed. Check the Permit Arlington portal for current application status.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Verify your zoning district on Arlington's zoning map; check whether your project is in the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor, Jefferson Davis Corridor, or a historic district; confirm applicable VUSBC edition with CPHD
2. Site plan or use permit (if required): Large-scale commercial and high-density residential projects in Arlington often require site plan approval or a use permit from the County Board before a building permit is issued — confirm with CPHD early
3. Plans: Prepare construction drawings; a Virginia-licensed architect or engineer stamp is required for many project types
4. Submit online: Create an account in the Permit Arlington portal, complete the application, upload documents, and pay fees
5. Plan review: CPHD reviewers check for compliance with the VUSBC and the Arlington County Zoning Ordinance; multiple disciplines may review (building, structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, zoning)
6. Corrections: Respond to review comments in the portal and resubmit revised documents
7. Permit issuance: Pay any remaining fees and receive the approved permit
8. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each construction phase through the portal
9. Final: Pass the final inspection; obtain a Certificate of Occupancy where required

Inspections

Typical inspection stages for a residential project:

• Footing / foundation
• Underground plumbing and electrical
• Framing
• Rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical
• Insulation
• Drywall / sheathing
• Final building and trade inspections

Schedule all inspections through the Permit Arlington portal or by contacting the CPHD Inspection Services Division directly. Have the permit number available when requesting an inspection.

Special Considerations for Arlington County

Historic properties: Arlington has historic districts and individual historic resources. Projects affecting a contributing historic structure or located within a historic district may require review by the Arlington County Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) before or in parallel with building permit review. Contact CPHD early to determine whether historic review applies.

High-density corridors: The Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor and the Jefferson Davis Highway Corridor (National Landing/Amazon HQ2 area) concentrate high-rise commercial and mixed-use development. Projects in these areas frequently require site plan approval by the County Board in addition to standard building permits. Site plan review is a multi-month public process separate from the building permit timeline.

FEMA flood zones: Verify whether your parcel is in a FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Area using the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Properties in a flood zone require a floodplain development permit and may require an elevation certificate.

Proximity to Reagan National Airport: Portions of Arlington are within the flight path of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. FAA height restrictions and noise compatibility requirements may apply to certain projects. Contact CPHD to determine whether FAA review or notification is required for your project.

Common Reasons for Corrections or Denial

• Plans do not comply with the VUSBC (2021 IBC/IRC edition with Virginia amendments)
• Missing structural calculations, energy compliance documentation, or Virginia-licensed-professional stamps
• Zoning conflicts — setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, or use not permitted in the zoning district
• Site plan or use permit approval required but not yet obtained
• Historic preservation review not completed for properties in or adjacent to historic resources
• Incomplete submittal or missing documents in the Permit Arlington portal
• Site or civil review items outstanding (drainage, right-of-way, utility clearances)
• Fire code or Life Safety review not completed for applicable project types

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with the Arlington County CPHD Inspection Services Division and the Virginia DHCD before submitting plans or starting construction. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for direct links to the Permit Arlington portal, the CPHD page, the Arlington County Code of Ordinances on Municode, and the VUSBC.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official Arlington County and Virginia state sources and is provided for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal or engineering advice. Building code and permitting requirements change — always confirm current rules with the Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development (CPHD) and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development before submitting plans or beginning construction.