Building Permits in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work that affects structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Permits are issued by the City of Virginia Beach Department of Planning & Community Development — Permits & Inspections Division. Applications are managed through the Virginia Beach Permit Online Portal at permits.virginiabeach.gov, which runs on the Accela platform.

As an independent city, Virginia Beach is not part of any county. All local government functions — including all permitting and inspections — are handled entirely by the City.

The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC)

Virginia Beach does not adopt its own local building code. Instead, it is governed by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC), which is:

• Mandatory statewide — every Virginia locality 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. This means the same building code standards apply across all Virginia localities, including Virginia Beach. The current edition in effect is the 2021 VUSBC; confirm the active edition with the Permits & Inspections Division or the DHCD website.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need a building permit in Virginia Beach 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 Permits & Inspections Division before beginning work.

The Permit Online Portal (Accela)

The Virginia Beach Permit Online Portal at permits.virginiabeach.gov is the primary channel for permit applications. 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 the Permits & Inspections Division office. Contact the Division at the phone number listed on vbgov.com/government/departments/planning/permits-inspections for walk-in hours.

Permit Costs

Virginia Beach permit fees are based on project valuation and the City'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 the time of application
• Trade permit fees — separate fees for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits
• Impact or connection fees — may apply for new construction or expanded square footage (water, sewer)

Do not rely on third-party estimates. Always check the current official fee schedule from the Permits & Inspections Division at vbgov.com before submitting.

Typical Timeline

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

Second and subsequent correction cycles are typically faster than the initial review, provided all comments are fully addressed. Check the Accela portal for current turnaround status.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Verify your zoning district and applicable overlay districts using the City zoning map; confirm applicable VUSBC editions with the Division
2. Plans: Prepare construction drawings; a Virginia-licensed architect or engineer stamp is required for many project types
3. Submit online: Create an account at permits.virginiabeach.gov, complete the application, upload documents, and pay fees
4. Plan review: Reviewers check for compliance with the VUSBC and City zoning ordinance; multiple disciplines may review (building, structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, zoning)
5. Corrections: Respond to review comments in the portal and resubmit revised documents
6. Permit issuance: Pay any remaining fees and receive the approved permit
7. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each construction phase through the portal
8. 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 Virginia Beach Permit Online Portal or by contacting the Permits & Inspections Division directly. Have the permit number available when requesting an inspection.

Common Reasons for Corrections or Denial

• Plans do not comply with the VUSBC (current IBC/IRC edition with Virginia amendments)
• Missing structural calculations, energy compliance documentation, or licensed-professional stamps
• Zoning conflicts — setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, or use not permitted in the district
• Incomplete submittal or missing documents in the 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 City of Virginia Beach Permits & Inspections Division and the Virginia DHCD before submitting plans or starting construction. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for direct links to the permit portal, the Division, the municipal code, and the VUSBC.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official City of Virginia Beach 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 City of Virginia Beach Permits & Inspections Division and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development before submitting plans or beginning construction.