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Fairfax vs Richmond Building Permit Fees (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of Virginia's largest county and its capital city, using official fee schedule data verified from both fairfaxcounty.gov Appendix Q (FY2027) and the rva.gov fee schedule (Revision 07-01-2024). Fairfax uses a percentage-of-construction-cost formula for alterations and decks plus a 10% technology surcharge, and per-square-foot pricing for additions and new homes (Appendix Q FY2027, effective July 1, 2026). Richmond uses a small base fee plus a flat per-$1,000 increment with no separate plan review. Both cities collect the same Virginia 2% state levy. For value-priced residential work, Richmond is dramatically cheaper, and the gap widens as construction value goes up; for area-priced additions and new construction, Fairfax is cheaper.

Calculate Your Project Fairfax Fees Richmond Fees

Evidence and Source Confidence

Both jurisdictions have official, current PermitPrice fee verifications. The math below uses verified inputs from each city's published fee schedule. Where one fee schedule is older than the other, that source-age difference is disclosed below.

Fairfax County

Verified

Source: Appendix Q - Land Development Services Fee Schedule (FY2027, effective July 1, 2026). Downloaded directly from fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment and cross-referenced against Code of the County of Fairfax Chapters 61, 64, 65, 66.

Currency: Fairfax's Appendix Q is the current FY2027 fee schedule. Land Development Services phone: (703) 222-0801. PLUS portal: plus.fairfaxcounty.gov.

Richmond City

Verified

Source: City of Richmond Fee Schedule, Revision 07-01-2024. Extracted via pdfplumber from rva.gov and verified October 21, 2026.

Source-age caveat: The Richmond fee schedule PDF is footer-labeled EFFECTIVE 07/01/2024, Revision 07-01-2024. No newer revision has been posted on rva.gov as of October 21, 2026. Verify current rates with the Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 or PDRPermitsAndInspections@rva.gov before relying on this comparison for filing.

Fee Structure Side-by-Side

The structural difference: for alterations and decks Fairfax's permit fee scales as a flat 3% of declared construction value, then applies the 2% state levy and a 10% county technology surcharge on the permit fee (three components); additions, garages and new homes are priced per square foot instead. Richmond uses a $63 base fee plus a small $6.07 per $1,000 of value above a $2,000 threshold, with no separate plan review line item, then applies the 2% state levy on the building permit fee only. Both cities collect the same Virginia statewide 2% surcharge, but the levy base is different because the underlying fee math is different.

Project Type Fairfax County Richmond City
Residential alterations / repairs 3% of value
$141.75 minimum		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000
Residential addition (existing footprint) $0.15 per sq ft (wood frame)
$141.75 minimum		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000
Uncovered deck 3% of value
$141.75 minimum		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000
In-ground swimming pool $83.50 flat $63 + $6.07 per $1,000
Pool not separately listed; falls under residential alteration formula
Residential demolition 3% of value
$141.75 minimum		 $184 flat
New residential construction (wood frame) $0.15 per sq ft
$141.75 minimum		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 of value
Solar panels $0 (fee waived) $63 + $6.07 per $1,000
Falls under residential alteration formula
Virginia 2% state levy Applied to the building permit fee (plus 10% county technology surcharge) Applied to building permit fee only
Re-inspection fee $135.00 $32.00 (residential)
Certificate of occupancy Bundled with building permit $263.00
Permit validity 180 days Per VUSBC default

Sources: Fairfax County Appendix Q FY2027 (effective July 1, 2026) and City of Richmond Fee Schedule Revision 07-01-2024. Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) are itemized in separate fee categories not modeled in this comparison. Richmond's fee schedule does not enumerate every project type Fairfax does; for projects not separately listed (in-ground pool, solar, sheds, etc.), Richmond's residential alteration formula applies.

Three Worked Examples - Same Project, Both Cities

Each example uses identical project assumptions and walks through the building permit math from each city's official schedule. All arithmetic is reproducible from the verified inputs and matches the worked examples published on each city's individual jurisdiction page.

Example 1: $30,000 residential alteration (kitchen remodel)

A homeowner gut-renovates a 200 sq ft kitchen with new circuits, plumbing relocation, and new cabinetry for a declared construction value of $30,000.

Fairfax County

  • Building permit ($30,000 x 3%): $900.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $900: $18.00
  • 10% Fairfax technology surcharge on $900: $90.00

Total: $1,008.00

Richmond City

  • Base fee: $63.00
  • $6.07 x 28 ($1,000 increments above $2,000): $169.96
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $232.96: $4.66

Total: $237.62

Richmond is cheaper by $770.38. Richmond's base-plus-increment formula keeps permit cost low even as project value rises. Fairfax's 3%-of-value formula compounds the cost: every additional $10,000 in declared value adds $300 to the Fairfax permit fee and $36 in levy and technology surcharge, while it adds only $60.70 to the Richmond permit fee. This gap grows linearly with construction value.

Example 2: $15,000 uncovered deck (400 sq ft composite)

A homeowner builds a 400 sq ft composite deck attached to the back of the house, 36 inches above grade, with a declared construction value of $15,000.

Fairfax County

  • Building permit ($15,000 x 3%): $450.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $450: $9.00
  • 10% Fairfax technology surcharge on $450: $45.00

Total: $504.00

Richmond City

  • Base fee: $63.00
  • $6.07 x 13 ($1,000 increments above $2,000): $78.91
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $141.91: $2.84

Total: $144.75

Richmond is cheaper by $359.25. The deck math illustrates the same structural pattern as Example 1. Richmond uses one residential formula for decks, alterations, and additions; Fairfax uses the same 3%-of-value approach for decks with the levy and technology surcharge on top. For a smaller $5,000 deck, Fairfax would charge $168.00 ($150 + $3.00 + $15.00) and Richmond would charge $82.83 ($63 + $18.21 + $1.62) - Richmond stays ahead. See the dedicated Virginia deck permit guide for jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction deck math across the state.

Example 3: $80,000 family room addition (500 sq ft)

A homeowner adds a 500 sq ft family room addition to an existing single-family dwelling for a declared construction value of $80,000. Richmond applies its value formula to the $80,000; Fairfax (Appendix Q FY2027, I-B(A) Table 1) prices additions by floor area at $0.15 per sq ft for wood frame with a $141.75 minimum, so the 500 sq ft size sets the Fairfax fee, not the declared value.

Fairfax County

  • Building permit (500 sq ft x $0.15 = $75.00, below $141.75 minimum): $141.75
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $141.75: $2.84
  • 10% Fairfax technology surcharge on $141.75: $14.18

Total: $158.77

Richmond City

  • Base fee: $63.00
  • $6.07 x 78 ($1,000 increments above $2,000): $473.46
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $536.46: $10.73

Total: $547.19

Fairfax is cheaper by $388.42. The result flips because Fairfax prices additions by floor area, not value: any wood-frame addition up to 945 sq ft floors at the $141.75 minimum ($158.77 all-in), and a 1,000 sq ft addition is $168.00. Richmond's value formula reaches $547.19 at $80,000 and keeps climbing at 0.619% of value. For a 500 sq ft addition Richmond is cheaper only when the declared value is below roughly $17,000 ($157.13 at $17,000); above that, Fairfax's floor wins. Heavier construction types ($0.22 and $0.28 per sq ft) raise the Fairfax figure. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are filed separately in both cities and are not included in either total above. See the Fairfax County fee page and Richmond City fee page for full per-trade breakdowns.

When Each City Is Cheaper

For value-priced residential work - alterations, decks, repairs - Richmond charges a small fraction of what Fairfax charges. The exceptions are the categories Fairfax prices by floor area or flat under Appendix Q FY2027: additions and new construction at $0.15 per sq ft, where Fairfax stays low while Richmond's value-based formula scales with construction cost, and in-ground pools at a flat $93.52 all-in. This table summarizes the cheaper city for each project category at typical residential project sizes.

Project Type Cheaper City Why
Residential alterations / kitchen / bath remodel Richmond $63 base + $6.07/$1,000 vs Fairfax 3% + 12% levy and technology surcharge ($237.62 vs $1,008.00 at $30,000). Gap widens with value.
Uncovered deck (any residential size) Richmond Same value-based formula as alterations; Fairfax's 3% math compounds ($144.75 vs $504.00 at $15,000).
Residential addition (existing footprint) Fairfax For an $80,000, 500 sq ft addition, Fairfax charges $158.77 (area-based, $141.75 minimum) vs Richmond $547.19 - Richmond is 3.4x. Richmond is cheaper only for additions declared below roughly $17,000.
In-ground swimming pool ($30,000+) Fairfax Pool falls under Richmond's residential alteration formula ($237.62 at $30k) vs Fairfax flat $83.50 permit + $1.67 levy + $8.35 tech = $93.52. Fairfax saves $144.10; Richmond is cheaper only for pools declared at or below $6,000.
Residential demolition Fairfax Richmond flat $184 + 2% levy = $187.68 vs Fairfax flat $141.75 permit x 1.12 = $158.77 for demolition of an entire structure. Fairfax saves $28.91.
Permit minimum (very small project under $2,000) Richmond Richmond $63 base + $1.26 levy = $64.26 vs Fairfax $141.75 minimum + $2.84 levy + $14.18 tech = $158.77.
New residential construction (square-foot priced) Fairfax Fairfax $0.15/sq ft for wood frame stays low at high construction values. Richmond's value-based formula scales with cost-per-sq-ft. A 2,000 sq ft, $400,000 home is $336.00 in Fairfax vs $2,528.44 in Richmond.
Solar panels Fairfax Fairfax waives the building permit fee for solar ($0). Richmond's schedule does not list solar separately - falls under residential alteration formula ($63+).

Caveat: this comparison covers building permit fees only. Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing), zoning approvals, stormwater fees, certificate of occupancy, and other site-specific permits are separate from the building permit and are not modeled here. Both cities also charge a 2% Virginia state levy. Richmond's fee schedule is older than Fairfax's; rates may have been adjusted internally without a published update - verify before relying on this comparison for filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Richmond is cheaper for nearly every residential project. The structural reason: Fairfax uses 3% of construction value plus the 2% state levy and a 10% technology surcharge on the permit fee, which compounds upward. Richmond uses a small $63 base plus $6.07 per $1,000 of value above $2,000 with no separate plan review and the levy on the building permit fee only. For a $30,000 alteration, Richmond charges $237.62 versus Fairfax $1,008.00. The exceptions are the categories Appendix Q FY2027 prices by floor area or flat: additions ($158.77 for a 500 sq ft addition vs Richmond's $547.19 at $80,000), new construction, where Fairfax's $0.15-per-sq-ft formula stays low at high construction values, in-ground pools ($93.52 vs $237.62) and whole-structure demolition ($158.77 vs $187.68). For a 2,000 sq ft single-family dwelling at $200/sq ft construction cost, Fairfax charges $336.00 in building permit fees versus Richmond's $2,528.44.
Three compounding factors. First, Fairfax's permit fee is 3% of declared construction value, so a $30,000 alteration triggers a $900 building permit fee on its own. Richmond's fee for the same project is $232.96 ($63 base + 28 x $6.07 increments). Second, Fairfax's 3% marginal rate is about five times Richmond's $6.07 per $1,000 (0.607%), so the gap grows with every dollar of declared value. Third, Fairfax applies the 2% Virginia state levy plus its own 10% technology surcharge on the $900 permit, which is $18 + $90 = $108, versus Richmond's $4.66 levy on the building permit fee alone. Total: Fairfax $1,008.00, Richmond $237.62, difference $770.38. Every additional $10,000 in declared construction value widens the gap by roughly $274. Half of the Fairfax permit fee ($450) is due at application as a filing-fee deposit and is credited at issuance (County Code 61-1-3(d)11); it does not add to the total.
The Richmond fee schedule PDF is footer-labeled EFFECTIVE 07/01/2024, Revision 07-01-2024. PermitPrice has not located a more recent revision posted on rva.gov as of October 21, 2026. Fairfax's Appendix Q is the FY2027 schedule (effective July 1, 2026) and is the most recent document. The age difference matters because Richmond may have adjusted internal rates without updating the published PDF. Verify current rates with the Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 or PDRPermitsAndInspections@rva.gov before relying on the Richmond side of this comparison for filing.
For the work Appendix Q FY2027 prices by floor area or flat: additions, new residential construction and in-ground pools. Fairfax uses a per-sq-ft fee schedule for additions and new construction ($0.15 per sq ft for VA/VB wood frame, $0.22 for IIA/IIIA/IV, $0.28 for IA/IB, $141.75 minimum), independent of declared construction value. Richmond uses the same value-based formula for additions and new construction as for alterations ($63 + $6.07/$1,000), so a high-cost-per-sq-ft house generates a high Richmond fee. For a 2,000 sq ft single-family wood-frame home with $400,000 construction value: Fairfax charges 2,000 x $0.15 = $300 building permit + $6 levy + $30 technology surcharge = $336.00. Richmond charges $63 + 398 x $6.07 = $2,478.86 + ($2,478.86 x 2%) = $2,528.44. For a 500 sq ft addition, Fairfax's $158.77 floor beats Richmond once the declared value passes roughly $17,000. Richmond stays cheaper only for low-value area-priced projects (below about $17,000 declared) and for every alteration and deck.
The 2% state levy is a Virginia statewide surcharge authorized under Code of Virginia Section 36-137 (USBC Section 107.2). Both Fairfax County and Richmond City collect it on the building permit fee component and remit it to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The levy funds the Virginia State Building Code Technical Review Board and statewide construction code enforcement. Both apply the 2% to the building permit fee; Fairfax also adds its own 10% technology surcharge on the same base. For a $30,000 alteration, the levy is $18.00 in Fairfax and $4.66 in Richmond. Both cities are mandatory collectors; you cannot opt out.
Fairfax County collects a plan review filing fee equal to 50% of the building permit fee when a building permit application is submitted. Under County Code 61-1-3(d)11 every fee paid at application is credited toward the full permit fee at issuance, so the filing fee is a deposit that changes when you pay, not how much: on a $30,000 alteration you pay $450 at application and the remaining $450 permit balance plus the $18 levy and $90 technology surcharge at issuance, for the same $1,008.00 total. It is non-refundable if the application expires. Richmond's fee schedule has no filing-fee step; the base permit fee is the only number listed and plan review is bundled into it. The result: Richmond's all-in fee for a $30,000 alteration is $237.62, while Fairfax's is $1,008.00 - the $770.38 difference is driven by Fairfax's 3% formula and its 10% technology surcharge, not by the filing fee.
Just the city building permit fee. The $1,008.00 Fairfax alteration permit and $237.62 Richmond alteration permit cover the building permit application, plan review, and inspections. They do not cover trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing - these are separate applications under their own schedules in both cities), contractor labor, materials, zoning approvals, stormwater fees (relevant for additions in both jurisdictions), certificate of occupancy in Richmond ($263 separately), or any other site-specific permits. PermitPrice tracks the city building permit fee component only. Your contractor's quote is the source of truth for total project cost.
Fairfax County's Appendix Q is the FY2027 fee schedule (effective July 1, 2026) (amendment 05-26-Q, adopted May 5, 2026) and is the current published rate sheet on fairfaxcounty.gov as of September 18, 2026. Richmond City's fee schedule PDF is footer-labeled EFFECTIVE 07/01/2024, Revision 07-01-2024. PermitPrice has not located a more recent revision posted on rva.gov as of October 21, 2026. The Richmond schedule is roughly two years older than the Fairfax schedule. Verify Fairfax current rates with Land Development Services at (703) 222-0801. Verify Richmond current rates with the Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 or PDRPermitsAndInspections@rva.gov.

Calculate Your Specific Project

The PermitPrice fee calculator covers Fairfax County, Richmond City, and five other Virginia jurisdictions. Pick the jurisdiction and project type, enter your construction value, and the calculator returns the all-in permit cost broken down by component. The calculator math matches the worked examples on this page.

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Verified April 2026
  • Appendix Q - Land Development Services Fee Schedule - Fairfax County Appendix Q FY2027 (amendment 05-26-Q), effective July 1, 2026 - Fairfax County Land Development Services - Source for the Fairfax side of every comparison: 3% of construction value for alterations and decks, $141.75 minimum, 10% technology surcharge (Part III), filing-fee deposit credited at issuance (County Code 61-1-3(d)11), $0.15/sq ft additions and new construction (wood frame, Table 1), flat $83.50 in-ground pool, flat $141.75 entire-structure demolition, solar fee waived - Verified September 18, 2026 Verified
  • City of Richmond Fee Schedule - Bureau of Permits and Inspections Effective 07/01/2024, Revision 07-01-2024 - City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review - Source for the Richmond side of every comparison: $63 base + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000 (residential 1-2 family), $184 flat residential demolition, no separate plan review line, 2% state levy on building permit fee - Verified October 21, 2026 Verified
  • Code of Virginia Section 36-137 - USBC State Levy Authority Current - Virginia General Assembly - Authorizing statute for the statewide 2% building permit surcharge applied in both Fairfax County and Richmond City
Next Step

Get the full fee schedule for either city, run your specific project through the calculator, or check more Virginia comparisons.

Verify current fees with both jurisdictions before relying on this comparison for filing. Fairfax County Land Development Services: (703) 222-0801. Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections: (804) 646-4169 / PDRPermitsAndInspections@rva.gov. The Richmond fee schedule on rva.gov is footer-labeled Revision 07-01-2024 and is older than Fairfax's FY2027 Appendix Q. PermitPrice has not located a more recent Richmond revision; rates may have been adjusted internally without a published update. Always confirm current rates and project classification before submitting an application in either city.
Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by Fairfax County Land Development Services or Richmond City Bureau of Permits and Inspections at the time of application. Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing), zoning approvals, stormwater fees, certificate of occupancy in Richmond ($263 separately), and other site-specific permits are separate from the building permit and are not modeled in this comparison. Richmond's fee schedule may have undergone changes not reflected in the most recent published PDF.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.