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Loudoun County vs Henrico County Building Permit Fees (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of Loudoun County (Northern Virginia) and Henrico County (Richmond MSA) residential building permit fees using official fee schedule data from each jurisdiction. Loudoun bundles building permit, plan review, and county zoning permit into a single flat $395 fee for residential additions and alterations under 1,000 sq ft. The 2% Virginia state levy applied to the bundled amount produces $402.90 all-in. Henrico uses a tiered value formula: $100 base + $6 per $1,000 of declared construction value over $5,000, capped at $680, plus 2% Virginia state levy ($693.60 all-in at the cap). The right county depends on declared construction value. Henrico is cheaper below ~$54,000 declared; Loudoun is cheaper above that point because Henrico's formula keeps growing while Loudoun's bundled flat fee does not.

Loudoun Addition
$402.90 bundled flat (under 1,000 sq ft)
Henrico Addition
$100 + $6/$1k over $5k, capped $680
$30,000 Addition
Loudoun $402.90 vs Henrico $255.00
$80,000 Addition
Loudoun $402.90 vs Henrico $561.00
Crossover Point
~$54,000 declared value
Loudoun Schedule
Verified July 2022 (source-age caveat)
What This Comparison Covers - and What It Does Not

This comparison covers: Residential addition, deck, and pool building permit fees in Loudoun County and Henrico County using the official published fee schedules of each jurisdiction. Loudoun source: loudoun.gov residential fee schedule effective July 1, 2022 (bundled $395 building permit + plan review + county zoning under 1,000 sq ft). Henrico source: henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees, page last updated December 2025 (residential 1-2 family value formula).

This comparison does NOT cover: Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) - both jurisdictions charge these separately. New residential construction - both jurisdictions use separate flat structures (Henrico $680 new SFD; Loudoun's new construction path is the 1% formula plus $335 plan review, not modeled). Loudoun projects above 1,000 sq ft - these use the 1% of construction value formula + $335 plan review path, which is not bundled and is not the $395 figure on this page. Multi-family, townhouses, commercial. Zoning and overlay approvals beyond Loudoun's bundled county zoning. HOA architectural review.

Why the comparison units differ: Loudoun structures its fee schedule as a bundled flat fee that includes building permit + plan review + county zoning permit; the bundle exists for residential additions and alterations under 1,000 sq ft. Henrico structures its fee schedule as a single tiered value formula that covers decks, sheds, pools, additions, and demolitions in one rule. The two jurisdictions are not directly comparable component-by-component because Loudoun's bundle includes county zoning while Henrico's formula does not. The "all-in" totals on this page are the closest like-for-like the two schedules allow.

Loudoun source-age caveat: The Loudoun County residential fee schedule used on this page is the July 1, 2022 version (FY2023). This is the most recent published version on loudoun.gov as of May 12, 2026. The $395 bundled fee and 1%-of-value formula path may have been revised in a newer schedule not yet posted online. Verify directly with Loudoun Building and Development before filing.

Fee Structure Side-by-Side

Both jurisdictions charge the 2% Virginia state levy, but the building permit fee structure is fundamentally different. Loudoun bundles plan review and county zoning into the building permit. Henrico bundles plan review into the building permit but does not include zoning. Loudoun's bundle is flat; Henrico's grows with declared value until the cap activates.

Component Loudoun County Henrico County
Building permit base $395 flat bundle (includes plan review + county zoning under 1,000 sq ft) $100 base
Value step None under 1,000 sq ft (over 1,000 sq ft: 1% of construction value + $335 PR, not bundled) $6 per $1,000 over $5,000 threshold
Fee cap N/A for bundled path (no cap on 1% path either) $680 (activates at $101,667 declared value)
Separate plan review None - bundled in $395 flat for under-1,000-sq-ft path None - bundled in base + value step
County zoning permit Bundled in the $395 flat fee for the under-1,000-sq-ft path Separate process (not in building permit fee)
2% VA state levy applies to Full $395 bundled amount ($7.90 levy) Building permit subtotal
Minimum addition all-in $402.90 (bundled) $102.00 (at $5,000 threshold)
Maximum addition all-in $402.90 (bundled, under 1,000 sq ft) $693.60 (capped, above $101,667)
Source effective date July 1, 2022 (FY2023) Page last updated December 2025

Sources: Loudoun County Building and Development residential fee schedule effective July 1, 2022 (loudoun.gov/96/Building-Development), Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections permit fees page last updated December 2025 (henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/). Both verified by Munib Ur Rehman.

Worked Examples - Same Project, Both Counties

Each example uses the same project assumptions and arithmetic from the official fee schedules of each jurisdiction. Loudoun's bundled $402.90 is constant under 1,000 sq ft. Henrico's value formula grows until the cap. The crossover is around $54,000 declared.

Example 1: $5,000 small bump-out (Henrico threshold case)

A homeowner builds a tiny enclosed entry vestibule, declared construction value $5,000 - exactly at Henrico's value-step threshold.

  • Loudoun: $395 bundled flat + 2% levy on $395 ($7.90) = $402.90
  • Henrico: $100 base + $0 value step (at threshold) + $2.00 levy on $100 = $102.00
  • Henrico saves $300.90 at this declared value

For very small additions Loudoun's bundle becomes the expensive option because the flat $395 dwarfs the actual permit work needed. Henrico's per-$1,000 step keeps the fee proportional.

Example 2: $30,000 sunroom addition (300 sq ft enclosed)

A homeowner adds a 300 sq ft enclosed sunroom, declared construction value $30,000. Under 1,000 sq ft so Loudoun's bundled path applies.

  • Loudoun: $395 bundled flat + $7.90 levy = $402.90
  • Henrico: $100 base + $6 x 25 = $250 + $5.00 levy = $255.00
  • Henrico saves $147.90 at this declared value
Example 3: $50,000 family-room addition (450 sq ft heated)

A homeowner builds a 450 sq ft heated family-room addition, declared construction value $50,000. Under 1,000 sq ft.

  • Loudoun: $395 bundled flat + $7.90 levy = $402.90
  • Henrico: $100 base + $6 x 45 = $370 + $7.40 levy = $377.40
  • Henrico saves $25.50 at this declared value

$50,000 is just below the crossover point. Henrico still wins by a small margin.

Example 4: $80,000 family-room addition (post-crossover)

A homeowner builds a 500 sq ft heated family-room addition, declared construction value $80,000. Under 1,000 sq ft so Loudoun's bundle still applies.

  • Loudoun: $395 bundled flat + $7.90 levy = $402.90
  • Henrico: $100 base + $6 x 75 = $550 + $11.00 levy = $561.00
  • Loudoun saves $158.10 at this declared value

Past the $54,000 crossover Loudoun's bundled flat becomes the cheaper structure. Henrico's value step keeps climbing while Loudoun stays at $402.90 until the project hits 1,000 sq ft and crosses into the 1%-of-value formula path.

Example 5: $250,000 second-story addition (over 1,000 sq ft case)

A homeowner adds a 1,200 sq ft second-story addition, declared construction value $250,000. Above 1,000 sq ft, so Loudoun's bundled path does not apply - it falls under the 1% of construction value + $335 separate plan review path.

  • Loudoun (1% path, estimated): 1% x $250,000 = $2,500 + $335 plan review = $2,835 + 2% levy on $2,835 ($56.70) = ~$2,891.70 (estimated)
  • Henrico (cap active): $680 capped + $13.60 levy = $693.60
  • Henrico saves $2,198.10 at this declared value (estimate based on Loudoun 1% path)

For very large additions above 1,000 sq ft Loudoun's structure flips back to expensive because the 1% formula has no cap. Henrico's $680 ceiling is a structural advantage for any large project. The Loudoun 1% path figure is an estimate from the July 2022 schedule - verify with Loudoun Building and Development before relying on it. The exact mapping of the levy base on Loudoun's 1% path is also schedule-dependent; this example uses a conservative full-bundled levy base.

Decision Rule by Project Type and Declared Value

The "which county is cheaper" answer depends on declared construction value and whether the project is under or over 1,000 sq ft (which switches Loudoun between bundled flat and 1% paths).

Project Type / Value Loudoun Henrico Cheaper
$5,000 addition (threshold case) $402.90 $102.00 Henrico (saves $300.90)
$15,000 deck under 1,000 sq ft $402.90 bundled $163.20 Henrico (saves $239.70)
$30,000 addition $402.90 $255.00 Henrico (saves $147.90)
$50,000 addition $402.90 $377.40 Henrico (saves $25.50)
~$54,000 crossover $402.90 ~$402.90 Tied
$80,000 addition $402.90 $561.00 Loudoun (saves $158.10)
$100,000 addition (under 1,000 sq ft) $402.90 $675.00 (just under cap) Loudoun (saves $272.10)
$250,000 addition over 1,000 sq ft (Loudoun 1% path) ~$2,891.70 estimated $693.60 capped Henrico (saves ~$2,198.10)
$30,000 in-ground pool Not in bundled $395 (pool barrier path) $255.00 (same 1-2 family formula) Henrico (verified $255.00)

Henrico is the structurally cheaper county for very small additions, very large additions (cap activates above $101,667), and all decks at typical residential values. Loudoun is cheaper for medium-large additions in the $54,000 to $100,000 declared range that stay under 1,000 sq ft. The over-1,000-sq-ft Loudoun figure is an estimate based on the July 2022 schedule and carries a source-age caveat - verify with Loudoun Building and Development before relying on the 1% path estimate for budgeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Henrico, by a small margin. Loudoun charges $402.90 bundled all-in (under 1,000 sq ft path). Henrico charges $377.40 ($100 base + $270 value step + $7.40 state levy). Henrico saves $25.50. The crossover where Loudoun becomes cheaper is at approximately $54,000 declared construction value; below that Henrico wins, above it Loudoun wins until the project hits 1,000 sq ft and switches into Loudoun's separate 1% path.
The $395 flat fee bundles Loudoun's building permit, plan review, and the county zoning permit into one charge for residential additions and alterations under 1,000 sq ft. The 2% Virginia state levy is applied to the full $395 amount per the published schedule, producing $402.90 all-in. This bundled model is structurally different from Henrico, which does not include county zoning in the building permit fee. The bundled path applies only under 1,000 sq ft; over that threshold Loudoun switches to a 1% of construction value + $335 separate plan review path.
Henrico's published 1-2 family fee schedule applies the same $680 cap across decks, sheds, pools, additions, garages, and demolitions. The cap exists because the County's new construction fee for a 1-2 family dwelling is a flat $680, and the addition formula ceiling matches new construction so an addition can never cost more than a new house in building permit terms. The cap activates at $101,667 declared construction value, where the $6 per $1,000 value step would otherwise push the building permit past $680. Above that threshold the all-in fee freezes at $693.60 regardless of declared value.
The July 1, 2022 (FY2023) residential fee schedule is the most recent version published on loudoun.gov as of May 12, 2026. Loudoun County may have revised the schedule in a newer fiscal year that has not yet been posted to the public Building and Development page; that is not unusual for VA county schedules. PermitPrice uses the most recently published official schedule and discloses the source-age caveat clearly on every page that cites Loudoun. Verify directly with Loudoun Building and Development before filing a load-bearing budget that depends on Loudoun's $395 bundled fee.
No - both counties bundle plan review on the under-1,000-sq-ft path. Loudoun bundles plan review and county zoning into the $395 flat fee for additions/alterations under 1,000 sq ft. Henrico bundles plan review into the $100 base + value step formula across all residential 1-2 family permit types. The plan review work itself still happens - both counties perform structural and code review before issuing the permit - but neither charges a separate line item. Loudoun's over-1,000-sq-ft path is the exception: it adds $335 separate plan review on top of the 1%-of-value building permit.
No. Trade permits are separate filings in both jurisdictions. Most additions trigger all three trade categories: electrical for new outlets/lighting/circuits, plumbing if the addition includes a bathroom or kitchen extension, mechanical for the duct extensions or new zone equipment. Trade permits add roughly $100-$400 to the addition permit total depending on installer scope in either county. Licensed trade contractors pull these permits separately at intake under each county's trade fee structures. The $402.90 Loudoun and $377.40 Henrico figures on this page exclude all trade permits.
Loudoun's $395 bundled flat applies to residential additions and alterations under 1,000 sq ft of work area. At 1,000 sq ft and above, the schedule switches to the 1% of construction value building permit fee + $335 separate plan review fee path. Most typical residential additions in Loudoun (bump-outs, sunrooms, family rooms, mid-sized additions) stay under 1,000 sq ft and use the $395 bundled path. Second-story additions over an existing first floor or large family-room expansions are the cases where projects cross into the 1% path. Verify the exact sq-ft work-area threshold with Loudoun Building and Development before relying on the bundled $395 figure.
Partially. Henrico's same 1-2 family formula covers decks, pools, sheds, garages, and demolitions, so the value-step math on this page applies directly to those project types - a $15,000 Henrico deck is $163.20, a $30,000 Henrico pool is $255.00. Loudoun's $395 bundled path covers deck and shed permits under 1,000 sq ft (so the $402.90 all-in applies to a typical residential deck or shed in Loudoun). Pools in Loudoun use the pool barrier permit path which is not the $395 bundled fee - verify the pool path directly with Loudoun Building and Development. See /guides/deck-permit-cost-virginia/ and /guides/pool-permit-cost-virginia/ for the statewide project-type guides.

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Verified May 2026
Next Step

Calculate your specific permit cost in either county, see all fee categories per county, or compare against other neighboring jurisdictions.

Chesterfield vs Henrico → Fairfax vs Loudoun → Henrico vs Richmond → Henrico Addition Guide →
Always verify current building permit fees directly with Loudoun County Building and Development and the Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections before budgeting or filing. The Loudoun July 2022 schedule and the Henrico December 2025 page are the most recent published versions as of May 12, 2026. Loudoun: loudoun.gov/96/Building-Development. Henrico: henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees or call the Permit Center at (804) 501-7280.
Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by each county at the time of application. The Loudoun figures on this page are estimates from the July 2022 published schedule and carry a source-age caveat - newer published rates may exist that have not yet been posted publicly. The over-1,000-sq-ft Loudoun 1% path figure in Example 5 is an estimate; verify directly before relying on it for budgeting. Trade permit costs (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are not modeled in this comparison and depend on installer scope. Verify directly with each county's building department before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.