Washington DC vs Virginia Beach City Permit Fees (2026)

Cross-metro comparison of two opposite fee structures. Washington, DC uses a 4-tier valuation formula for alterations ($30 + 2% of value in Tier 3) plus a universal 10% Enhanced Fee plus a 0.13% Green Building Fee on alterations $1,001-$1M. Virginia Beach City uses square-foot formulas for decks ($50 + $4 per 100 sq ft) and additions ($50 + $7 per 100 sq ft heated, $50 + $4 per 100 sq ft non-heated), plus a value formula for residential alterations ($50 + $5 per $1,000 of declared cost). Virginia Beach also charges a $25 counter plan review (or $100 full review), a $10 technology fee per permit, and the 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit fee component only. Virginia Beach is dramatically cheaper across every typical residential project category PermitPrice tested.

Key Takeaways

DC and Virginia Beach use opposite fee philosophies. DC's alteration tier formula scales at 2% of declared value (Tier 3) and stacks a 10% Enhanced Fee on every line item plus a 0.13% Green Building Fee. Virginia Beach uses sq-ft formulas for additions and decks (so the permit fee tracks deck/addition size, not deck cost) and a gentle value formula for alterations ($50 + $5 per $1,000) - effective rate ~0.7% on a $30,000 alteration before plan review and tech fee.
Virginia Beach wins on every category PermitPrice tested except the $30,000 in-ground pool, where DC's flat $260 + 10% Enhanced ($286.00) edges out Virginia Beach's $314.00 (alteration formula + $100 full plan review + $10 tech + 2% levy). The savings widen sharply on higher-value alterations: Virginia Beach saves $497 on a $30,000 alteration, $1,711 on an $80,000 heated addition.
Virginia Beach's sq-ft addition formula is the structural reason additions are dramatically cheaper. DC bills an $80,000 declared addition under the alteration tier formula, producing $1,907.40 all-in. Virginia Beach bills a 500 sq ft heated addition at $50 + 5 x $7 = $85 building permit + $100 plan review + $10 tech + $1.70 levy = $196.70. Even on a $200,000 declared addition, Virginia Beach's permit fee depends on sq ft, not declared value.
For new single-family homes, DC's $0.03 per cubic foot rate keeps the building permit base low ($480 base + 10% Enhanced + Green Building Fee = $532.40 on a 2,000 sq ft 8-ft-ceiling SFD). Virginia Beach's heated new construction formula ($50 + $7 per 100 sq ft = $190 base + $100 plan review + $10 tech + $3.80 levy = $303.80) is even cheaper. Virginia Beach beats DC on new construction in this comparison, unlike the DC-vs-Richmond comparison where Richmond's uncapped value formula was $2,478 base.
Tiny accessory projects under ~$500 declared value tilt back to DC. DC's flat $33 alteration permit (+10% Enhanced = $36.30) on a sub-$500 project beats Virginia Beach's $50 base + $25 plan review + $10 tech + 2% levy combination on tiny alteration scope. Virginia Beach's structure assumes a minimum permit cost floor around $94-$95 for the smallest projects.
Decks: DC has no separate deck line, so decks are processed under the alteration tier formula at declared value. Virginia Beach has an explicit deck line at $50 + $4 per 100 sq ft. For a 400 sq ft deck declared at $15,000: DC $384.45 vs Virginia Beach $102.32 - Virginia Beach saves $282.13.
Pools: DC has a flat $260 in-ground pool fee (up to 15,000 gallons) +10% Enhanced = $286.00. Virginia Beach uses its alteration formula for in-ground pools: $50 + ($30,000 / $1,000) x $5 = $200 + $100 full plan review + $10 tech + 2% levy on $200 ($4) = $314.00. DC saves $28.00 on a $30,000 pool - the only category in this comparison where DC is cheaper.
Trade permits are separate in both jurisdictions. DC charges per outlet/fixture/equipment unit with 10% Enhanced Fee. Virginia Beach charges trade permits under separate trade fee schedules with the 2% state levy applied. Trade permits add to the totals on this page for projects with electrical, plumbing, or HVAC scope.
Source recency. DC: live DOB Fee Schedule on dob.dc.gov captured April 25, 2026. Virginia Beach: Residential Building Permit Fees PDF rev. July 2025, retrieved from planning.virginiabeach.gov on April 24, 2026.

DC Fee Schedule Virginia Beach Fee Schedule

Source Evidence Quality

Washington, DC

DOB Building Permit Fee Schedule

Live page on dob.dc.gov/node/1620346

Status: Captured April 25, 2026. Live page (not a dated PDF). DOB updates the page when fees change. PermitPrice tracks for re-verification quarterly. Verified

Virginia Beach City, VA

Residential Building Permit Fees PDF

PDF on planning.virginiabeach.gov (rev. July 2025)

Status: Retrieved April 24, 2026. PDF footer labeled rev. Jul-2025; current published rate sheet. Captures the deck sq-ft formula, alteration value formula, addition heated and non-heated formulas, $25 counter and $100 full plan review, $10 technology fee, refund policy. Verified

Five Worked Examples - DC vs Virginia Beach

Each example uses arithmetic from each jurisdiction's verified fee schedule. DC totals include the 10% Enhanced Fee on every line item and the 0.13% Green Building Fee where applicable. Virginia Beach totals include the $25 counter plan review (or $100 full review for additions and pools), $10 technology fee, and 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit fee component only.

Project	DC All-In	Virginia Beach All-In	Cheaper By
$30,000 residential alteration	$735.90	$239.00	VB by $496.90
400 sq ft deck (declared $15,000)	$384.45	$102.32	VB by $282.13
$30,000 in-ground pool	$286.00	$314.00	DC by $28.00
500 sq ft heated addition ($80,000 declared)	$1,907.40	$196.70	VB by $1,710.70
2,000 sq ft new SFD ($400,000 declared)	$532.40	$303.80	VB by $228.60

Each row represents a typical residential project. The DC totals reflect the alteration tier formula plus 10% Enhanced Fee plus 0.13% Green Building Fee where applicable. The Virginia Beach totals reflect the relevant building permit formula plus the appropriate plan review track ($25 counter for uncovered decks of any size up to 5 plan pages; $100 full review for additions and pools), the $10 technology fee, and the 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit fee component only.

Example 1 - $30,000 residential alteration (kitchen, bath, basement, interior remodel)

DC: Alteration tier 3 ($1,001 - $1,000,000) = $30 + 2% x $30,000 = $30 + $600 = $630. + 10% Enhanced Fee = $693.00. + 0.13% Green Building Fee on $30,000 = $39.00 + 10% Enhanced = $42.90. DC total: $735.90.

Virginia Beach: Residential alteration formula = $50 + ($30,000 / $1,000) x $5 = $50 + $150 = $200 building permit fee. + $25 counter plan review (alterations up to 500 sq ft work area, plan set up to 5 pages) + $10 technology fee + 2% Virginia state levy on the $200 building permit fee = $4.00. Virginia Beach total: $239.00.

Difference: Virginia Beach saves $496.90.

Example 2 - 400 sq ft deck (declared $15,000)

DC: No separate deck line on the DOB Fee Schedule. Deck is billed under alteration tier 3 = $30 + 2% x $15,000 = $30 + $300 = $330. + 10% Enhanced = $363.00. + 0.13% Green Building Fee on $15,000 = $19.50 + 10% Enhanced = $21.45. DC total: $384.45.

Virginia Beach: Deck sq-ft formula = $50 + (400 / 100) x $4 = $50 + $16 = $66 building permit. + $25 counter plan review (uncovered decks any size, plan set up to 5 pages) + $10 technology fee + 2% Virginia state levy on $66 = $1.32. Virginia Beach total: $102.32.

Difference: Virginia Beach saves $282.13. The sq-ft formula decouples Virginia Beach permit fees from deck cost; DC's value-tied formula scales steeply with declared deck cost.

Example 3 - $30,000 in-ground pool (up to 15,000 gallons)

DC: Flat $260 in-ground pool permit (up to 15,000 gallons) + 10% Enhanced Fee = $286.00. DC total: $286.00.

Virginia Beach: Pool billed under alteration formula = $50 + ($30,000 / $1,000) x $5 = $200 building permit. + $100 full plan review + $10 technology fee + 2% Virginia state levy on $200 = $4.00. Virginia Beach total: $314.00.

Difference: DC saves $28.00. The only category in this comparison where DC wins. DC's flat fee on a relatively low-value but high-headache project category beats Virginia Beach's value-based alteration formula at this declared value.

Example 4 - 500 sq ft heated room addition ($80,000 declared)

DC: Addition billed under alteration tier 3 = $30 + 2% x $80,000 = $30 + $1,600 = $1,630. + 10% Enhanced = $1,793.00. + 0.13% Green Building Fee on $80,000 = $104.00 + 10% Enhanced = $114.40. DC total: $1,907.40.

Virginia Beach: Heated addition sq-ft formula = $50 + (500 / 100) x $7 = $50 + $35 = $85 building permit. + $100 full plan review + $10 technology fee + 2% Virginia state levy on $85 = $1.70. Virginia Beach total: $196.70.

Difference: Virginia Beach saves $1,710.70. The biggest delta in this comparison. Virginia Beach's sq-ft addition formula is structurally insulated from declared-value inflation - the same 500 sq ft addition declared at $200,000 still pays $196.70 in Virginia Beach but $4,567+ in DC.

Example 5 - 2,000 sq ft new single-family home ($400,000 declared)

DC: New construction $0.03 per cubic foot. 2,000 sq ft x 8-ft ceiling = 16,000 cu ft. 16,000 x $0.03 = $480 base + 10% Enhanced = $528.00. + Green Building Fee $0.002 per sq ft x 2,000 = $4.00 + 10% Enhanced = $4.40. DC total: $532.40.

Virginia Beach: Heated new construction sq-ft formula = $50 + (2,000 / 100) x $7 = $50 + $140 = $190 building permit. + $100 full plan review + $10 technology fee + 2% Virginia state levy on $190 = $3.80. Virginia Beach total: $303.80.

Difference: Virginia Beach saves $228.60. Both jurisdictions use cost-decoupled formulas for new construction (DC per cubic foot, Virginia Beach per sq ft) so high-end homes don't scale up wildly. Virginia Beach's $7 per 100 sq ft rate is gentler than DC's $0.03 per cubic foot at typical residential ceiling heights.

Fee Component Breakdown - DC vs Virginia Beach

DC's fee stack: building permit fee (tier formula or flat fee) + 10% Enhanced Fee on every line + 0.13% Green Building Fee on alterations $1,001 - $1M (or $0.002 per sq ft on new construction) + 10% Enhanced on the Green Building Fee. Virginia Beach's fee stack: building permit fee (sq-ft or value formula) + $25 counter or $100 full plan review + $10 technology fee + 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit fee only.

Component	Washington, DC	Virginia Beach City
Alteration formula (residential)	$30 + 2% of declared value (Tier 3, $1,001 - $1M)	$50 + $5 per $1,000 of declared cost
Deck formula	No separate line - billed under alteration tier formula	$50 + $4 per 100 sq ft
Heated addition / new construction	$0.03 per cubic foot (new) / alteration tier (addition)	$50 + $7 per 100 sq ft
Plan review	Bundled into base fee (no separate line for residential)	$25 counter (uncovered decks any size, alterations up to 500 sq ft, plan set up to 5 pages) or $100 full
Universal surcharge	10% Enhanced Fee on every line item	2% Virginia state levy on building permit fee only
Green / technology fee	0.13% Green Building Fee on alterations + 10% Enhanced	$10 flat technology fee per permit
Pool (in-ground, up to 15,000 gal)	Flat $260 + 10% Enhanced = $286.00	Alteration formula (value-based)
Trade permits	Per outlet/fixture/equipment + 10% Enhanced	Separate trade fee schedules + 2% state levy

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper for residential permits, DC or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach is cheaper across every typical residential category PermitPrice tested except the $30,000 in-ground pool, where DC's flat $286.00 edges out Virginia Beach's $314.00. Virginia Beach saves $496.90 on a $30,000 alteration, $282.13 on a 400 sq ft deck declared at $15,000, $1,710.70 on a 500 sq ft heated addition declared at $80,000, and $228.60 on a 2,000 sq ft new SFD at $400,000 declared. Tiny accessory projects under $500 declared value tilt back to DC because Virginia Beach's $50 base + $25 plan review + $10 tech fee combination has a higher floor than DC's $33 lowest tier.

Why is the gap so large on additions ($1,710 difference)?

Virginia Beach uses a square-foot formula for additions ($50 + $7 per 100 sq ft heated, $50 + $4 per 100 sq ft non-heated) that decouples permit fees from declared construction value. DC bills additions under its alteration tier formula at 2% of declared value plus 10% Enhanced Fee plus 0.13% Green Building Fee. For a 500 sq ft heated addition declared at $80,000: Virginia Beach's permit fee depends only on the 500 sq ft (= $85 building permit) while DC's permit fee depends on the $80,000 declared value (= $1,907.40 all-in). The same Virginia Beach addition declared at $200,000 still costs $196.70; the same DC addition declared at $200,000 jumps to $4,567+. Sq-ft pricing is structurally cheaper than value pricing for high-value additions.

Why does DC win on the in-ground pool category?

DC has a dedicated flat $260 in-ground pool permit (up to 15,000 gallons) +10% Enhanced Fee = $286.00. Virginia Beach has no separate pool line item - pools are processed under the alteration value formula at $50 + $5 per $1,000 plus the $100 full plan review track plus $10 technology fee plus 2% state levy. On a $30,000 declared in-ground pool: Virginia Beach $314.00 vs DC $286.00 - DC wins by $28.00. The flip point depends on declared pool cost; on lower-value pools DC stays at the flat $286.00 while Virginia Beach's value formula goes lower. Pool barriers and pool electrical work are separate permits in both jurisdictions and not modeled here.

Are trade permits (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) included in these totals?

No. Trade permits are filed separately in both jurisdictions and are not included in any number on this page. DC charges per outlet, fixture, or equipment unit with the 10% Enhanced Fee on top. Virginia Beach charges trade permits under separate trade fee schedules with the 2% Virginia state levy applied. For projects with electrical, plumbing, or HVAC scope (interior remodels, additions, kitchens, baths, pools), trade permits add to the building permit total. Estimates: a typical kitchen remodel adds $80-$250 in DC trade permits or $40-$150 in Virginia Beach trade permits to the building permit number.

Does the 2% Virginia state levy apply to plan review and technology fee?

No. Per Code of Virginia §36-139, the levy is calculated on the building permit fee component only. In Virginia Beach, that means the 2% levy applies to the building permit total (e.g., $200 on a $30,000 alteration) but not to the $25 plan review or $10 technology fee. This produces a small but real saving compared to applying the levy to the entire permit invoice. DC's 10% Enhanced Fee, by contrast, applies to every line item including plan review and the Green Building Fee component.

Are these fees the same as the contractor cost to do the project?

No. Every number on this page is the city/district building permit fee only - the cost to apply, get plan review, and have inspections performed. Contractor labor, materials, finishes, and project management costs are separate and far larger than the permit fee for any of these examples. A $30,000 alteration is a $30,000 contractor scope plus a $239.00 (Virginia Beach) or $735.90 (DC) permit fee. PermitPrice tracks only the permit fee component; contractor cost depends on installer scope and is outside our coverage.

How are these jurisdictions related geographically?

Washington, DC and Virginia Beach are not in the same metro area - DC is the federal district at the head of the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia), while Virginia Beach is the largest city in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area in southeastern Virginia, about 200 miles south of DC. The comparison is useful for homeowners considering relocating between the two markets or comparing DMV-area cost-of-government to the Hampton Roads market. For DC-vs-DMV-suburb comparisons, see DC vs Fairfax. For Virginia Beach intra-Hampton-Roads comparisons, see Norfolk vs Virginia Beach.

Where can I verify these fee schedules independently?

DC: dob.dc.gov/node/1620346 hosts the live DOB Building Permit Fee Schedule. The Department of Buildings updates the page when fees change; PermitPrice captured the page state on April 25, 2026. Virginia Beach: planning.virginiabeach.gov hosts the Residential Building Permit Fees PDF, footer-labeled rev. July 2025, retrieved April 24, 2026. Always verify current rates with the issuing authority before filing - call DOB at (202) 671-3500 or Virginia Beach Permits and Inspections at (757) 385-4211. Direct verification settles classification and tier-eligibility questions in 5 minutes.

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Verified May 2026

DOB Building Permit Fee Schedule - DC Department of Buildings Captured April 25, 2026 - DC Department of Buildings - Primary source for the alteration tier formula, new construction per-cubic-foot rate, in-ground pool flat fee, 10% Enhanced Fee, and Green Building Fee components Verified
Virginia Beach Residential Building Permit Fees PDF (rev. July 2025) Revision July 2025 - City of Virginia Beach Planning Department, Permits and Inspections Division - Primary source for the deck sq-ft formula, alteration value formula, addition heated and non-heated formulas, $25 counter and $100 full plan review, $10 technology fee, refund policy. Retrieved April 24, 2026 Verified
Code of Virginia Section 36-139 - USBC State Levy Authority Current - Virginia General Assembly - Authorizing statute for the statewide 2% building permit surcharge applied across all Virginia jurisdictions, including Virginia Beach City

Next Step

See each jurisdiction's full fee schedule, calculate your specific permit cost, or compare against other DMV and Hampton Roads jurisdictions.

Use the Calculator → DC Fee Schedule Virginia Beach Fee Schedule

DC vs Richmond → DC vs Fairfax → Norfolk vs Virginia Beach → All Comparisons →

Always verify current permit fees directly with each jurisdiction before budgeting or filing. DC: dob.dc.gov/node/1620346 hosts the live DOB Building Permit Fee Schedule; call (202) 671-3500. Virginia Beach: planning.virginiabeach.gov hosts the Residential Building Permit Fees PDF (rev. July 2025); call (757) 385-4211. Both jurisdictions update their schedules without prior notice; live verification at the time of filing is essential for any load-bearing budget.

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 issuing authority at the time of application. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are not included in any total on this page; estimates depend on installer scope. Plan review track eligibility in Virginia Beach is determined at intake based on plan set page count and project complexity. DC's Enhanced Fee and Green Building Fee components apply per the live DOB Fee Schedule and may be revised. Verify directly with each jurisdiction before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.