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Henrico County Addition Permit Cost (2026)

Residential addition building permit fees in Henrico County, Virginia, calculated under the Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections permit fees schedule (page last updated December 2025). Henrico applies one tiered value formula to all residential 1-2 family work: $100 base building permit fee plus $6 per $1,000 of declared construction value above $5,000, capped at $680. The 2% Virginia state levy then applies to that building permit fee. No separate plan review fee. A $30,000 addition pays $255.00. A $50,000 addition pays $377.40. The cap activates at $101,667 declared and freezes the all-in fee at $693.60.

Base Building Permit
$100 flat
Value Step
$6 per $1,000 over $5,000
Fee Cap
$680 at $101,667 declared
Virginia 2% State Levy
2% of building permit fee
$50,000 Addition All-In
$377.40
Fee Status
Verified Dec 2025
What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: Henrico County residential addition building permit fees as published on the Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections permit fees page (henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/). Coverage includes the $100 base building permit fee, the $6 per $1,000 of declared value step above the $5,000 threshold, the $680 maximum cap, and the 2% Virginia state levy applied to the building permit fee. "Addition" in Henrico's scope means room additions to an existing 1-2 family dwelling.

This guide does NOT cover: Trade permits (electrical at $100, plumbing, mechanical) - these are filed separately and add roughly $100-$400 to the addition permit total depending on installer scope. Zoning approvals (setback verification, lot coverage). New residential construction - new 1-2 family dwellings use a separate flat $680 building permit fee. Multi-family additions and townhouses, which use a separate fee structure not modeled here. HOA architectural approvals. Site plan or stormwater management permits if the addition triggers them.

When a Henrico addition permit is required: The Department of Building Construction and Inspections requires a building permit for any addition that adds enclosed habitable space, conditioned space, or modifies the structural shell of an existing 1-2 family dwelling. Sunrooms, enclosed porches, screened porches converted to four-season rooms, dormers that add habitable space, and second-story additions all qualify. Always verify with the Permit Center at (804) 501-7280 before assuming exemption.

Declared value basis: Henrico uses applicant-stated construction value as the declared value for the $6 per $1,000 formula. There is no automatic ICC Building Valuation Data floor adjustment at intake described on the published page; verify directly with the Permit Center if the contractor estimate is significantly below market.

Key Takeaways
  • Henrico uses one tiered value formula for every residential 1-2 family project type, decks and pools and sheds included: $100 base building permit + $6 per $1,000 of declared construction value above $5,000, capped at $680. The 2% Virginia state levy applies on top. There is no separate plan review fee - Henrico bundles plan review into the base permit. This is unusual among Virginia jurisdictions and is the structural reason Henrico is cheap for medium-sized additions.
  • For a $30,000 addition: $100 + $6 x 25 = $250 building permit + $5.00 state levy = $255.00 all-in. For $50,000: $100 + $6 x 45 = $370 + $7.40 levy = $377.40. For $80,000: $100 + $6 x 75 = $550 + $11.00 levy = $561.00. The hard cap activates at $101,667 declared construction value, where the $6 per $1,000 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 $680 cap is the defining feature of Henrico's addition fee structure. A $250,000 second-story addition pays the same $693.60 all-in as a $101,667 first-floor bump-out. Compared to Fairfax County's uncapped 3% + 50% plan review formula ($11,475.00 for a $250,000 addition), Henrico saves roughly $10,780 on the same project. Richmond City's uncapped $63 + $6.07/$1,000 formula produces $1,567.41 on a $250,000 addition - still cheaper than Fairfax, but Henrico's cap is what makes Henrico the cheapest verified Virginia jurisdiction for any addition above ~$80,000 declared.
  • Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are NOT included in the addition building permit. Most Henrico additions trigger all three trade categories. Electrical permits in Henrico start at $100 base; plumbing and mechanical follow similar structures. Trade permits add roughly $100-$400 to the addition permit total depending on installer scope. Licensed contractors pull these permits separately at intake under the same Henrico fee structure.
  • There is no published minimum permit fee separate from the $100 base. The smallest addition under Henrico's residential 1-2 family scope pays $100 building permit + $2.00 state levy = $102.00 all-in if declared value is at or below the $5,000 threshold. Above $5,000 the $6 per $1,000 step kicks in immediately. Almost no addition declares below $5,000 in 2026 - the threshold mostly affects deck and shed permits where small declared values are realistic.
  • The Henrico permit fee structure is unusually clean compared to neighboring jurisdictions. Chesterfield County uses a flat $399 + $50 Environmental Engineering site inspection + 2% levy = $456.98 for any addition regardless of value. Richmond City uses an uncapped value formula. Fairfax County stacks three full-strength components. Henrico's single tiered formula with a cap is the most predictable across the verified Virginia cluster, particularly for larger additions where the cap eliminates declared-value risk.
  • New residential construction is NOT covered by the addition formula. New 1-2 family dwellings in Henrico pay a flat $680 building permit fee (no value formula applied) plus trade permits at roughly $100 each. New construction also triggers an inspection surcharge ($75 per inspection above the average count of 33 without fire suppression or 40 with). Use this guide only for additions to existing dwellings.
  • The Henrico permit fees page on henrico.gov was last updated December 2025. The formula and cap were verified against both the henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees page and the related henrico.gov residential permits page (last updated March 2026). Always confirm current rates with the Henrico Permit Center at (804) 501-7280 or the automated permit line at (804) 501-7770 before filing.
Calculate Your Addition Permit All Henrico Permit Fees

Henrico Addition Permit Fee Components

Every Henrico County residential addition permit is built from two components only: the tiered building permit fee ($100 + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000, capped at $680) and the 2% Virginia state levy applied to that building permit. No separate plan review fee, no county-level surcharges. Trade permits are billed separately at intake.

Component Amount ($50,000 example) How It Is Calculated
Base building permit fee $100.00 Flat $100 base applies to every residential 1-2 family permit regardless of declared value.
Value step ($6 per $1,000 over $5,000) $270.00 $6 x ($50,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 = $6 x 45 = $270. Stops at the $680 cap.
Building permit subtotal $370.00 Base + value step. Capped at $680 maximum (reached at $101,667 declared value).
2% Virginia state levy $7.40 2% of the building permit subtotal. Statutory under Code of Virginia §36-139 / USBC Section 107.2.
All-in $50,000 addition total $377.40 $370.00 + $7.40. Trade permits and zoning approvals are excluded.

Source: Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections permit fees page (henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/), page last updated December 2025. Verified by Munib Ur Rehman against the residential permits page (last updated March 2026).

Worked Examples - Real Addition Projects in Henrico County

Each example uses arithmetic from the Henrico County permit fees page. The $100 + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000 formula scales linearly until the $680 cap activates at $101,667 declared value. The 2% Virginia state levy applies to whatever the building permit fee comes out to.

Example 1: $25,000 small bump-out (kitchen extension, ~150 sq ft)

A homeowner builds a 150 sq ft kitchen bump-out on a single-family dwelling, declared construction value $25,000.

  • Base building permit fee: $100.00
  • Value step: $6 x ($25,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 = $6 x 20 = $120.00
  • Building permit subtotal: $220.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $220: $4.40
  • Total all-in addition building permit: $224.40

Trade permits (electrical for new outlets, plumbing if sink moves, mechanical for duct extension) add roughly $100-$300 to this total at intake under Henrico's separate trade fee structures.

Example 2: $50,000 sunroom (300 sq ft enclosed three-season room)

A homeowner adds a 300 sq ft enclosed sunroom on the rear of an existing dwelling, declared construction value $50,000.

  • Base building permit fee: $100.00
  • Value step: $6 x 45 = $270.00
  • Building permit subtotal: $370.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $370: $7.40
  • Total all-in addition building permit: $377.40
Example 3: $80,000 family-room addition (450 sq ft heated)

A homeowner builds a 450 sq ft heated family-room addition on the side of a single-family dwelling, declared construction value $80,000.

  • Base building permit fee: $100.00
  • Value step: $6 x 75 = $450.00
  • Building permit subtotal: $550.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $550: $11.00
  • Total all-in addition building permit: $561.00

Cap not yet active at this value - cap activates at $101,667 declared construction value where the value step would otherwise push the building permit past $680.

Example 4: $250,000 second-story addition (1,000 sq ft over existing garage and family room) - cap active

A homeowner adds a 1,000 sq ft second-story addition over an existing garage and family room, declared construction value $250,000. Cap activates because declared value is far above the $101,667 cap threshold.

  • Base + value step (capped): $680.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $680: $13.60
  • Total all-in addition building permit: $693.60

Note: a $250,000 second-story addition triggers structural review of the existing first-floor framing and footings. Henrico bundles structural plan review into the base building permit fee with no separate plan review surcharge. Trade permits add another $200-$500 depending on bath, HVAC, and electrical scope. The cap means any addition between $101,667 and several million dollars in declared value pays the same $693.60 to the County.

Calculate Your Henrico Addition Permit

The PermitPrice fee calculator supports Henrico's tiered value-capped formula directly. Enter your declared construction value and the calculator returns the all-in addition permit cost broken down by base, value step, cap detection, and the 2% Virginia state levy.

Calculator coverage for Henrico additions: the $100 base + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000 value step + $680 cap detection + 2% Virginia state levy. Trade permits, zoning fees, and new construction (which uses the flat $680 building permit) are not modeled in the calculator and are quoted separately at intake.

Open the Permit Fee Calculator

Henrico Addition Permit Cost vs Other Verified Virginia Jurisdictions

Henrico's tiered value formula with a $680 cap makes it the cheapest verified Virginia jurisdiction for any addition above roughly $80,000 declared value. Below that threshold, Richmond City's gentle $63 + $6.07/$1,000 formula edges Henrico for the smallest additions; Virginia Beach's sq-ft formula beats both on sq-ft-priced additions. Fairfax is the most expensive in every category.

Jurisdiction Addition Formula $50,000 Addition All-In
Henrico County $100 + $6/$1k over $5k, capped $680 + 2% levy $377.40
Fairfax County 3% of value + 50% plan review + 2% levy $2,295.00
Loudoun County ~1% of value (July 2022 schedule) ~$500 (estimated)
Richmond City $63 + $6.07/$1k over $2k + 2% levy $361.45
Chesterfield County Flat tier $399 + $50 site + 2% levy $456.98 (flat-tiered)
Virginia Beach City $50 + $7/100 sq ft heated + $100 PR + 2% levy $196.70 (500 sq ft heated)

Comparison units differ: Henrico/Fairfax/Loudoun/Richmond use declared construction value; Chesterfield uses a flat-tier scheme; Virginia Beach uses sq ft. Trade permits are excluded from every row. The 500 sq ft heated addition assumed in the Virginia Beach row is the closest like-for-like proxy at the $50,000 declared value level. The Loudoun figure is an estimate from the July 2022 schedule and carries a source-age caveat.

Side-by-Side Math

For full breakdowns of how Henrico compares against neighboring jurisdictions on additions, decks, and pools, see the dedicated comparison pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Henrico County residential addition building permit costs $100 base + $6 per $1,000 of declared value over $5,000, capped at $680, plus 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit fee. A $25,000 addition pays $224.40. A $50,000 addition pays $377.40. An $80,000 addition pays $561.00. A $100,000 addition pays $675.00 just under the cap. Above $101,667 declared value the cap activates and the all-in fee freezes at $693.60. Trade permits add roughly $100-$400 separately.
Henrico's published 1-2 family residential fee schedule applies the $680 cap to every residential project type in scope: decks, sheds, pools, garages, additions, demolitions, and general alteration/repair. The cap exists because the County's fee schedule was set up as a flat fee for new 1-2 family dwellings at $680, and additions to existing dwellings use the same ceiling so the building permit fee never exceeds what a new house would pay. The cap activates at $101,667 declared value, where the $6 per $1,000 value step would otherwise push the permit past $680. Above that threshold the all-in fee freezes at $693.60 regardless of declared value.
Yes. Henrico bundles plan review into the $100 base + $6 per $1,000 building permit fee. There is no separate plan review fee line item. This is the opposite of Fairfax County (which adds 50% on top for plan review) and Virginia Beach (which charges a flat $100 plan review). Henrico's bundled structure is the structural reason it ends up cheaper than every neighboring jurisdiction on medium-to-large additions. The plan review work itself still happens - the Department of Building Construction and Inspections performs structural and code review before issuing the permit - but the cost is folded into the single building permit fee.
Henrico defines "addition" as work that adds enclosed habitable or conditioned space to an existing 1-2 family dwelling. Room additions, sunrooms, enclosed porches, dormers that add habitable space, second-story additions, and bump-outs all qualify. Decks, fences, sheds, and accessory structures are billed under the same $100 + $6 per $1,000 capped formula because Henrico's residential 1-2 family scope covers all of them in one schedule line. Screened porches (open to outdoor air on three sides) are typically billed as an addition because the structural envelope still gets reviewed. Always verify scope with the Permit Center at (804) 501-7280 before assuming.
No. Trade permits are filed separately under Henrico's trade fee structures and are not included in any number on this page. 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. Electrical permits in Henrico start at $100 base; plumbing and mechanical follow similar structures. Trade permits add roughly $100-$400 to the addition permit total depending on installer scope, fixture count, and equipment count. Licensed trade contractors pull these permits separately at intake.
Yes for footprint-changing additions. Henrico Planning routes any addition that extends the building footprint through setback verification, lot coverage, and applicable overlay districts (Resource Protection Area, floodplain, historic) before building plan review can issue the permit. Setback questions usually clear in 1-2 weeks; overlay district questions can take 3-4 weeks. Zoning approvals are a separate process from the addition building permit fee documented on this page - they are not included in the $377.40 figure. Verify zoning status with Henrico Planning before the building permit application.
At $50,000 declared: Henrico $377.40, Richmond $361.45, Chesterfield $456.98. Richmond edges Henrico for medium-value additions because Richmond's $63 base + $6.07/$1,000 formula starts lower. But Richmond does NOT have a cap - at $250,000 declared Richmond pays $1,567.41 while Henrico stays capped at $693.60. Chesterfield charges the same $456.98 at any declared value because it is flat-tiered. The crossover point where Henrico becomes cheaper than Richmond is at roughly $80,000 declared and the gap widens after that. Henrico is structurally the cheapest verified Virginia jurisdiction for additions above ~$80,000.
No. The $377.40 Henrico addition permit fee (at $50,000 declared) is the County building permit cost only - the cost to apply, get plan review, and have inspections performed. It does not include any contractor work. A 300 sq ft sunroom installed in the Henrico market typically runs $35,000-$70,000 for the contractor scope (foundation, framing, windows, roofing, finishes, labor). A 500 sq ft heated family-room addition runs $75,000-$130,000+. The permit fee is a meaningful but small line item in your overall addition project budget; the bulk is contractor scope. PermitPrice tracks only the County permit fee component.

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Verified May 2026
Next Step

Calculate your specific Henrico addition permit cost, see all Henrico fee categories, or compare against neighboring jurisdictions.

Henrico Deck Permit Guide → Henrico Pool Permit Guide → Virginia Addition Permit Guide → All Guides →
Always verify current addition permit fees directly with the Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections before budgeting or filing. The henrico.gov permit fees page (last updated December 2025) is the most recent published schedule as of May 12, 2026. Call the Permit Center at (804) 501-7280 or the automated permit information line at (804) 501-7770 to confirm addition permit rates, value formula application, cap rules, and zoning approval status before submitting an application.
Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by the Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections at the time of application. Declared construction value is applicant-stated; verify with the Permit Center if the contractor estimate is significantly below market. Trade permit costs (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are not modeled in this guide and depend on installer scope. Zoning fees, site plan review fees, and stormwater permits are separate from the building permit fee. Verify directly with the Permit Center before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.