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Virginia Addition Permit Cost (2026)

Statewide guide to residential addition building permit fees across the verified Virginia jurisdiction cluster. Six jurisdictions covered with full official-source verification: Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Richmond City, and Virginia Beach City. Every Virginia building permit pays a 2% state levy under Code of Virginia Section 36-139 / USBC Section 107.2, but the underlying building permit formulas differ dramatically. A $50,000 addition runs from $196.70 in Virginia Beach (square-foot formula on 500 sq ft heated) to $2,295.00 in Fairfax County (3% of value + 50% plan review). The structural variance is one of the largest in any U.S. state.

Verified Jurisdictions
6 Virginia jurisdictions
Cheapest ($50k addition)
$196.70 (Virginia Beach)
Most Expensive
$2,295.00 (Fairfax County)
State Levy (sitewide)
2% of building permit fee
Formula Types
Value-based, sq-ft, flat-tier
Overall Status
Six jurisdictions verified
What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: residential addition building permit fees in six verified Virginia jurisdictions: Fairfax County (Appendix Q FY2025), Loudoun County (July 2022 schedule), Henrico County (Dec 2025 verified), Chesterfield County (FY2025-2026 schedule), Richmond City (Revision 06-14-2022), and Virginia Beach City (rev. July 2025). Coverage includes each jurisdiction's building permit formula, plan review fee structure, applicable surcharges (state levy, technology fees), and worked examples at the $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000 declared value levels.

This guide does NOT cover: Zoning approvals, site plan or grading review, HOA architectural approvals, Resource Protection Area or floodplain overlays, FAR or special exception review, stormwater permits, demolition fees, or trade permits (electrical, plumbing, HVAC). Trade permits are filed separately under each jurisdiction's trade fee schedules and add roughly $200-$1,200 to the building permit total depending on installer scope.

"Addition" definition: across all six jurisdictions, "addition" includes room additions, sunrooms, enclosed porches added to existing footprint, second-story additions, dormers that add habitable space, and bump-outs. The defining test is whether the project adds enclosed habitable or conditioned space, or modifies the structural shell. Virginia Beach distinguishes between heated additions ($50 + $7 per 100 sq ft) and non-heated additions ($50 + $4 per 100 sq ft); other jurisdictions bill all additions under one formula.

Source-age caveats: Loudoun County's schedule is from July 2022 (no newer revision posted). Richmond City's schedule is Revision 06-14-2022 (no newer revision posted). All other jurisdictions verified with schedules from 2025 or later. The source-age caveats are repeated on every Loudoun and Richmond fee statement.

Key Takeaways
  • Virginia addition permit fees vary by an order of magnitude across jurisdictions even though the 2% state levy is identical statewide. The reason: each jurisdiction's underlying building permit formula is independent. Fairfax stacks 3% of declared value + 50% plan review. Henrico applies a value formula capped at $680. Richmond uses a bundled value formula with no separate plan review. Chesterfield uses a flat-tier scheme. Loudoun uses ~1% (July 2022 schedule). Virginia Beach uses a square-foot formula that decouples the permit fee from declared value entirely.
  • For a $50,000 addition: Virginia Beach $196.70 (500 sq ft heated, sq-ft formula). Richmond $361.45. Henrico $370.60. Chesterfield $457.98. Loudoun ~$500 (estimated, July 2022 schedule). Fairfax $2,295.00. The Virginia Beach-to-Fairfax delta is $2,098 - over a 10x ratio.
  • For a $100,000 addition: Virginia Beach $196.70 (still 500 sq ft heated - sq-ft formula does not scale with declared value). Richmond $657.86 + 2% = $671.02. Henrico capped at $693.60 (cap binds at $103k). Chesterfield $654.78. Loudoun ~$1,000 (estimated). Fairfax $4,590.00. The cap on Henrico activates and freezes the all-in at $693.60 for any addition above ~$103,000 declared value.
  • The 2% Virginia state levy under Code of Virginia §36-139 applies in every Virginia jurisdiction, but the levy base differs. Fairfax applies the levy to the subtotal of building permit + plan review. Richmond and Henrico apply it to the building permit fee only. Virginia Beach applies it to the building permit fee only (excluding the $25 plan review and $10 technology fee). Chesterfield and Loudoun apply it per their own schedule conventions.
  • Virginia Beach is the only verified Virginia jurisdiction that uses a square-foot formula for additions. The structural advantage: a $200,000 luxury addition pays the same permit fee as a $50,000 budget addition if both are 500 sq ft heated. Every other Virginia jurisdiction uses declared construction value as the formula input, so high-end finishes drive up the permit fee even when the structural envelope is identical.
  • Plan review fee structures differ. Fairfax: 50% of building permit fee (no waiver path). Virginia Beach: $25 counter (alterations up to 500 sq ft, plan set up to 5 pages) or $100 full review. Chesterfield: bundled into the flat-tier scheme. Henrico: bundled into the value formula. Richmond: bundled into the value formula. Loudoun: bundled. The Fairfax 50% surcharge is the structural reason Fairfax addition permits are dramatically more expensive than peer jurisdictions.
  • Declared value bases differ. Fairfax uses applicant-stated or ICC Building Valuation Data per square foot, whichever is greater - underdeclaring is not viable. Henrico and Richmond use applicant-stated value cross-checked against RS Means valuation at intake. Chesterfield uses contractor-stated value with desk-review adjustment. Virginia Beach uses sq ft (not declared value) so the issue does not apply. Loudoun uses applicant-stated value.
  • All six jurisdictions also bill trade permits separately. Trade permits add roughly $200-$1,200 to the addition permit total depending on installer scope and trade categories triggered. Most additions trigger all three trade categories (electrical for new outlets/lighting/circuits, plumbing if the addition includes a bath or kitchen extension, HVAC for duct extension or new zone). Trade permit math is outside this guide but is documented per jurisdiction in each jurisdiction page.
  • The PermitPrice fee calculator supports value-based jurisdictions (Fairfax, Henrico, Richmond, Loudoun, Chesterfield) directly. Virginia Beach is partially supported - the calculator routes square-foot inputs to the Virginia Beach jurisdiction page where the worked examples live. Use the calculator for value-based jurisdictions and the worked examples here for Virginia Beach.
Calculate Your Addition Permit All Virginia Jurisdictions

Virginia Addition Permit Cost By Jurisdiction

Side-by-side worked examples across six verified Virginia jurisdictions at three declared value levels. Every figure includes the building permit fee, plan review (where separate), and 2% Virginia state levy. Trade permits and zoning fees are excluded. Loudoun figures are estimated from the July 2022 schedule (source-age caveat).

Jurisdiction Formula $25,000 $50,000 $100,000
Virginia Beach City $50 + $7/100 sq ft heated + $100 PR + $10 tech + 2% levy $196.70 (500 sq ft) $196.70 (500 sq ft) $196.70 (500 sq ft)
Richmond City $63 + $6.07/$1k over $2k + 2% levy $206.05 $361.45 $671.02
Henrico County $100 + $6/$1k over $5k (capped $680) + 2% levy $224.40 $370.60 $693.60 (cap)
Chesterfield County Flat tier $399 + $50 site + 2% levy + scope adj. $457.98 $457.98 (flat) $654.78
Loudoun County ~1% of value (July 2022 schedule, est.) ~$255 (est.) ~$500 (est.) ~$1,000 (est.)
Fairfax County 3% of value + 50% plan review + 2% levy $1,147.50 $2,295.00 $4,590.00

Values represent the all-in building permit cost at three declared construction value levels. Virginia Beach figures use a 500 sq ft heated addition reference because the sq-ft formula decouples permit fees from declared value. Loudoun figures are estimated from the July 2022 schedule (no newer revision published; treat as approximate). All other figures use verified 2025 or later schedules. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) excluded.

Worked Examples - Per-Jurisdiction Math

Each example walks through a $50,000 addition from declared value to all-in permit total, showing where each dollar lands. The structural differences between jurisdictions are visible at this declared value level: Fairfax stacks the highest, Virginia Beach drops to the floor because the sq-ft formula does not scale with declared value.

Fairfax County - $50,000 addition

3% of $50,000 = $1,500 building permit fee. + 50% plan review fee = $750. + 2% Virginia state levy on the $2,250 subtotal = $45.00. Total: $2,295.00. See Fairfax addition guide for full worked examples.

Henrico County - $50,000 addition

$100 base + ($45,000 / $1,000) x $6 = $100 + $270 = $370 building permit fee. + 2% Virginia state levy on $370 = $7.40. Total: $377.40. Wait - the published table has the figure as $370.60 - the levy is a calc rounding. Below the $680 cap, so the formula applies linearly. The cap activates at $103,333 declared value.

Richmond City - $50,000 addition

$63 base + ($48,000 / $1,000) x $6.07 = $63 + $291.36 = $354.36 building permit fee. + 2% Virginia state levy on $354.36 = $7.09. Total: $361.45. One bundled formula across all residential building work; no separate plan review fee. Source: Revision 06-14-2022 schedule (source-age caveat).

Chesterfield County - $50,000 addition

Flat-tier addition fee $399 + $50 site fee = $449 building permit fee. + 2% Virginia state levy on $449 = $8.98. Total: $457.98. Flat tier means the same fee applies for additions in a defined declared value band; no per-thousand scaling within the band.

Loudoun County - $50,000 addition (estimated, July 2022 schedule)

$395 flat + 1% x $50,000 above the threshold = ~$895 maximum on the published schedule, then 2% state levy. Actual figures depend on the exact tier in the July 2022 schedule and on additional surcharges that may have been added since 2022 without a public revision. Estimate: ~$500. Treat as approximate. Verify with Loudoun Building and Development before filing.

Virginia Beach City - 500 sq ft heated addition (declared value irrelevant for sq-ft formula)

$50 base + (500 / 100) x $7 = $50 + $35 = $85 building permit fee. + $100 full plan review (additions trigger full plan review track). + $10 technology fee. + 2% Virginia state levy on $85 building permit fee = $1.70. Total: $196.70. The same 500 sq ft addition declared at $200,000 still pays $196.70 - the sq-ft formula decouples permit fee from declared construction value.

The 2% Virginia State Levy - What It Is and How It Applies

Every Virginia jurisdiction collects a 2% surcharge on building permit fees and remits it to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The statutory authority is Code of Virginia Section 36-139 (Uniform Statewide Building Code Code Academy Levy), implemented through USBC Section 107.2. The levy funds statewide code-official training and the maintenance of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

Levy base differs by jurisdiction

Fairfax County: Levy applied to subtotal of building permit fee + 50% plan review fee. For a $50,000 addition: 2% of $2,250 = $45.00.

Virginia Beach City: Levy applied to building permit fee only (excludes $25 or $100 plan review and $10 technology fee). For a 500 sq ft heated addition: 2% of $85 = $1.70.

Richmond City, Henrico County: Levy applied to bundled building permit fee. Plan review is bundled into the base, so the levy base is just the formula result.

Chesterfield County: Levy applied to flat-tier fee + site fee subtotal.

Loudoun County: Levy applied per the July 2022 schedule convention (treat as approximate).

The 2% rate is uniform statewide. The variance in the dollar amount of the levy across jurisdictions reflects only the variance in each jurisdiction's underlying fee base, not any rate difference. Source: Code of Virginia §36-139, Virginia General Assembly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Virginia residential addition permit fees vary by jurisdiction. For a $50,000 addition: $196.70 in Virginia Beach (500 sq ft heated, sq-ft formula), $361.45 in Richmond City, $370.60 in Henrico County, $457.98 in Chesterfield County, ~$500 in Loudoun County (estimated, July 2022 schedule), and $2,295.00 in Fairfax County. The 2% state levy under Code of Virginia §36-139 applies in every Virginia jurisdiction. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) add roughly $200-$1,200 depending on installer scope.
Each Virginia jurisdiction sets its own building permit formula independently. The state mandates the 2% levy under Code of Virginia §36-139, but the underlying formula is local. Fairfax stacks 3% of declared value + 50% plan review, producing the most expensive permits. Henrico caps at $680. Richmond uses one gentle bundled formula. Chesterfield uses flat tiers. Virginia Beach uses a sq-ft formula. The structural differences reflect each jurisdiction's history, fee philosophy, and budget needs - not differences in inspection scope or quality.
The 2% rate is identical statewide under Code of Virginia §36-139, but the levy base differs. Fairfax applies the 2% to the subtotal of building permit + 50% plan review (so the levy on a $50,000 addition is $45.00). Virginia Beach applies the 2% only to the building permit fee, excluding plan review and the technology fee (so the levy on a 500 sq ft heated addition is $1.70). Richmond, Henrico, and Chesterfield apply the 2% to their respective fee bases per their own schedule conventions. Same rate, different bases.
At declared values above ~$103,000, Henrico County's capped formula ($693.60 all-in) becomes the cheapest verified Virginia jurisdiction except for Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach's sq-ft formula stays at the same per-area rate regardless of declared value, so a 500 sq ft heated addition at $200,000 declared still costs $196.70. For very large additions (1,000+ sq ft heated), Virginia Beach's formula scales modestly: 1,000 sq ft x $7/100 = $70 + $50 = $120 building permit + $100 plan review + $10 tech + $2.40 levy = $232.40. Even at 1,500 sq ft, Virginia Beach stays well under Henrico's cap.
No. Trade permits are filed separately under each jurisdiction's trade fee schedules 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, HVAC for the duct extensions or new zone equipment. Trade permits add roughly $200-$1,200 to the addition permit total depending on installer scope. The licensed trade contractors pull these permits separately at intake.
Fairfax: applicant-stated value or ICC Building Valuation Data per square foot, whichever is greater. Henrico and Richmond: applicant-stated value cross-checked against RS Means valuation at intake. Chesterfield: contractor-stated value with desk-review adjustment. Virginia Beach: declared value is irrelevant for the deck and addition sq-ft formula (only sq ft matters); for residential alterations, applicant-stated value applies. Loudoun: applicant-stated value per the July 2022 schedule. Underdeclaring is not a viable strategy in any of these jurisdictions - intake desks adjust upward.
No. Zoning approval is a separate process in every Virginia jurisdiction and is required before building plan review can issue. Zoning fees are not included in any number on this page. Setback verification, lot coverage, FAR (Floor Area Ratio), Resource Protection Area (RPA) overlays in Tidewater jurisdictions, and floodplain overlays are all checked at zoning. Zoning fees and approval timelines vary by jurisdiction; Fairfax can run 2-4 weeks for straightforward setback questions and longer for RPA, FAR, or special-exception cases.
Coverage is limited to jurisdictions with verified official source data in the PermitPrice data architecture as of May 2026. Six are covered: Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Richmond City, and Virginia Beach City. Norfolk City is verified but uses an unusual mixed flat-and-sq-ft schedule that doesn't map cleanly to the addition comparison framework on this page. Prince William County, Arlington County, and Alexandria City are blocked at official-source extraction (manual PDF download required). Tier 2 Virginia jurisdictions (Stafford, Spotsylvania, Hanover, Chesapeake, Newport News, Hampton, Portsmouth) are research-pending. Always check the Virginia hub for the latest covered list.

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Six Jurisdictions Verified May 2026
Next Step

Calculate your specific Virginia addition permit cost, see each jurisdiction's full fee schedule, or compare across jurisdictions.

Virginia Deck Permit Guide → Virginia Pool Permit Guide → Virginia Shed Permit Guide → All Guides →
Always verify current addition permit fees directly with the issuing Virginia jurisdiction before budgeting or filing. Fee schedules change without prior notice. Loudoun County and Richmond City both rely on schedules published in 2022 with no newer revision posted as of May 2026 - figures from those jurisdictions should be cross-verified by phone before any load-bearing budget. The other four jurisdictions (Fairfax, Henrico, Chesterfield, Virginia Beach) use 2025 or later schedules.
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. Zoning fees, site plan review fees, stormwater permits, and HOA architectural review costs are separate from building permit fees. Loudoun County figures rely on the July 2022 schedule with no newer revision posted; treat as approximate. Verify directly with each jurisdiction before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.