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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 36-137 / 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 $456.98 in Chesterfield County (flat tier), with Loudoun County at $395.00 to $399.60 for an addition of 1,000 sq ft or less and Fairfax County at $158.77 for a 500 sq ft addition under its FY2027 area-based schedule. Two of the six jurisdictions price additions by floor area, so their fees do not move with the declared value at all.

Verified Jurisdictions
6 Virginia jurisdictions
Cheapest ($50k addition)
$196.70 (Virginia Beach)
Most Expensive
$456.98 (Chesterfield, verified); Loudoun $395.00 to $399.60
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 FY2027), Loudoun County (July 2022 schedule), Henrico County (Dec 2025 verified), Chesterfield County (FY2026-2027 schedule), Richmond City (Revision 07-01-2024), 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 07-01-2024 (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 prices additions per square foot ($0.15/sq ft wood frame, $141.75 minimum) plus a 2% levy and a 10% technology surcharge. 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 a $395 bundle for additions of 1,000 sq ft or less (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 $377.40. Chesterfield $456.98. Loudoun $395.00 to $399.60 (1,000 sq ft or less, July 2022 schedule). Fairfax $158.77 (500 sq ft, area-based; the fee does not change with declared value). The Virginia Beach-to-Chesterfield delta is $260.28, a 2.3x 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 $683.40 (the $680 cap binds at $101,001). Chesterfield $456.98 (flat). Loudoun $395.00 to $399.60 if the addition is 1,000 sq ft or less (over 1,000 sq ft: $1,335.00 to $1,361.70 plus the county zoning permit). Fairfax $158.77 (still 500 sq ft; a 1,000 sq ft addition is $168.00 and 2,000 sq ft is $336.00). The cap on Henrico activates and freezes the all-in at $693.60 for any addition above $101,001 declared value.
  • The 2% Virginia state levy under Code of Virginia §36-137 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 applies it to the $399 building permit only. Virginia requires a 2% state levy on building-code permit fees (USBC Section 107.2), but Loudoun's published fees do not say whether that levy is already included or whether it is charged on plan review, so PermitPrice shows each Loudoun total as a range: the published amount up to 2% more on the building permit and plan review portion (the levy never applies to the zoning permit).
  • 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: no separate line - half the permit fee is collected at application as a filing-fee deposit and credited at issuance. 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 into the $395 for additions of 1,000 sq ft or less ($335 separate above that). Under FY2027 the Fairfax area-based formula makes Fairfax one of the cheapest verified jurisdictions for additions up to 945 sq ft.
  • 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 Fairfax, Henrico, Richmond and Chesterfield additions directly; Loudoun has no separate addition option, but its deck, porch and shed options use the same $395 bundle that applies to additions of 1,000 sq ft or less. 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 use the $395 bundle for additions of 1,000 sq ft or less (July 2022 schedule, source-age caveat). Virginia requires a 2% state levy on building-code permit fees (USBC Section 107.2), but Loudoun's published fees do not say whether that levy is already included or whether it is charged on plan review, so PermitPrice shows each Loudoun total as a range: the published amount up to 2% more on the building permit and plan review portion (the levy never applies to the zoning permit).

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 $206.66 $361.45 $671.02
Henrico County $100 + $6/$1k over $5k (capped $680) + 2% levy $224.40 $377.40 $683.40
Chesterfield County Flat tier $399 + $50 site + 2% levy + scope adj. $456.98 $456.98 (flat) $456.98 (flat)
Loudoun County $395 bundle up to 1,000 sq ft + the 2% levy, if not already included, on $230 (Jul 2022) $395.00 to $399.60 $395.00 to $399.60 $395.00 to $399.60
Fairfax County $0.15/sq ft (min $141.75) + 2% levy + 10% tech $158.77 (500 sq ft) $158.77 (500 sq ft) $158.77 (500 sq ft)

Values represent the all-in building permit cost at three declared construction value levels. Virginia Beach and Fairfax figures use a 500 sq ft addition reference because their area-based formulas decouple permit fees from declared value (Fairfax FY2027 Appendix Q Table 1, effective July 1, 2026; the $141.75 minimum governs up to 945 sq ft). Loudoun figures assume an addition of 1,000 sq ft or less ($395 bundle, July 2022 schedule, no newer revision published). Virginia requires a 2% state levy on building-code permit fees (USBC Section 107.2), but Loudoun's published fees do not say whether that levy is already included or whether it is charged on plan review, so PermitPrice shows each Loudoun total as a range: the published amount up to 2% more on the building permit and plan review portion (the levy never applies to the zoning permit). 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

500 sq ft x $0.15 = $75.00, below the $141.75 minimum, so the building permit fee is $141.75. + 2% Virginia levy on the $141.75 permit fee = $2.84. + 10% Fairfax technology surcharge on $141.75 = $14.18. Total: $158.77. Half of the Fairfax permit fee is due at application as a filing-fee deposit and is credited at issuance (County Code 61-1-3(d)11); it is not an extra charge. 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. Below the $680 cap, so the formula applies linearly. The cap activates at $101,001 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 07-01-2024 schedule (source-age caveat).

Chesterfield County - $50,000 addition

Flat-tier addition building permit fee $399 + 2% Virginia state levy on $399 = $7.98, plus the $50 Environmental Engineering site inspection fee. Total: $456.98. 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 (July 2022 schedule)

Addition of 1,000 sq ft or less: $395 bundle ($100 building permit + $130 plan review + $165 county zoning permit), regardless of declared value. Loudoun's published fees do not say whether the required 2% state levy is already included; adding it to the $230 building permit and plan review portion only ($4.60) gives a range of $395.00 to $399.60. Addition over 1,000 sq ft: 1% of value ($500) + $335 plan review = $835.00, or $851.70 with the levy, plus the county zoning permit. Source-age caveat: July 2022 schedule. 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 36-137 (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 the building permit fee. For a 500 sq ft addition at the $141.75 minimum: 2% of $141.75 = $2.84.

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: Loudoun's published fees do not say whether the required 2% levy is already included or whether it covers plan review. PermitPrice adds 2% of the building permit and plan review only (never the $165 county zoning permit), so Loudoun totals are a range: $395.00 to $399.60 for an addition of 1,000 sq ft or less.

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 §36-137, 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, $377.40 in Henrico County, $456.98 in Chesterfield County, $395.00 to $399.60 in Loudoun County (1,000 sq ft or less, July 2022 schedule), and $158.77 in Fairfax County for a 500 sq ft addition (area-based, FY2027). The 2% state levy under Code of Virginia §36-137 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 §36-137, but the underlying formula is local. Fairfax prices additions per square foot ($0.15/sq ft, $141.75 minimum) plus a 10% technology surcharge, producing some of the cheapest addition permits at typical sizes. 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 §36-137, but the levy base differs. Fairfax applies the 2% to the building permit fee (so the levy on a 500 sq ft addition at the $141.75 minimum is $2.84). 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.

Always verify current addition permit fees directly with the issuing Virginia jurisdiction before budgeting or filing. Fee schedules change without prior notice. Loudoun County relies on a schedule published in 2022 and Richmond City on a July 2024 revision, with no newer revision posted as of October 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.

Comparing more than one state? The How Much Is a Room Addition Permit? overview lines up 22 verified jurisdictions in VA, MD, TX and DC on one table.

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. Virginia requires a 2% state levy on building-code permit fees (USBC Section 107.2), but Loudoun's published fees do not say whether that levy is already included or whether it is charged on plan review, so PermitPrice shows each Loudoun total as a range: the published amount up to 2% more on the building permit and plan review portion (the levy never applies to the zoning permit). Verify directly with each jurisdiction before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.