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Richmond Demolition Permit Cost (2026)

Residential demolition permit fees in Richmond City, Virginia, pulled from the City of Richmond Fee Schedule on rva.gov (effective 11/18/2013, last revision 06-14-2022). Richmond uses a flat-rate structure for residential demolition that is separate from the value-based formula used for new work and alterations. The fee math is simple: a flat $184 residential demolition building permit, plus the 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit subtotal ($3.68), producing a $187.68 all-in fee. Critically, the fee does not change with declared demolition value. A $5,000 single-car garage demolition costs $187.68. A $15,000 small house demolition costs $187.68. A $50,000 full-home demolition costs $187.68. A $150,000 luxury home tear-down costs $187.68. The fee is structurally the second-cheapest verified Virginia demolition jurisdiction, behind only Norfolk's flat $66 schedule. Richmond's source.json carries a confidence rating of "medium_high" with an explicit source-age caveat (June 2022 last revision).

Building Permit
$184 flat (residential demolition)
2% Virginia State Levy
$3.68 (on $184 BP)
All-In Demolition Permit
$187.68 flat (any value)
Compared to Alteration Formula
Separate flat-rate, not value-based
Plan Review
No separate PR (none)
Fee Status
Rev June 2022 (verify)
What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: Richmond City, Virginia residential structural demolition permit fees under the demolition_residential line item from PermitPrice's verified source.json, captured from the City of Richmond Fee Schedule PDF on rva.gov (cover page states "EFFECTIVE 11/18/2013" with "Revision 06-14-2022"). Coverage includes the flat $184 residential demolition building permit, the 2% Virginia USBC state levy applied to the building permit, and the explicit absence of a separate plan review fee for residential demolition. The fee applies to full structural demolition of residential structures including detached garages, sheds, accessory structures, and single-family homes. The source notes explicitly: "Flat residential demolition permit fee. Separate from the value-based formula used for new work and alterations."

This guide does NOT cover: Interior cosmetic demolition (removing drywall, flooring, fixtures) that does not affect structure, electrical, or plumbing typically does not require a residential demolition permit - confirm with Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections before relying on the rule. Trade permit disconnect fees (electrical service disconnect, plumbing cap, gas line termination) are required before structural demolition begins and are filed under Richmond's separate trade permit schedule; these are NOT included. Dominion Energy, Virginia Natural Gas, and the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities each charge their own utility-side disconnect fees outside the building permit. Demolition of multi-family or commercial structures uses a different fee category. Hazardous material abatement (asbestos for pre-1980 homes, lead paint for pre-1978 homes) requires separate Virginia Department of Health (VDH) inspection and abatement permits. Post-demolition land disturbance / sediment-and-erosion-control permits are filed separately. HOA architectural review (rare in older Richmond neighborhoods) is the homeowner's responsibility outside the building permit process. The cost of demolition labor, equipment, dumpster, hauling, and disposal is the contractor's bid and is not part of the permit fee.

Why Richmond has a separate flat-rate for demolition: Richmond's source.json explicitly notes the flat $184 fee is "Separate from the value-based formula used for new work and alterations." Most residential alteration and new construction work in Richmond is priced under the $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 above $2,000 tier formula. Demolition is intentionally broken out as a flat-rate line item because the cost of inspection for a demolition does not scale with the size of the structure - a single inspection confirms the demolition is complete regardless of whether the structure was 200 sq ft or 5,000 sq ft. This is a meaningful structural choice and produces large savings vs the value-based formula at high declared values. At $50,000 declared the alteration formula would charge $361.45 - the flat $187.68 demolition rate saves $173.77 vs that hypothetical.

Source-age caveat (load-bearing): The City of Richmond Fee Schedule is labeled effective 11/18/2013 with last revision 06-14-2022. As of April 24, 2026 no newer revision has been posted on rva.gov. The flat $184 residential demolition fee is stable across the 2013-2022 revisions. The 2% Virginia state levy is set by state statute and is current. For load-bearing budgets, always confirm current rates with the Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 before filing. PermitPrice's source.json confidence rating is "medium_high" with explicit source-age caveat.

Key Takeaways
  • Richmond charges a flat $184 residential demolition building permit. Adding the 2% Virginia state levy ($3.68) produces $187.68 all-in. This is a flat-rate structure - the fee does not change with the declared value of the demolition work.
  • The flat-rate demolition fee is separate from Richmond's value-based formula ($63 + $6.07 per $1,000 above $2,000) used for new work and alterations. Filing residential demolition under the value-based formula would be incorrect and would produce different (higher at most scopes) fees.
  • No separate plan review fee. Plan review for residential demolition is bundled into the flat $184 base fee. This is consistent with Richmond's general pattern of bundling plan review into the building permit fee for residential work.
  • Compared to other VA jurisdictions at $30,000 declared: Richmond $187.68 vs Fairfax $1,377 (Richmond saves $1,189.32), Henrico $255 (Richmond saves $67.32), Norfolk $66 (Norfolk saves $121.68), DC $735.90 (Richmond saves $548.22). Richmond is the second-cheapest verified VA demolition jurisdiction behind only Norfolk's flat-fee structure.
  • Compared to other VA jurisdictions at $100,000 declared: Richmond $187.68 vs Fairfax $4,590 (Richmond saves $4,402.32), Henrico $683.40 (Richmond saves $495.72), Norfolk $66 (Norfolk saves $121.68), DC $2,376 (Richmond saves $2,188.32). The flat $184 makes Richmond structurally cheapest at high declared values compared to peers other than Norfolk.
  • The 2% Virginia state levy is required by Code of Virginia Section 36-139 and USBC Section 107.2. Richmond applies the levy to the building permit only ($184 x 2% = $3.68). The levy is a state-collected pass-through to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
  • Trade permits (electrical service disconnect, plumbing cap, gas line termination) are filed SEPARATELY in Richmond under the city's trade permit schedule. Richmond's residential trade permit fees are NOT fully captured in PermitPrice's source.json - confirm trade permit costs with the Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 before budgeting. Plan for a typical $50-$200 per trade permit range plus the utility-side disconnect fees.
  • For pre-1980 homes, hazardous material abatement (asbestos) requires separate Virginia Department of Health inspection ($250-$750) and abatement permits ($500-$2,500). For pre-1978 homes, lead paint abatement is also required and follows a similar process. Abatement labor is billed by a licensed abatement contractor ($4-$25 per sq ft of affected material). None of these VDH-side costs are captured in PermitPrice's source.json - they must be budgeted separately based on a pre-demolition VDH survey.
  • Source-age caveat - the City of Richmond Fee Schedule was last revised June 14, 2022 with no newer revision posted on rva.gov as of April 24, 2026. The flat $184 residential demolition fee is stable across the 2013-2022 revisions, but always verify current rates with the Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 before filing a load-bearing budget. Source confidence rating: "medium_high" with explicit source-age caveat.
Calculate Your Demolition Permit All Richmond City Permit Fees

Richmond Demolition Permit Fee Components

Richmond demolition splits into two simple components: the flat $184 building permit and the 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit. The breakdown is identical across every declared value because the building permit is flat-rate.

Component $5k garage $15k house $50k full home $150k luxury
Residential demolition building permit (flat $184) $184.00 $184.00 $184.00 $184.00
Plan review $0.00 (none) $0.00 (none) $0.00 (none) $0.00 (none)
Building permit subtotal $184.00 $184.00 $184.00 $184.00
2% Virginia state levy $3.68 $3.68 $3.68 $3.68
All-in demolition permit total $187.68 $187.68 $187.68 $187.68

Source: City of Richmond Fee Schedule on rva.gov, last revision 06-14-2022, demolition_residential line item. The flat $184 building permit, the absence of a separate plan review fee, and the 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit are all sourced from the official fee schedule PDF. The fee is structurally a flat rate - no per-sqft, per-cubic-foot, or per-dollar-value pricing component. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, gas disconnects) are filed separately under Richmond's trade permit schedule. Hazardous material abatement requires separate VDH permits and is NOT included.

Worked Examples - Real Demolition Projects in Richmond

The four worked examples below cover typical Richmond residential demolition scopes from a $5,000 single-car garage at the lower end through a $150,000 luxury home tear-down at the upper end. The Richmond demolition permit fee is the same $187.68 for every example - the flat-rate structure means declared value does not affect the fee. Trade disconnect fees and hazmat abatement are NOT included in any example.

Example 1: $5,000 single-car garage demolition

A homeowner files a demolition permit for a $5,000 stated valuation single-car detached garage demolition. The garage is approximately 200 sq ft on a concrete slab in a Church Hill back yard. Demolition scope: full removal of the structure including slab. Salvage is minimal; contractor's bid includes labor, dumpster, and disposal.

  • Declared demolition value: $5,000
  • Residential demolition building permit (flat): $184.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy: $3.68
  • Demolition permit total: $187.68

Note: the same $5,000 garage demolition costs $229.50 in Fairfax County (Fairfax more expensive by $41.82), $102 in Henrico County (Henrico saves $85.68), and $66 in Norfolk City (Norfolk saves $121.68). Richmond's flat-rate $187.68 sits in the middle of the verified VA cluster at this declared value.

Example 2: $15,000 small house demolition (Fan District bungalow)

A homeowner files a demolition permit for a $15,000 stated valuation small Fan District bungalow demolition. The structure is approximately 1,000 sq ft, single story, brick veneer over wood frame, slab foundation. Demolition scope: full tear-down including the brick veneer, removal to the property line. Pre-1980 home requires VDH asbestos survey (separate cost). Utility disconnects coordinated with Dominion Energy, Virginia Natural Gas, and City of Richmond DPU (separate fees).

  • Declared demolition value: $15,000
  • Residential demolition building permit (flat): $184.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy: $3.68
  • Demolition permit total: $187.68

Note: the same $15,000 small house demolition costs $688.50 in Fairfax (Fairfax 3.7x more), $163.20 in Henrico (Henrico saves $24.48), $66 in Norfolk (Norfolk saves $121.68). Pre-1980 asbestos abatement could add $4,000-$8,000 separately for a Fan District bungalow.

Example 3: $50,000 full home demolition (Northside two-story)

A homeowner files a demolition permit for a $50,000 stated valuation full Northside Richmond two-story home demolition. The structure is approximately 2,500 sq ft, two-story, partial basement, weatherboard exterior. Demolition scope: full tear-down including basement excavation and footing removal for site preparation. Pre-1980 home requires VDH asbestos survey and likely abatement (separate cost). Utility disconnects coordinated separately.

  • Declared demolition value: $50,000
  • Residential demolition building permit (flat): $184.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy: $3.68
  • Demolition permit total: $187.68

Note: at $50,000 declared, Richmond's flat $187.68 compares against Fairfax $2,295 (Richmond saves $2,107.32), Henrico $377.40 (Richmond saves $189.72), Norfolk $66 (Norfolk saves $121.68). Pre-1980 asbestos and lead paint abatement could add $6,000-$15,000 separately for a Northside two-story this size.

Example 4: $150,000 luxury home demolition (West End)

A homeowner files a demolition permit for a $150,000 stated valuation luxury West End Richmond home demolition. The structure is approximately 5,000 sq ft, two-story, full basement, custom stone exterior with period architectural features. Demolition scope: full tear-down including basement excavation, careful salvage of period architectural materials, disassembly of certain stone elements. Cost is high because of structure size, salvage requirements, and lead/asbestos abatement contingencies.

  • Declared demolition value: $150,000
  • Residential demolition building permit (flat): $184.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy: $3.68
  • Demolition permit total: $187.68

Note: at $150,000 declared, Richmond's flat-rate $187.68 is dramatically cheaper than the verified peer set: Fairfax $6,885 (Richmond saves $6,697.32), Henrico $693.60 cap (Richmond saves $505.92), Norfolk $66 (Norfolk saves $121.68 - Norfolk only). Richmond is the second-cheapest verified VA demolition jurisdiction at this declared value. Asbestos and lead paint abatement for a pre-1978 luxury home of this size can run $15,000-$30,000+ separately on top of the demolition permit.

Calculate Your Richmond Demolition Permit

The Richmond demolition permit fee is structurally simple to calculate: a flat $184 building permit plus 2% Virginia state levy = $187.68 all-in for any residential demolition regardless of declared value. The PermitPrice fee calculator handles this directly - pick "Richmond City, VA" and "Demolition" in the calculator dropdowns. The calculator will return the same $187.68 regardless of the declared value you enter, because the fee is flat-rate. Trade permit disconnect fees and hazmat abatement must be budgeted separately.

Richmond demolition rule of thumb: All-in = $187.68 flat. Same fee at $5,000 garage demolition or $150,000 luxury home tear-down. Plus separate trade permits, utility disconnect fees, and hazmat abatement budgeted separately. June 2022 schedule - verify current rates with the Bureau of Permits and Inspections.

Open the Permit Fee Calculator

Trade Disconnects, VDH Abatement, and Land Disturbance - Not in This Permit

Richmond's $187.68 flat-rate demolition permit fee covers the structural demolition application and inspection only. Utility service disconnects, hazardous material abatement, post-demolition land disturbance, and HOA architectural review are all separately budgeted items that are NOT included.

Richmond trade permit disconnects (separately filed): Richmond requires separate trade permits for electrical service disconnect, plumbing cap, and gas line termination before structural demolition begins. Richmond's residential trade permit fees are NOT fully captured in PermitPrice's source.json as of April 24, 2026 - the City of Richmond Fee Schedule PDF includes trade fees but the residential vs commercial distinction and the per-trade fee detail require additional verification. Confirm with the Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 or visit the walk-in counter at 900 East Broad Street, Room 108 (Mon-Fri 8am-1pm) before budgeting.

Utility-side disconnect fees (billed by utility): Dominion Energy electrical service disconnect ($50-$200 typical), Virginia Natural Gas line termination ($0-$300 typical), and City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities water/sewer disconnect ($100-$500 typical) are billed by each utility directly and are NOT part of the Richmond demolition permit. Lead times: Dominion 7-14 business days, VNG 10-14 business days, Richmond DPU 14-21 business days.

VDH hazmat and city land disturbance (separately filed): Pre-1980 homes require Virginia Department of Health asbestos inspection survey ($250-$750). Pre-1978 homes require lead-based paint abatement ($500-$2,500 permit + $4-$25 per sq ft of affected material). Older Richmond neighborhoods (Fan District, Church Hill, Northside, Highland Park) typically include many pre-1978 homes - VDH abatement is the rule rather than the exception. Post-demolition land disturbance permit (regrade, sediment-and-erosion control) is filed separately with the City of Richmond. For a typical 2,000 sq ft pre-1978 Richmond home, total separately-billed costs (trade permits + utility disconnects + VDH abatement + land disturbance) can run $5,000-$20,000 on top of the Richmond demolition permit.

Richmond Demolition Permit Cost vs Neighbors

Richmond's flat $187.68 makes it the second-cheapest verified VA demolition jurisdiction, behind only Norfolk's flat $66 schedule. At low declared values (under $5,000), Henrico and Norfolk are slightly cheaper because of their respective base fees and flat-rate floors. At declared values from $5,000 to $30,000, Richmond is roughly tied with or slightly more expensive than Henrico's value-based formula. At declared values above $30,000, Richmond's flat-rate advantage starts to compound - the gap vs Fairfax climbs rapidly because Fairfax's 4.59% effective rate has no cap.

Jurisdiction Pricing Method $5k garage $15k house $50k full home $150k luxury
Richmond City Flat $184 + 2% levy $187.68 $187.68 $187.68 $187.68
Norfolk City Flat $50 + $15 processing + 2% on $50 $66.00 $66.00 $66.00 $66.00
Henrico County $100 + $6/$1k over $5k (cap $680) + 2% levy $102.00 $163.20 $377.40 $693.60 (cap)
Fairfax County 3% + 50% PR + 2% levy $229.50 $688.50 $2,295.00 $6,885.00
Washington, DC $30 + 2% + 10% Enhanced $143.00 $363.00 $1,133.00

All figures are demolition permit only - trade disconnect fees, utility-side disconnect fees, hazmat abatement, and post-demolition land disturbance permits are NOT included. Norfolk's flat $66 is the cheapest verified VA demolition jurisdiction at any declared value, with Richmond's flat $187.68 in second place. Fairfax's 4.59% formula has no cap and becomes increasingly expensive at high declared values. Henrico's $680 cap activates at $101,667 declared, locking the all-in fee at $693.60 for any higher value. DC applies the same $30 + 2% + 10% Enhanced formula as alteration tier 3 ($1,001-$1M scope), making DC structurally between Richmond and Fairfax at typical declared values. Source-age caveats: Richmond is June 2022; Norfolk is July 2021; Loudoun source.json has no explicit demolition line item (excluded from table); Chesterfield source.json has no demolition line item (excluded); Virginia Beach source.json marks demolition as "verify with office" (excluded).

Compare Across the DMV

For a full breakdown of how Richmond and other Virginia jurisdictions price demolition, see the cross-jurisdiction guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Richmond's source.json explicitly notes the flat $184 fee is "Separate from the value-based formula used for new work and alterations." The structural reason: the cost of inspecting a demolition does not scale with the size of the structure - a single inspection confirms the structure has been removed and the site is cleared, regardless of whether the original structure was 200 sq ft or 5,000 sq ft. Charging by declared value would inflate the fee for large luxury home tear-downs without producing additional inspection work. Charging a flat rate captures the actual inspection cost. Richmond's choice to break out demolition as a flat-rate line item is consistent with how many older Virginia jurisdictions price one-time inspection events. The value-based formula ($63 + $6.07 per $1,000 above $2,000) applies to new construction and residential_alteration_repair work, which involves multiple inspections (footings, framing, electrical rough-in, plumbing rough-in, mechanical rough-in, final).
The PDF on rva.gov is the most recent published version as of April 24, 2026. The cover page states "EFFECTIVE 11/18/2013" with "Revision 06-14-2022" - the 2022 revision is the operative document. PermitPrice has confirmed no newer revision is posted on rva.gov. The flat $184 residential demolition fee is stable across the 2013-2022 revisions per City of Richmond ordinance. The 2% Virginia state levy is set by state statute and is current. The schedule remains in effect until a future revision is published. For load-bearing budgets, call the Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 to confirm current rates before filing - PermitPrice's source.json confidence rating of "medium_high" reflects this source-age caveat.
Yes. Richmond's residential demolition permit fee is structurally flat-rate: $184 building permit + 2% levy = $187.68 all-in. The fee does not change with declared value. A $5,000 garage demolition, a $50,000 full-home tear-down, and a $250,000 luxury West End home demolition all cost the same $187.68 for the Richmond building permit. This is one of the largest cost-savings opportunities vs Fairfax County, which would charge $11,475 building permit for a $250,000 demolition. The trade-off: the flat $187.68 covers only the structural demolition permit and inspection. Trade disconnect fees, utility-side disconnect fees, VDH asbestos and lead abatement, and post-demolition land disturbance permits are all separately budgeted. For a $250,000 luxury West End demolition with full VDH abatement, the all-in project cost is dominated by the abatement contractor's bid ($15,000-$30,000+), not the building permit fee.
Yes. Richmond requires a separate trade permit for electrical service disconnect, filed by a licensed electrician, before demolition can proceed. The disconnect itself is also coordinated with Dominion Energy, which has its own service request fee. Richmond's residential trade permit fees are NOT fully captured in PermitPrice's source.json as of April 24, 2026 - confirm trade permit costs with the Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 before budgeting. The City of Richmond Fee Schedule PDF includes trade fees but the residential vs commercial distinction and per-trade fee detail require additional verification before publication. For a full-home demolition, plan for: Richmond electrical disconnect trade permit + Dominion service fee + Richmond plumbing cap trade permit + Richmond DPU water disconnect fee + Richmond gas termination trade permit + VNG line termination fee. Total trade permit and utility coordination: typically $400-$1,500 separately on top of the Richmond demolition permit fee.
Interior cosmetic demolition that does not affect structure, electrical, or plumbing typically does not require a residential demolition permit in Richmond. Pulling existing drywall to expose studs, removing existing flooring to expose subfloor, removing existing fixtures (cabinets, vanities, trim) that are not connected to electrical or plumbing - this work generally does not require a permit. The exemption breaks the moment the work crosses into structural (load-bearing wall removal, beam installation), electrical (rewiring, panel work, fixture move), or plumbing (pipe relocation, fixture move) scope. At that point the work is no longer interior cosmetic demolition - it becomes a residential alteration that must be permitted under the value-based formula ($63 + $6.07 per $1,000 above $2,000). Always confirm exemption with Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 before relying on the rule for any specific scope.
Dramatically cheaper. Richmond's flat $187.68 vs Fairfax's uncapped 4.59% effective rate produces large savings at high declared values. At $30,000: Richmond $187.68 vs Fairfax $1,377 (Richmond saves $1,189.32). At $50,000: Richmond $187.68 vs Fairfax $2,295 (Richmond saves $2,107.32). At $100,000: Richmond $187.68 vs Fairfax $4,590 (Richmond saves $4,402.32). At $150,000: Richmond $187.68 vs Fairfax $6,885 (Richmond saves $6,697.32). At $250,000: Richmond $187.68 vs Fairfax $11,475 (Richmond saves $11,287.32). The structural reasons: (1) Richmond's flat-rate demolition fee does not scale with value, while Fairfax's formula scales linearly at 4.59% effective rate; (2) Fairfax adds a 50% plan review surcharge on top of the 3% building permit rate, doubling the effective rate; (3) Fairfax's formula has no cap, so the gap widens indefinitely at very high declared values. Richmond is structurally one of the cheapest verified DMV jurisdictions for residential demolition.
For pre-1980 homes, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) requires a pre-demolition asbestos inspection survey. This is a state requirement, not a Richmond-specific rule, and applies uniformly across all Virginia jurisdictions. Older Richmond neighborhoods (Fan District, Church Hill, Northside, Highland Park, much of Northside and Eastview) typically include many pre-1978 homes - VDH abatement is the rule rather than the exception. The VDH inspection survey costs $250-$750 typical and must be completed before the Richmond demolition permit application is approved for structural work. If asbestos-containing material is found, an abatement permit is issued separately by VDH ($500-$2,500), and abatement labor is billed by a licensed abatement contractor ($4-$25 per sq ft of affected material). For pre-1978 homes, lead-based paint abatement is also required. None of these VDH-side costs are captured in PermitPrice's source.json - they must be budgeted separately based on the pre-demolition survey. For a typical pre-1978 2,000 sq ft Richmond home, total abatement can run $6,000-$15,000 separately on top of the Richmond demolition permit.
Post-demolition site stabilization - regrading the exposed footprint, installing temporary sediment and erosion controls (silt fence, inlet protection), seeding or sodding the exposed soil, securing any remaining footings - is filed separately with the City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review, not under the residential demolition permit. For a full-home tear-down on a typical Richmond residential lot, budget an additional $200-$1,500 for the land disturbance / SE&C permit depending on the lot size and the scope of stabilization required. If the demolition is preparing a site for new construction, the SE&C permit is typically rolled into the new construction permit application rather than filed as a standalone permit. Confirm SE&C and post-demolition requirements with the Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 before assuming the $187.68 demolition permit covers the full project scope.

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Verified April 2026
  • City of Richmond Fee Schedule (PDF) Effective 11/18/2013, last revision 06-14-2022 - Department of Planning and Development Review, Bureau of Permits and Inspections - Primary source for the demolition_residential line item: flat $184 residential demolition building permit, no separate plan review fee. The fee is intentionally separate from the value-based formula ($63 + $6.07 per $1,000 above $2,000) used for new work and alterations.
  • City of Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections Accessed April 2026 - City of Richmond Government - Official permits and inspections information page with current contact information for the Bureau of Permits and Inspections ((804) 646-4169 main line, (804) 646-1628 for inspection scheduling) and walk-in counter hours at 900 East Broad Street, Room 108 (Mon-Fri 8am-1pm). The destination for verifying current demolition pricing, trade permit costs, and post-demolition land disturbance requirements before filing.
  • Code of Virginia Section 36-139 - USBC State Levy Authority Current - Virginia General Assembly - Authorizing statute for the statewide 2% building permit surcharge applied in Virginia jurisdictions, including the 2% levy applied to the Richmond demolition permit subtotal.
Next Step

Calculate your specific Richmond demolition permit cost or compare against neighbors.

Always verify current demolition permit fees, trade disconnect costs, and post-demolition land disturbance requirements directly with the City of Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections before budgeting or filing. Call the Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 to confirm the flat $184 residential demolition permit fee, the 2% Virginia state levy application, and the residential trade permit costs for your specific demolition scope. Inspection scheduling is at (804) 646-1628. Walk-in counter at 900 East Broad Street, Room 108 (Mon-Fri 8am-1pm).
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 City of Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections at the time of application. The flat $184 residential demolition building permit, the absence of a separate plan review fee for demolition, and the 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit are all sourced from the demolition_residential line item on the City of Richmond Fee Schedule PDF on rva.gov (effective 11/18/2013, last revision 06-14-2022). PermitPrice's source.json carries a confidence rating of "medium_high" with explicit source-age caveat - the most recent published schedule is the 2022 revision, and PermitPrice has not located a newer revision on rva.gov as of April 24, 2026. The flat $184 fee is structurally separate from Richmond's value-based formula ($63 + $6.07 per $1,000 above $2,000) used for new residential work and residential_alteration_repair. Interior cosmetic demolition (drywall, flooring, fixtures) that does not affect structure, electrical, or plumbing typically does not require a residential demolition permit - confirm exemption with Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections before relying on the rule. Trade permit disconnect fees (electrical, plumbing, gas) are filed separately under Richmond's trade permit schedule and are NOT included. Utility-side disconnect fees from Dominion Energy, Virginia Natural Gas, and City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities are billed by the utilities directly and are NOT included. Hazardous material abatement (asbestos for pre-1980 homes, lead paint for pre-1978 homes - common in older Richmond neighborhoods like Fan District, Church Hill, Northside) requires separate Virginia Department of Health permits and is NOT included. Post-demolition land disturbance / sediment-and-erosion-control permits are filed separately with the City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review. The cost of demolition labor, equipment, dumpster, hauling, and disposal is the contractor's bid and is not part of the permit fee.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.