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Henrico Garage Permit Cost (2026)

New detached garage permit fees in Henrico County, Virginia, pulled from the December 2025 residential 1-2 family permit fee schedule on henrico.gov. Henrico prices a new detached garage under the existing residential 1-2 family scope using the same tiered valuation formula it applies to additions, alterations, and pools: $100 base building permit, $6 per $1,000 of declared value above the $5,000 threshold (0% on the first $5,000), capped at a $680 building permit, plus a 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit subtotal. No separate plan review fee - plan review is bundled into the base + tier rate. Henrico prices the garage by declared value, not by square footage, so a higher-value finished or insulated garage costs more, but the $680 cap protects against runaway fees on large custom builds. A $15,000 one-car detached garage runs $163.20 all-in. A $25,000 standard two-car garage runs $224.40. A $40,000 oversized three-car garage runs $316.20. A $60,000 garage plus workshop runs $438.60. The $680 building permit cap activates at $101,667 declared value, where the all-in ceiling locks at $693.60 regardless of how high declared value climbs.

Base Building Permit
$100 (at or below $5k declared)
Tier Rate
$6 per $1,000 above $5k
Building Permit Cap
$680 (cap activates at $101,667)
$25k Two-Car Garage
$224.40 all-in
All-In Ceiling
$693.60 (any declared above $101,667)
Fee Status
Verified Dec 2025
What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: Henrico County, Virginia new detached garage building permit fees under the unified residential 1-2 family scope from PermitPrice's verified source.json, captured from the December 2025 Henrico residential permit fee schedule on henrico.gov. Coverage includes the $100 base building permit, the $6 per $1,000 tier rate above the $5,000 threshold, the $680 building permit cap, the bundled plan review (no separate PR fee), and the 2% Virginia USBC state levy applied to the building permit subtotal. The formula applies to the construction of a new detached garage including one-car, two-car, three-car/oversized, and garage-plus-workshop builds, priced on the declared construction value of the garage. The garage is priced under the same line item Henrico uses for additions, alterations, and pools.

This guide does NOT cover: Trade permits for the garage (electrical for lighting, outlets, or a sub-panel; plumbing for a utility sink) are filed separately under Henrico's trade permit schedule and are NOT included in the all-in figures on this page. Zoning and setback review (detached accessory structure placement, lot coverage, easements) is a separate Henrico Planning process. HOA architectural review is outside the building permit process entirely. The cost of garage construction itself - foundation, framing, slab, roofing, doors, finishes - is the contractor's bid and is not part of the permit fee. Attached garages built as part of a larger addition may be valued together with the addition; this guide prices a stand-alone new detached garage.

Why Henrico prices a garage by declared value, not square footage: Henrico's residential 1-2 family scope applies one unified valuation formula to most residential construction work. The Department of Building Construction and Inspections takes the declared construction value of the garage (the contractor's bid for materials and labor) and applies the tiered formula directly. The practical effect is that a finished, insulated, or larger-value garage costs more to permit than a bare slab-and-shell garage of the same footprint, because the fee tracks dollars declared, not square feet. This contrasts with Fairfax and DC, which price a new detached garage as new construction by square footage or cubic footage. The $680 cap is what keeps Henrico's value-based fee from running away on high-end custom garages.

How the $680 cap works: The building permit fee climbs from $100 (at $5,000 declared) at $6 per $1,000 of declared value above the threshold, until it hits the $680 ceiling. The cap activates at exactly $101,667 declared value: $100 + ($96,667 / $1,000) x $6 = $100 + $580.00 = $680. For any declared value above $101,667, the building permit freezes at $680 and the 2% state levy of $13.60 produces a $693.60 all-in ceiling. A $150,000 luxury detached garage therefore costs the same $693.60 all-in as a $300,000 garage - the cap protects against runaway fees on large custom builds.

Key Takeaways
  • Henrico prices a new detached garage with the same tiered valuation formula it applies to additions, alterations, and pools: $100 base building permit + $6 per $1,000 of declared value above $5,000, capped at $680 building permit, plus 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit subtotal. There is no garage-specific fee schedule - the garage rides on the unified residential 1-2 family scope.
  • Henrico prices the garage by declared construction value, not by square footage. A higher-value finished or insulated garage costs more to permit than a bare slab-and-shell garage of the same footprint, because the fee tracks dollars declared, not square feet. The $680 cap protects against runaway fees on large custom builds.
  • No separate plan review fee. Plan review is bundled into the $100 + tier rate. This is structurally cheaper than Fairfax's new-construction-by-square-foot formula plus 50% plan review + 2% levy, and saves homeowners money at higher declared garage values.
  • The $5,000 threshold creates a flat-fee floor: any garage with declared value at or below $5,000 costs $100 base + $2 levy = $102 all-in. The $6 per $1,000 slope only kicks in above the $5,000 threshold. A $15,000 one-car garage runs $163.20 all-in.
  • The $680 building permit cap activates at exactly $101,667 declared value. Above the cap, the all-in fee freezes at $693.60 ($680 BP + $13.60 levy) regardless of how high declared value climbs. A $150,000 luxury detached garage costs the same $693.60 all-in as a $300,000 garage.
  • Compared to neighbors at $25,000 declared (a standard two-car detached garage): Henrico $224.40, Fairfax County $110.16, Chesterfield County $340.70 (flat), and Washington, DC $71.50 (flat). Methods differ - Fairfax and DC price by size, Henrico by declared value, Chesterfield by a flat fee.
  • Henrico vs Chesterfield crossover: below approximately $44,000 declared value Henrico is cheaper than Chesterfield's flat $340.70; above approximately $44,000 declared Chesterfield's flat fee becomes the cheaper of the two. A $40,000 three-car garage is $316.20 in Henrico (still under Chesterfield's flat); a $60,000 garage-plus-workshop is $438.60 in Henrico (above Chesterfield's flat).
  • Trade permits are NOT included in the all-in figures. Electrical for garage lighting, outlets, or a sub-panel, and plumbing for a utility sink, are filed separately under Henrico's trade permit schedule. Zoning/setback review for detached accessory structure placement and HOA architectural review are also separate.
  • The 2% Virginia state levy is required by Code of Virginia Section 36-139 and the USBC. Henrico applies the levy to the building permit subtotal only. On a $25,000 garage: BP $220 + 2% = $4.40 levy = $224.40 all-in. The levy is a state-collected pass-through to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.
Calculate Your Garage Permit All Henrico County Permit Fees

Henrico Garage Permit Fee Components

A Henrico new detached garage permit splits into two components: the tiered building permit (with bundled plan review and cap) and the 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit subtotal. The breakdown below shows the math at five typical garage declared values from a $15,000 one-car build through a $150,000 luxury garage where the cap is fully active.

Component $15k 1-car $25k 2-car $40k 3-car $60k + workshop $150k cap-active
Base building permit $100.00 $100.00 $100.00 $100.00 $100.00
$6 per $1,000 over $5,000 10 x $6 = $60.00 20 x $6 = $120.00 35 x $6 = $210.00 55 x $6 = $330.00 145 x $6 = $870 (capped)
Building permit subtotal (before cap) $160.00 $220.00 $310.00 $430.00 $970 -> $680 (cap)
2% Virginia state levy $3.20 $4.40 $6.20 $8.60 $13.60 (on capped $680)
All-in garage permit total $163.20 $224.40 $316.20 $438.60 $693.60 (ceiling)

Source: Henrico County residential 1-2 family permit fee schedule on henrico.gov, new detached garage priced under the unified residential scope (same line item as additions, alterations, and pools). The $100 base, $6 per $1,000 tier rate above $5,000 threshold, $680 building permit cap, and 2% Virginia state levy are all applied per the December 2025 source.json. The cap activates at exactly $101,667 declared value: $100 + ($96,667 / $1,000) x $6 = $680. Above $101,667 the building permit freezes at $680 and the all-in fee freezes at $693.60. Trade permits for lighting, outlets, sub-panels, or a utility sink are filed separately under Henrico's trade schedule and are NOT included.

Worked Examples - Real Garage Projects in Henrico

The four worked examples below cover typical Henrico new detached garage scopes from a $15,000 one-car build through a $60,000 garage-plus-workshop. Each lists both the approximate square footage and the declared construction value, because Henrico prices on declared value while neighbors price on size. Trade permits for lighting, outlets, sub-panels, or a utility sink are filed separately and are NOT included.

Example 1: One-car detached garage, ~240 sq ft, $15,000 value

A homeowner files a building permit for a new one-car detached garage, approximately 240 sq ft on a concrete slab, with a single roll-up door and standard framing. The declared construction value is $15,000. Henrico applies the tiered valuation formula directly to the $15,000 declared value.

  • Declared garage value: $15,000 (~240 sq ft)
  • Base building permit: $100.00
  • Tier portion: ($15,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 = 10 x $6 = $60.00
  • Building permit total: $160.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy: $3.20
  • Garage permit total: $163.20

Note: the same one-car garage at 240 sq ft / $15,000 costs $110.16 in Fairfax County (priced by square footage), $340.70 in Chesterfield County (flat fee), and $71.50 in Washington, DC (flat fee). At this small scope Henrico's value-based fee lands above Fairfax and DC but well below Chesterfield's flat $340.70. Garage lighting and outlet electrical would be a separate trade permit.

Example 2: Standard two-car detached garage, ~440 sq ft, $25,000 value

A homeowner files a building permit for a new standard two-car detached garage, approximately 440 sq ft, slab-on-grade with two roll-up doors, standard framing, and a shingle roof. The declared construction value is $25,000. This is the most common detached garage scope in Henrico.

  • Declared garage value: $25,000 (~440 sq ft)
  • Base building permit: $100.00
  • Tier portion: ($25,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 = 20 x $6 = $120.00
  • Building permit total: $220.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy: $4.40
  • Garage permit total: $224.40

Note: the same two-car garage at 440 sq ft / $25,000 costs $110.16 in Fairfax County, $340.70 in Chesterfield County, and $71.50 in Washington, DC. At $25,000 declared Henrico's $224.40 sits between DC/Fairfax and Chesterfield - still below Chesterfield's flat fee because $25,000 is below the ~$44,000 crossover. Electrical for outlets and a sub-panel would be a separate trade permit.

Example 3: Oversized / three-car detached garage, ~720 sq ft, $40,000 value

A homeowner files a building permit for a new oversized three-car detached garage, approximately 720 sq ft, with three bays, taller walls for storage lofts, and an insulated shell. The declared construction value is $40,000. The higher declared value reflects the larger footprint and the insulated, finished shell.

  • Declared garage value: $40,000 (~720 sq ft)
  • Base building permit: $100.00
  • Tier portion: ($40,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 = 35 x $6 = $210.00
  • Building permit total (below cap): $310.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy: $6.20
  • Garage permit total: $316.20

Note: at $40,000 declared / 720 sq ft, Henrico's $316.20 compares against Fairfax $157.53 (priced by square footage), Chesterfield $340.70 (flat), and Washington, DC $71.50 (flat). At $40,000 declared Henrico is still just under Chesterfield's flat fee - the crossover where Chesterfield becomes cheaper sits around $44,000. The insulated shell raises Henrico's fee because the fee tracks declared value, not square feet.

Example 4: Garage plus workshop, ~900 sq ft, $60,000 value

A homeowner files a building permit for a new detached garage with an attached workshop bay, approximately 900 sq ft, fully insulated and finished with a utility-sink rough-in and additional electrical. The declared construction value is $60,000, reflecting the finished interior, larger footprint, and added scope.

  • Declared garage value: $60,000 (~900 sq ft)
  • Base building permit: $100.00
  • Tier portion: ($60,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 = 55 x $6 = $330.00
  • Building permit total (below cap): $430.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy: $8.60
  • Garage permit total: $438.60

Note: at $60,000 declared / 900 sq ft, Henrico's $438.60 sits above Chesterfield's flat $340.70 - this scope is past the ~$44,000 crossover, so Chesterfield is now cheaper. Compare against Fairfax $196.91 (priced by square footage) and Washington, DC $71.50 (flat). The finished interior, utility-sink rough-in, and added electrical raise Henrico's declared value and therefore the fee. The utility sink plumbing and the workshop electrical would each be separate trade permits.

Calculate Your Henrico Garage Permit

The PermitPrice fee calculator supports Henrico County's new detached garage formula directly using the unified 1-2 family scope math. The formula is simple to compute manually: take declared value, subtract $5,000, divide by $1,000, multiply by $6, add $100, cap at $680, then multiply by 1.02. For a $25,000 garage: ($25,000 - $5,000) / $1,000 x $6 + $100 = $220 BP, x 1.02 = $224.40 all-in. Trade permits for lighting, outlets, a sub-panel, or a utility sink must be budgeted separately.

Henrico garage rule of thumb: All-in = [min($100 + 6 x max(0, (declared - 5,000) / 1,000), $680)] x 1.02. At declared values $0-$5,000: $102 all-in. At $25,000: $224.40. At $40,000: $316.20. At $60,000: $438.60. At $101,667 and above: $693.60 (cap ceiling). Because the fee tracks declared value, a more finished or insulated garage costs more - but the $680 cap protects large custom builds.

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Trade Permits, Zoning, and HOA Review - Not in This Permit

Henrico's garage building permit fee covers the structural building application and inspection only. Electrical and plumbing trade permits, zoning/setback review, and HOA architectural review are all separate filings with their own fees and lead times.

Henrico trade permits (separately filed): Electrical for garage lighting, outlets, or a sub-panel, and plumbing for a utility sink, are filed separately under Henrico's residential 1-2 family trade permit schedule, not the building permit formula on this page. These trade permit fees are not included in any all-in figure on this page. A finished garage with a sub-panel and a utility sink typically needs both an electrical trade permit and a plumbing trade permit, each filed by a licensed contractor.

Zoning and setback review (separately handled): A new detached garage is an accessory structure subject to Henrico zoning rules - setback distances from property lines, maximum lot coverage, height limits, and easement restrictions. Zoning and setback review is a separate Henrico Planning process from the building permit and may require a separate application. Confirm placement and setbacks with Henrico before designing the garage footprint.

HOA architectural review (outside the county process): Many Henrico subdivisions require homeowners-association architectural review and approval for a new detached garage before the county permit is filed. HOA review covers exterior appearance, siding, roof match, and placement, and is entirely outside the building permit process. The cost of garage construction itself - foundation, framing, slab, roofing, doors, and finishes - is the contractor's bid and is not part of the permit fee.

Henrico Garage Permit Cost vs Neighbors

Henrico prices a new detached garage by declared value, so its fee climbs as the garage gets larger or more finished. Fairfax and DC price the same garage as new construction by square footage or cubic footage, while Chesterfield charges a flat fee regardless of size. The matrix below uses the same four garage scopes from the worked examples, each listing both square footage and declared value so every jurisdiction can be priced on its own method.

Jurisdiction Pricing Method 1-car, 240 sq ft, $15k 2-car, 440 sq ft, $25k 3-car, 720 sq ft, $40k workshop, 900 sq ft, $60k
Henrico County $100 + $6/$1k over $5k (cap $680 BP) + 2% levy $163.20 $224.40 $316.20 $438.60
Fairfax County $0.143/sq ft wood frame ($72 min) + 50% PR + 2% levy $110.16 $110.16 $157.53 $196.91
Chesterfield County Flat $285 + $50 Environmental Engineering + 2% levy $340.70 $340.70 $340.70 $340.70
Washington, DC Flat $65 + 10% Enhanced $71.50 $71.50 $71.50 $71.50

Methods differ - Fairfax and DC price garages as new construction (square footage / cubic footage), Henrico by declared value, Chesterfield by flat fee; each scope lists both square footage and declared value so every jurisdiction can be priced. Loudoun, Norfolk, Richmond, and Virginia Beach are not shown because their official fee schedules carry no discrete new-detached-garage line item. Henrico vs Chesterfield crossover: below approximately $44,000 declared value Henrico is cheaper than Chesterfield's flat $340.70; above approximately $44,000 declared Chesterfield is cheaper. Large garages in DC may reclassify to $0.03 per cubic foot, which can raise the DC figure above the flat $71.50 shown.

Compare Across the DMV

For a full breakdown of how Henrico and other Virginia jurisdictions price a new detached garage, see the cross-jurisdiction guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Henrico prices a new detached garage under its unified residential 1-2 family scope - the same tiered valuation formula it applies to additions, alterations, and pools. The math is $100 base building permit + $6 per $1,000 of declared construction value above the $5,000 threshold, capped at a $680 building permit, plus a 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit subtotal. There is no separate plan review fee; plan review is bundled into the base + tier rate. A $25,000 two-car detached garage works out to $100 + (20 x $6) = $220 building permit, x 1.02 = $224.40 all-in. Because the fee tracks declared value rather than square footage, a more finished or insulated garage of the same footprint costs more to permit.
By declared value, not square footage. Henrico takes the declared construction value of the garage - the contractor's bid for materials and labor - and applies the tiered formula directly. This is the opposite of how Fairfax and DC price a new detached garage; those jurisdictions use new-construction square-footage or cubic-footage rates. The practical effect in Henrico is that a finished, insulated, or higher-spec garage costs more to permit than a bare slab-and-shell garage of the same footprint, because the fee follows dollars declared. A 240 sq ft one-car garage declared at $15,000 costs $163.20; a 720 sq ft three-car garage declared at $40,000 costs $316.20. The $680 cap keeps the value-based fee from running away on high-end custom builds.
The $680 building permit cap activates at exactly $101,667 declared value. The math: $100 base + ($96,667 / $1,000) x $6 = $100 + $580 = $680. Above $101,667 declared, the building permit freezes at $680 and the all-in fee freezes at $693.60 ($680 + 2% levy of $13.60). A $150,000 luxury detached garage hits the cap and costs $693.60 all-in - the same as a $300,000 garage. For the vast majority of residential garages (declared values well under $100,000) the cap never engages, and the fee follows the $100 + $6/$1k formula.
Yes. The building permit on this page covers the structural garage application and inspection only. Electrical for garage lighting, outlets, or a sub-panel is filed separately as an electrical trade permit under Henrico's trade permit schedule, by a licensed electrician. Plumbing for a utility sink is filed separately as a plumbing trade permit by a licensed plumber. These trade permit fees are not included in any all-in figure on this page. A finished garage-plus-workshop with a sub-panel and a utility sink typically needs both an electrical and a plumbing trade permit in addition to the building permit. Confirm the exact trade permit fees with Henrico Department of Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360.
It depends on the declared value. Chesterfield charges a flat $340.70 for a new detached garage (flat $285 + $50 Environmental Engineering + 2% levy) regardless of size. Henrico charges by declared value: $100 + $6/$1k over $5k + 2% levy. The crossover sits at roughly $44,000 declared. Below approximately $44,000 Henrico is cheaper than Chesterfield's flat $340.70 - a $25,000 two-car garage is $224.40 in Henrico vs $340.70 in Chesterfield. Above approximately $44,000 Chesterfield's flat fee becomes the cheaper option - a $60,000 garage-plus-workshop is $438.60 in Henrico vs $340.70 in Chesterfield. So a smaller or lower-value garage favors Henrico; a larger or higher-value garage favors Chesterfield.
The pricing method is fundamentally different. Fairfax prices a new detached garage as new construction by square footage ($0.143 per sq ft wood frame, $72 minimum) plus 50% plan review plus 2% levy - so a 240 sq ft one-car garage is $110.16 and a 900 sq ft workshop garage is $196.91. Washington, DC charges a flat $65 + 10% Enhanced = $71.50 (large garages may reclassify to $0.03 per cubic foot). Henrico, by contrast, prices on declared construction value, so a $25,000 garage is $224.40 and a $60,000 garage is $438.60. At small scopes Henrico can land above Fairfax and DC because its base + tier rate exceeds their square-footage minimums; at high declared values Henrico's $680 cap eventually limits the fee while Fairfax's per-square-foot rate keeps climbing on very large structures.
The Henrico source.json does not specify a strict valuation_basis floor - the County accepts the applicant's stated construction value for the garage. However, the formula's structure means under-declaring offers small absolute savings: at $0.006 per dollar of declared value above $5,000, reducing the declared value by $5,000 saves only $30 on the building permit fee and $30.60 all-in. The $680 cap also means above approximately $101,667 declared the savings stop entirely - the fee is fixed at $693.60. Filing the honest contractor bid is the right approach: the savings from under-declaring are minimal, and Henrico's Department of Building Construction and Inspections reserves the right to use the contractor's invoice value or a benchmark if the declared value appears below market for the garage scope.
Yes. The Henrico Permit Fees page on henrico.gov was updated in December 2025 with the current residential 1-2 family permit fee schedule. PermitPrice's source.json was verified against the live page on henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/ at the time of the December 2025 update. The $100 base, $6 per $1,000 tier rate above $5,000 threshold, $680 building permit cap, and 2% Virginia state levy are all current and apply to a new detached garage under the unified residential scope. For load-bearing budgets always confirm current fees with Henrico Department of Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 before filing - fee schedules are reviewed periodically and the source.json should be re-verified annually.

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Verified December 2025
  • Henrico County Permit Fees Updated December 2025 - Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections - Primary source for the new detached garage fee under the unified residential 1-2 family scope: tiered_valuation_percentage method, $100 base, $6 per $1,000 tier rate above $5,000 threshold, $680 building permit cap, bundled plan review (no separate PR fee). The page applies the same unified formula to a new detached garage that it applies to additions, alterations, and pools.
  • Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections Accessed April 2026 - Henrico County Government - Official Department of Building Construction and Inspections page with current contact information ((804) 501-4360) and walk-in counter at 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228. The destination for verifying current garage pricing, trade permit costs, zoning/setback rules, and accessory-structure 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 Henrico garage permit subtotal.
Next Step

Calculate your specific Henrico garage permit cost or compare against neighbors.

Always verify current garage permit fees, trade permit costs, and zoning/setback rules directly with Henrico Department of Building Construction and Inspections before budgeting or filing. Call Henrico Department of Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 to confirm the $100 + $6/$1k over $5k formula, the $680 building permit cap, and the 2% Virginia state levy application rules for your specific garage scope. Verify with your local building department whether your specific project requires separate electrical, plumbing, or zoning approvals. Walk-in counter at 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228 (Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm).
Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by Henrico Department of Building Construction and Inspections at the time of application. The $100 base building permit, $6 per $1,000 tier rate above $5,000 threshold, $680 building permit cap, bundled plan review (no separate PR fee), and 2% Virginia state levy are all sourced from the December 2025 Henrico residential 1-2 family permit fee schedule on henrico.gov. A new detached garage is priced under the existing 1-2 family scope (the same unified valuation formula Henrico applies to additions, alterations, and pools). Trade permits for garage electrical (lighting, outlets, sub-panel) and plumbing (utility sink) are filed separately under Henrico's trade permit schedule and are NOT included in the all-in figures on this page. Zoning and setback review for a detached accessory structure is a separate Henrico Planning process and is NOT included. HOA architectural review is outside the building permit process entirely. The cost of garage construction - foundation, framing, slab, roofing, doors, and finishes - is the contractor's bid and is not part of the permit fee. The neighbor comparison figures for Fairfax, Chesterfield, and Washington, DC reflect each jurisdiction's own pricing method and are provided for context only.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.