Alexandria, VA Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fee structure from the City of Alexandria FY26 Permit Center fee schedule (Council Resolution 3287), effective July 1, 2025. Verified against the published city document.
This page covers: The residential building permit base fees in the City of Alexandria - the $95 minimum permit fee, the $0.75 per square foot new-construction rate, the greater-of formula for alterations, and the flat fees for decks, pools, and solar - plus the percentage surcharge set the city applies on top.
This page does NOT cover: Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas), which are charged on separate schedules; Site Plan, Special Use Permit, or DSUP review fees; fire protection system permits; impact, development, or utility connection fees; and the third-party payment processing fee.
Important - surcharge stacking is an assumption: Alexandria lists four local percentage surcharges (14% Administrative + 11% Permit Center + 0.2% Training + 5% Information Technology = 30.2%) plus the Virginia state levy. The published schedule does not state whether these are each calculated against the base fee (additive) or compounded on a running total, and it does not print the state levy percentage. Worked examples on this page treat the surcharges as additive on the base fee and the state levy at the statewide 2% rate, and label every all-in figure as an estimate. Confirm the exact total with the Permit Center.
Alexandria's minimum building permit fee is $95. A residential deck is a flat $100 and a swimming pool is a flat $110 (base fees, before surcharges). New residential construction is $0.75 per square foot; residential alterations are the greater of $0.30 per square foot, $18 per $1,000 of construction cost, or the $95 minimum. On top of the base fee, the city stacks roughly 32% in percentage surcharges (14% administrative + 11% permit center + 0.2% training + 5% IT, plus the Virginia state levy).
- The minimum building permit fee is $95 for any permit issued by the Department of Code Administration.
- New residential construction is $0.75 per square foot of gross area, including basements, garages, and roofed carports.
- Residential alterations and repairs are the greater of $0.30/sq ft, $18 per $1,000 of construction cost, or the $95 minimum.
- Special-construction flat fees: deck $100, swimming pool $110; residential solar PV, chimney/fireplace, and historic-district roof/siding/window replacement are each the $95 minimum.
- On top of the base fee, Alexandria adds 30.2% in local surcharges plus the Virginia state levy. A non-refundable 35% application deposit applies to permits that require plan review.
Alexandria Building Permit Fee Structure
Alexandria uses a per-square-foot base for new construction, a greater-of formula for alterations, and flat fees for several common residential projects. Every base fee below is exact from the FY26 schedule. The percentage surcharge set (30.2% local plus the state levy) is then added on top - see the surcharge breakdown and worked examples for how the all-in total is estimated.
| Project / Fee Type | Base Fee (exact) | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum permit fee | $95.00 | Flat floor | Any permit issued by Code Administration |
| New residential construction | $0.75 / sq ft | Per gross sq ft | Includes basements, garages, roofed carports |
| Residential alteration / repair | Greater of 3 | $0.30/sq ft, $18/$1,000, or $95 | Whichever is greatest |
| Deck (residential) | $100.00 | Flat | Special construction |
| Swimming pool (residential) | $110.00 | Flat | Special construction |
| Residential solar PV | $95.00 | Minimum permit fee | Same for chimney/fireplace inserts |
| Demolition (residential structure) | $150.00 | Flat | Accessory/detached garage $85; bond required |
| Certificate of Occupancy (residential) | $156.75 | Per dwelling unit | Includes addition completion |
Source: City of Alexandria Permit Center Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025 (FY26), City Council Resolution 3287, Department of Code Administration. Base fees are exact; surcharges are added separately. Verify current rates before filing.
Alexandria Permit Surcharge Stack
On top of the base permit fee, Alexandria assesses four local percentage surcharges plus the Virginia state levy. The schedule does not state whether they are additive on the base or compounded - this page treats them as additive, which is standard practice in neighboring Virginia jurisdictions.
| Surcharge | Rate | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Fee | 14% | All Code Administration and Fire Department fees via APEX |
| Permit Center Fee | 11% | All permits and certificates issued |
| Training Program Fee | 0.2% | All permits (not certificates) |
| Information Technology Fee | 5% | All fees processed via APEX |
| Virginia state (USBC) levy | ~2% (estimated) | All permit fees (rate not printed in schedule) |
| Combined (additive estimate) | ~32.2% | 30.2% local + ~2% state, additive on base |
The four local rates (14% + 11% + 0.2% + 5%) are exact from the FY26 schedule. The ~2% state levy and the additive stacking method are estimates - the schedule references the state levy "as established by the Code of Virginia" without printing the percentage, and does not specify stacking order. Confirm the exact total with the Permit Center before budgeting.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Residential Deck (flat fee)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Base permit fee (deck) | Flat special-construction fee | $100.00 (exact) |
| Surcharge stack (estimated) | $100 × ~32.2% (additive assumption) | ~$32.20 (est.) |
| Estimated all-in total | $100 + ~$32.20 | ~$132.20 (est.) |
Assumptions: The $100 base is exact from the FY26 schedule. The all-in total is an estimate: surcharges are treated as additive on the base (30.2% local + ~2% state). The schedule does not state stacking order or the exact state levy, so confirm the total with the Permit Center. Trade permits (if any electrical work) are separate.
Example 2: $25,000 Residential Alteration (greater-of formula)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Option A - per sq ft | 250 sq ft × $0.30 | $75.00 |
| Option B - per $1,000 value | $25,000 / $1,000 × $18 | $450.00 |
| Option C - minimum fee | Floor | $95.00 |
| Base fee (greatest of A/B/C) | Option B governs | $450.00 (exact) |
| Estimated all-in total | $450 + ~32.2% surcharges (est.) | ~$594.90 (est.) |
Assumptions: $25,000 declared construction cost over an estimated 250 sq ft of affected floor area. The greater-of rule selects the per-$1,000 amount ($450), which is exact. The all-in total is estimated using the additive ~32.2% surcharge assumption. A non-refundable 35% application deposit applies if the project requires plan review. Trade permits are separate. Source: Alexandria FY26 fee schedule.
Practitioner Insight
Alexandria's base permit fees are genuinely low - a $100 deck or a $95 solar permit looks cheap next to value-based counties. The catch is the surcharge stack. Four local surcharges totaling 30.2%, plus the state levy, push the real cost up by roughly a third. On small flat-fee jobs the dollar impact is modest ($32 on a $100 deck), but on a value-based alteration it compounds: a $450 base alteration carries close to $145 in surcharges. Always price the surcharges in, not just the headline base fee.
The second thing to plan for is the 35% non-refundable application deposit on anything requiring plan review. You pay it up front when you apply, before the permit is approved, and you do not get it back if you walk away. For homeowners that means the cash outlay starts at application, not at issuance. And because the schedule does not spell out whether the surcharges are additive or compounded, the only way to lock in an exact number is to ask the Permit Center for a fee quote on your specific project before you budget.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Alexandria
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Base Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | Yes | $100 flat + surcharges | Special construction |
| Swimming pool | Yes | $110 flat + surcharges | Barrier/fence requirements apply |
| New construction | Yes | $0.75/sq ft + surcharges | Incl. basement, garage, carport area |
| Alteration / remodel | Yes | Greater of $0.30/sq ft, $18/$1,000, $95 | Trade permits separate |
| Solar PV | Yes | $95 minimum + surcharges | Residential photovoltaic system |
| Roof / siding / window (historic district) | Yes | $95 minimum + surcharges | Historic district review may add steps |
| Demolition (residential structure) | Yes | $150 + surcharges | Performance bond $1/sq ft, min $1,000 |
| Electrical work | Separate electrical permit | $194/unit new; $19.50/$1,000 alteration (min $95) | Trade permit - separate schedule |
| Plumbing / mechanical | Separate trade permit | $194/unit new; $19.50/$1,000 alteration (min $95) | Trade permit - separate schedule |
| Gas piping | Separate gas permit | $40 residential base + $20/outlet | Trade permit - separate schedule |
Permit trigger thresholds and classifications are set by the City of Alexandria and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact the Alexandria Permit Center through the city's permit portal before starting work.
Alexandria Building Permit Office
Department of Code Administration
City of Alexandria
Alexandria Permit Center (APEX)
Apply and pay online at alexandriava.gov/permits
FY26, Council Res. 3287
Effective July 1, 2025
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Surcharge stacking method is not published
The all-in totals on this page assume the surcharges are additive on the base fee and the state levy is 2%. If Alexandria compounds the surcharges or applies a different levy rate, your actual total will differ. The base fees are exact; the surcharge add-on is an estimate.
35% non-refundable application deposit
Permits requiring plan review need a non-refundable deposit of 35% of the total estimated fee at application. The balance is due when the permit is approved. This changes your cash timing and is not refundable if the project does not proceed.
Trade permits are charged separately
Electrical ($194/dwelling unit new, or $19.50/$1,000 for alterations), plumbing, mechanical, and gas permits are separate from the building permit. A remodel that touches multiple trades can carry several permit fees plus surcharges on each.
Historic district and site-plan review
Alexandria has extensive historic districts. Roof, siding, and window work in a historic district is the $95 minimum permit, but separate Board of Architectural Review approvals may apply. Site Plan, Special Use Permit, and DSUP review fees are not part of the building permit fee.
Commercial or non-residential construction
This page covers residential permits only. Non-residential new construction uses a tiered base-fee table by square footage. Do not apply these residential rates to commercial projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
City of Alexandria Permit Center Fee Schedule (FY26) Effective July 1, 2025 · City Council Resolution 3287 · Source of all base fees, the greater-of alteration formula, and the surcharge percentages · Verified June 7, 2026 Verified
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City of Alexandria - Permit Application Fees Current · Department of Code Administration · Permit Center fee information and application portal
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Code of Virginia §36-139 - USBC State Levy Authority Current · Virginia General Assembly · Authorizing statute for the statewide building permit levy (rate not printed in the Alexandria schedule)
Compare Alexandria fees against a neighboring jurisdiction, or calculate your project cost.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Alexandria permit cost, two related numbers round out your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted deck or addition increases your assessed value in Alexandria. See how each Virginia jurisdiction calculates the ongoing property tax impact at CountyTaxTools.com.
Zoning, site-plan, and impact fees for larger projects
Site Plan, Special Use Permit, DSUP review, and development fees in Alexandria are separate from the building permit and can exceed it for major projects. Research them at ZoneFee.com.