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Fairfax County, VA Building Permit Fees (2026)

Actual fee formulas from Appendix Q, Land Development Services Fee Schedule (FY2027). Not generic ranges.

Jurisdiction
Fairfax County, VA
Permit Type Covered
Building permit (residential)
Coverage Scope
Building permit fee only - trade permits separate
Fee Schedule Effective
July 1, 2026 (FY2027)
Last Verified
September 18, 2026
Fee Status
Official formula-based fee
Key Takeaways
  • Base permit fee: 3% of estimated construction cost, $141.75 minimum (FY2027 Appendix Q, effective July 1, 2026).
  • A filing-fee deposit of 50% of the permit fee is due at application and is credited toward the permit fee at issuance (County Code 61-1-3(d)11). It is not an extra charge; it is non-refundable if the application expires.
  • Virginia's 2% Code Academy levy and Fairfax's 10% technology surcharge both apply to the permit fee, so every Fairfax total is the permit fee times 1.12.
  • A $15,000 deck totals $504.00: $450 permit + $9.00 levy + $45.00 technology surcharge.
  • Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are separate and have their own fee tiers.
Calculate My Permit Fee All Virginia Jurisdictions
What This Page Covers
Covered on this page
  • Residential building permit fee (Appendix Q, Chapter 61)
  • Filing-fee deposit timing (50% of the permit fee at application, credited at issuance)
  • Virginia USBC Code Academy levy (2%)
  • Fairfax County technology surcharge (10% of each transaction, Appendix Q Part III)
  • Per-square-foot rates for new residential construction
  • Flat rate for in-ground pools ($83.50)
Not covered on this page
  • Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC trade permits (separate fee tiers)
  • Zoning review, site plan, or special exception fees
  • Grading and site development permits
  • Impact fees or utility connection fees
  • Reinspection, revision, or expedited review fees
  • Commercial construction permits

Fairfax County Permit Fee Formula

Three fee components stack on every residential building permit. All figures are from Appendix Q, FY2027 (amendment 05-26-Q adopted May 5, 2026), effective July 1, 2026. Fairfax re-adopts Appendix Q every July 1; this page was re-verified against the adopted ordinance on September 18, 2026.

Fee Component Formula $15,000 Deck Example Authority
Building Permit Fee max(cost × 3%, $141.75 minimum) $450.00 Appendix Q, Chapter 61
Virginia USBC Code Academy Levy Permit fee × 2% $9.00 Appendix Q I-A.12
Technology Surcharge Permit fee × 10% $45.00 Appendix Q Part III
Total Sum of all three components $504.00 -
Pool In-ground pools use a flat $83.50 permit fee (Appendix Q I-B(M), not 3%). Add the 2% levy ($1.67) and 10% technology surcharge ($8.35) = $93.52 all-in.
Solar Solar panel building permit fee is waived ($0) per Virginia state policy. A permit is still required. Separate electrical permit (~$378) is not waived.
New Construction New residential construction, additions and new garages use a per-square-foot rate (Table 1): $0.15/sqft for Type IIB/IIIB/VA/VB (wood frame), $0.22/sqft for IIA/IIIA/IV, $0.28/sqft for IA/IB. Minimum $141.75. Basement finishing is the flat $141.75 base fee.
Source

Fairfax County permit fee inline estimator

How Fairfax County Calculates Your Permit Fee
Calculate the base building permit fee - Fairfax County uses 3% of the estimated construction cost for residential alterations, repairs and accessory structures (the permittee must provide verifiable cost detail). Minimum fee: $141.75, the FY2027 base fee for any permit. New construction, additions and garages use per-square-foot rates instead. Base Fee = max(Construction Cost × 0.03, $141.75)
Pay half at application, half at issuance - Appendix Q I-B(G) sets a filing fee for permit application and plans examination of 50% of the permit fee for single-family residential work, paid before plan review. County Code 61-1-3(d)11 credits every fee paid at application toward the full permit fee at issuance, so the filing fee is a deposit, not an addition. If the application expires unissued, the deposit is not refunded. Deposit at application = Base Fee × 0.50 (credited at issuance)
Add the 2% Code Academy levy - Appendix Q I-A.12 collects a 2% levy on all building development fees, applied to the base fee. Collected by Fairfax County and remitted to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Levy = Base Fee × 0.02
Add the 10% technology surcharge - Appendix Q Part III adds a technology surcharge of 10% of each transaction to the building development fees: 10% of the deposit at application and 10% of the balance at issuance, which together equal 10% of the base fee. Technology Surcharge = Base Fee × 0.10
Sum all three components - Total building permit cost is base fee + levy + technology surcharge, which is the base fee times 1.12. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are calculated separately and are not included in this total. Total = Base Fee + Levy + Technology Surcharge = Base Fee × 1.12
Fairfax County Permit Fee Calculator
Jurisdiction locked to Fairfax County, VA · Data from Appendix Q FY2027 (effective July 1, 2026)
Estimated Permit Cost
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    This calculator uses the Appendix Q FY2027 fee schedule (effective July 1, 2026). For trade permits, the 2% VA USBC levy also applies. Compare across jurisdictions →

    Fairfax County Permit Fees by Project Type

    Select a project for jurisdiction-specific fee formulas, permit requirements, and worked examples.

    Deck 3% of cost · min $141.75 Swimming Pool Flat $83.50 Roof Replacement 3% of cost · min $141.75 Room Addition 3% of cost · min $141.75 Basement Finish 3% of cost · min $141.75 Kitchen Remodel 3% of cost · min $141.75 Bathroom Remodel 3% of cost · min $141.75 Solar Panels Fee waived ($0) Fence 3% of cost · conditional Shed 3% of cost · conditional New Garage $0.15/sqft (wood) Retaining Wall 3% of cost · over 4 ft Window / Door 3% of cost · conditional Demolition 3% of cost · min $141.75 Electrical $341–$633 by amperage Plumbing $340–$780 by fixture HVAC $141.75–$693 by zone

    Fairfax County Permit Office

    Land Development Services

    12055 Government Center Pkwy
    Fairfax, VA 22035

    Phone: (703) 222-0801
    TTY: 711

    Hours: Mon–Thu 8am–4pm, Fri 9:15am–4pm

    Online Services
    PLUS Portal - Apply Online LDS Building Permits page →

    The PLUS portal (Planning and Land Use System) accepts permit applications for many residential project types. Complex projects may require a pre-application meeting.

    What to Know Before You File

    The fee your contractor quoted is probably low. Most homeowners hear the base permit fee and stop there. But the final invoice adds Virginia's 2% levy and Fairfax's 10% technology surcharge to the permit fee, and half of the permit fee is due the day you apply. For a $15,000 deck, the all-in cost is $504.00. Generic cost guides that cite $300 to $500 miss the two surcharges (11% of the total) and understate the 3% formula itself.

    Real-World Example: $15,000 Deck, Fairfax County

    400 sqft composite deck with 42-inch cable railing, attached to dwelling · Building permit - residential alteration · Stated valuation: $15,000 · Fee schedule: Appendix Q, FY2027 (effective 2026-07-01)

    Building Permit Fee $450.00
    Virginia USBC Code Academy Levy (2%) $9.00
    Fairfax County Technology Surcharge (10%) $45.00
    Total Building Permit Fees $504.00

    max($15,000 × 3%, $141.75 min) = $450.00 permit + ($450.00 × 2%) = $9.00 levy + ($450.00 × 10%) = $45.00 technology surcharge = $504.00 total. Paid as $225.00 deposit (+ its share of levy and surcharge) at application, balance at issuance.

    Payment timing: Appendix Q I-B(G) requires a filing fee of 50% of the permit fee ($225.00 here) before plan review. County Code 61-1-3(d)11 credits every fee paid at application toward the full permit fee at issuance, so the $225.00 is a deposit on the $450.00 permit, not an extra charge; the balance is due when the permit issues. Filing fees on applications that expire unissued are not refunded (61-1-3(d)10).

    Note: If the deck includes electrical for lighting or outlets, a separate electrical trade permit is required. A residential alteration electrical permit with up to 100 fixtures, circuits and equipment is the Level One base fee: $141.75 + $2.84 levy + $14.18 technology surcharge = $158.77.

    When Standard Calculations Don't Apply

    • Contractor disputes the stated valuation: the building official may substitute the ICC Building Valuation Data (BVD) table if your stated cost is below market rate, potentially increasing the base fee.
    • Project scope changes after permit issuance: permit amendment fees apply, calculated on the cost difference.
    • Work started before permit is pulled: reinspection fee of $141.75 per visit applies, and the building official may require destructive inspection of completed work.
    • Deck requires grading: if land disturbance exceeds 2,500 sqft, a separate site development permit is required from the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.
    • Historic overlay district: properties in a historic overlay district require additional review by Historic Preservation Staff before LDS will issue a building permit - additional review fees may apply.
    • Pool barrier permit: an in-ground pool requires a separate pool barrier/fence permit under VUSBC requirements. That permit uses the residential alteration rate, not the flat $83.50 pool fee.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Building permits in Fairfax County cost 3% of the estimated construction cost for residential alterations, repairs and accessory structures, with a $141.75 minimum (the FY2027 base fee). Virginia's Code Academy levy adds 2% and the county technology surcharge adds 10% of the permit fee, so the all-in total is the permit fee times 1.12. A $15,000 deck comes to $504.00 all-in; half of the permit fee is paid at application as a deposit. Fees are re-adopted by the Board of Supervisors every year and published in Appendix Q of the Land Development Services fee schedule, effective July 1; the current amendment (05-26-Q) took effect July 1, 2026.
    Fairfax County charges a filing fee for permit application and plans examination equal to 50% of the permit fee for single-family residential projects (Appendix Q I-B(G)). It is paid before plan review, and under County Code 61-1-3(d)11 every fee paid at application is credited toward the full permit fee when the permit is issued, so it is a deposit, not an additional charge. For a $15,000 project with a $450 permit fee, you pay $225 at application and the remaining $225 (plus the levy and technology surcharge) at issuance. If the application expires unissued, the $225 is not refunded.
    The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) Code Academy levy is a 2% surcharge on all building development fees, here the building permit fee (Appendix Q I-A.12). It is collected by Fairfax County and remitted to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development under Code of Virginia §36-137. On a $15,000 project, the levy is $450 × 2% = $9.00. Separately, Fairfax adds a 10% technology surcharge on each transaction (Appendix Q Part III): $450 × 10% = $45.00 in total across the deposit and the balance.
    Yes. Fairfax County accepts permit applications through the PLUS portal (Planning and Land Use System) at plus.fairfaxcounty.gov. Some straightforward permit types can be issued over the counter or through the online portal without a separate plan review appointment. Complex projects typically require a pre-application meeting.
    Building without a permit can result in a stop-work order, reinspection fees of $141.75 per visit, a requirement to expose completed work for inspection (which may mean removing drywall or decking), and complications during resale because the unpermitted work will not appear on the property record. After-the-fact permits are available but may cost more than pulling the permit before construction began.
    Fairfax County building permits are valid for 180 days (6 months) from the date of issuance. If work has not begun within that period, or if construction is suspended for more than 180 days, the permit expires. A renewal can be obtained for 50% of the original permit fee, provided the work is still under the same approved scope.

    Sources

    Official .gov Sources · Verified September 18, 2026

    Fee data for this page was verified by Munib Ur Rehman by downloading the Appendix Q PDF directly from fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment and cross-referencing formulas with the Municode entry for Chapters 61, 64, 65, and 66 of the Code of the County of Fairfax. Confidence: High. Next verification due: July 15, 2026.

    Virginia Permit Cost Guide → Deck Permit Guide → Pool Permit Guide → Fairfax Pool Permit Deep-Dive → Fairfax Addition Permit Deep-Dive → Fairfax retaining wall permit cost → Fairfax Solar Permit Cost → Fairfax Electrical Panel Permit → Fairfax Water Heater Permit → Fairfax HVAC Permit → Virginia Addition Permit Guide → Fairfax vs Loudoun Comparison → Fairfax vs Chesterfield Comparison → Fairfax vs Richmond Comparison → DC vs Fairfax Comparison → Norfolk vs Fairfax Comparison → Fairfax vs Henrico Comparison → Fairfax vs Virginia Beach Comparison → Fairfax Shed Permit Deep-Dive → Washington DC Fees → Loudoun County Fees →

    Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget

    Once you know your permit cost, two related numbers round out your total budget picture:

    Property tax impact after your project closes

    A finished basement or added deck increases your assessed value in Fairfax County. Any resulting property-tax change is determined by the responsible assessing and taxing authorities, separately from this permit fee.

    Planning new construction or a large addition?

    Development impact fees and zoning costs in Fairfax County can exceed the building permit fee by 10×. These charges are governed separately from the building permit and are excluded from the figures above.

    These charges are administered separately from the building permit fee, though the responsible office and billing process vary by jurisdiction. See which tool covers each charge →

    Always verify current fees directly with Fairfax County Land Development Services before budgeting or filing. Call (703) 222-0801 or visit fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment. Fee schedules change annually when the Board of Supervisors adopts the new fiscal year budget. Appendix Q is updated July 1 each year.
    Disclaimer: All fee estimates on PermitPrice are for informational purposes only and are not official permit quotations. Actual permit fees are determined by Fairfax County Land Development Services at the time of permit application. Fee schedules, surcharge rates, and permit requirements can change without notice. Verify all fees directly with the building department before filing.

    Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

    Data verified against official fee schedule documents.