Fauquier County, VA Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fee structure from the Fauquier County Fee Schedule (Department of Community Development, Building and Inspections), effective July 1, 2025. Verified directly against the published county document.
This page covers: The residential building permit fees in Fauquier County - $0.18 per square foot for new 1-2 family homes (R-5), minimum $200; $0.16 per square foot for accessory structures and residential alterations, minimum $100; and the county's flat project fees ($250 in-ground pool, $100 above-ground pool, $90 demolition, $80 per firebox, $50 certificate of occupancy, and more). Each rate is exact from the published Fee Schedule.
Trade permits are SEPARATE: Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical trade permits are priced and paid separately from the building permit. R-5 electrical circuits, plumbing, and mechanical each bill at $0.03 per square foot with a $75 minimum; electrical service is $75 (0-600A), $100 (601-1200A), or $180 (over 1200A). A typical new home draws all three trade permits at the $75 minimum each.
Plan review is SEPARATE: Residential R-5 plan review is $0.05 per square foot (minimum $60); R-5 amendments are $0.03 per square foot (minimum $40). This is a separate line from the building permit fee.
Two surcharges apply to every transaction: A 10% technology surcharge is added to permit fees on each transaction, and the Virginia USBC fee levy of 2.00% (line 800, set by the State of Virginia under Code of Virginia 36-137) applies as well. The base (minimum) fee is paid at application and the balance before issuance.
This page does NOT cover: The separate $100 Zoning Permit (paid with the application, outside the building fee schedule); impact fees (none cited); and site plan, stormwater, and erosion-and-sediment review (separate Land Development fees) - all excluded from every figure on this page.
Fauquier County charges $0.18 per square foot for new 1-2 family homes (minimum $200), and $0.16 per square foot for accessory structures and alterations (minimum $100). Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical trade permits and plan review are priced separately, and every transaction also carries a 10% technology surcharge plus the 2% Virginia levy. A 300 SF deck/accessory hits the $100 minimum, so $100 + 10% + 2% = $112.00 all-in. An in-ground pool is a flat $250, which works out to $280 with both surcharges.
- New residential 1-2 family construction (R-5) is $0.18 per square foot, minimum $200 - the $200 minimum governs any home under about 1,111 SF.
- Accessory structures and residential alterations are $0.16 per square foot, minimum $100 - the $100 minimum governs anything 625 SF or smaller.
- Trade permits are NOT bundled: electrical, plumbing, and mechanical each bill at $0.03/SF with a $75 minimum, so a typical new home adds $225 in trades on top of the building permit.
- Plan review is a separate line: $0.05/SF for R-5 residential, minimum $60.
- Every transaction carries a 10% technology surcharge plus the 2.00% Virginia USBC fee levy - both are itemized and exact on the schedule. A $100 base fee becomes $112.00 all-in.
- A separate $100 Zoning Permit is paid with the application and sits outside the building fee schedule - it is not part of any building-permit total on this page.
Fauquier County Building Permit Fee Structure
Fauquier prices residential building permits per square foot with category minimums, then adds separately priced trade permits and a separate per-SF plan review fee. Every transaction also carries a 10% technology surcharge and the 2.00% Virginia USBC fee levy. The schedule line numbers below are exact from the published document.
| Project / Fee Type | Fee (exact, from schedule) | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New residential 1-2 family (R-5) | $0.18/SF | Per SF | Min $200 (line 101) |
| Accessory structures (R-5) | $0.16/SF | Per SF | Min $100 (line 102) |
| Residential alterations (R-5) | $0.16/SF | Per SF | Min $100 (line 501) |
| Swimming pool - in-ground | $250 | Flat | Above-ground $100 (line 106) |
| Fireplace / chimney / masonry (each firebox) | $80 | Flat, each | Line 108 |
| Demolition (all or partial) | $90 | Flat | Line 602 |
| Footing / foundation only (R-5) | $100 | Flat | Line 616 |
| Roofing and/or siding only | $100 | Flat | Line 618 |
| Certificate of occupancy | $50 | Flat | Line 615 |
| Exterior sewer or water line (R-5) | $55 each | Flat, each | Lines 604 / 606 |
| Electrical - R-5 circuits | $0.03/SF | Per SF (trade) | Min $75 (line 207) - SEPARATE |
| Electrical - service | $75 / $100 / $180 | Flat by amperage | 0-600A $75 (line 202); 601-1200A $100; over 1200A $180 |
| Plumbing (R-5) | $0.03/SF | Per SF (trade) | Min $75 (line 301) - SEPARATE |
| Mechanical (R-5) | $0.03/SF | Per SF (trade) | Min $75 (line 401) - SEPARATE |
| Plan review - residential R-5 | $0.05/SF | Per SF (review) | Min $60 (line 700) - SEPARATE |
| Plan review - R-5 amendments | $0.03/SF | Per SF (review) | Min $40 (line 701) - SEPARATE |
| Technology surcharge | 10% | % of permit fees | Each transaction, added to permit fees |
| Virginia fee levy (USBC 2%) | 2.00% | % (line 800) | Set by the State of Virginia (Code of Virginia 36-137) |
Source: Fauquier County Fee Schedule, Department of Community Development, Building and Inspections, effective July 1, 2025. All figures above are exact schedule figures, including the 10% technology surcharge and the 2.00% Virginia fee levy (line 800). A separate $100 Zoning Permit is paid with the application and is not part of the building fee schedule.
Fauquier County Permit Fee Components
A Fauquier building permit total stacks several separate components: the building permit fee, separately priced trade permits, a separate plan review fee, and two surcharges that apply to every transaction - a 10% technology surcharge and the 2.00% Virginia USBC fee levy. The $100 Zoning Permit sits outside this stack entirely.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | $0.18/SF (min $200) or $0.16/SF (min $100) or flat fee | Exact schedule figure |
| Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) | $0.03/SF each, $75 minimum each | Separate - priced and paid on their own |
| Plan review | $0.05/SF, min $60 (R-5) | Separate line from the building permit |
| Technology surcharge | 10% | Added to permit fees on each transaction |
| Virginia state (USBC) 2% levy | 2.00% | Itemized on the schedule (line 800) |
| Zoning Permit | $100 | Excluded - separate, paid with the application |
Both surcharges are itemized and exact on the Fauquier schedule: a 10% technology surcharge on permit fees and the 2.00% Virginia USBC fee levy (line 800, Code of Virginia 36-137). Because the surcharges apply per transaction, the exact all-in rounding can vary slightly depending on how the county groups the building, trade, and plan-review filings - the worked examples below note where a total is an exact schedule figure versus an estimate built from the schedule.
Worked Examples
All examples use exact schedule figures, including the 10% technology surcharge and the 2.00% Virginia levy. Where a building permit, trade permits, and plan review are filed together, the exact all-in rounding can vary by how the county batches the surcharge per transaction - the new-home total below is labeled an estimate built from the schedule for that reason.
Example 1: New 2,400 SF Single-Family Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit (line 101) | 2,400 SF × $0.18 | $432.00 |
| Plan review (line 700) | 2,400 SF × $0.05 | $120.00 |
| Trade permits - electrical, plumbing, mechanical | 3 × $75 minimum | $225.00 |
| Base fees subtotal | $432 + $120 + $225 | $777.00 |
| + 10% technology surcharge | on permit fees (each transaction) | applied |
| + 2% Virginia levy | on permit fees (line 800) | applied |
| Estimated all-in (built from schedule) | $777 base + 10% tech + 2% levy | ~$870 (estimate) |
Assumptions: 2,400 SF home. Building permit $0.18/SF = $432 (line 101); plan review $0.05/SF = $120 (line 700); three trade permits at the $75 minimum each = $225. That is $777 in base permit fees. The 10% technology surcharge and the 2% Virginia levy then apply to the permit fees on each transaction. The all-in figure is labeled an estimate built from the schedule (approximately $870) because the exact total depends on how the surcharges are batched per transaction. The exact base inputs are schedule figures; the rounded all-in is an estimate. Source: Fauquier County Fee Schedule (eff. July 1, 2025).
Example 2: 300 SF Deck / Accessory Structure (Minimum Applies)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Calculated permit fee | 300 SF × $0.16 = $48.00 | below minimum |
| $100 minimum applies (line 102 / 501) | Floor | $100.00 |
| + 10% technology surcharge | $100 × 10% | $10.00 |
| + 2% Virginia levy | $100 × 2% | $2.00 |
| All-in total | $100 + $10 + $2 | $112.00 |
Assumptions: 300 SF × $0.16 computes to $48, which is below the $100 accessory/alteration minimum, so the $100 minimum governs. The 10% technology surcharge ($10) and the 2% Virginia levy ($2) bring the all-in to exactly $112.00. A separate $60 minimum plan review applies only if plans are required for the deck. See the Virginia deck permit cost guide for a full walkthrough. Source: Fauquier County Fee Schedule (eff. July 1, 2025).
Example 3: Swimming Pool - In-Ground and Above-Ground
| Project | Flat Fee + Surcharges | All-in Total |
|---|---|---|
| In-ground pool (line 106) | $250 + 10% ($25) + 2% ($5) | $280.00 |
| Above-ground pool (line 106) | $100 + 10% ($10) + 2% ($2) | $112.00 |
Assumptions: The in-ground pool flat fee is $250 (line 106); with the 10% technology surcharge ($25) and the 2% Virginia levy ($5) the all-in is exactly $280.00. An above-ground pool is $100, working out to $112.00 all-in. Pool electrical is a separate trade permit (line 207, $0.03/SF, $75 minimum) and is not in these totals. Source: Fauquier County Fee Schedule (eff. July 1, 2025).
Example 4: 500 SF Residential Alteration / Remodel (Minimum Applies)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Calculated permit fee | 500 SF × $0.16 = $80.00 | below minimum |
| $100 minimum applies (line 501) | Floor | $100.00 |
| + 10% technology surcharge | $100 × 10% | $10.00 |
| + 2% Virginia levy | $100 × 2% | $2.00 |
| All-in total | $100 + $10 + $2 | $112.00 |
Assumptions: 500 SF × $0.16 computes to $80, below the $100 alteration minimum (line 501), so the $100 minimum governs. With the 10% technology surcharge ($10) and the 2% levy ($2), the all-in is exactly $112.00. Any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work draws separate trade permits ($75 minimum each), and plan review applies separately if plans are required. Source: Fauquier County Fee Schedule (eff. July 1, 2025).
Read before you budget from these examples
- New-home all-in is an estimate: the $432 building permit, $120 plan review, and $225 trades are exact schedule figures, but the ~$870 all-in is an estimate built from the schedule because the 10% + 2% surcharges are applied per transaction and exact rounding varies.
- Trades and plan review are separate: unlike all-inclusive schedules, Fauquier prices electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits ($0.03/SF, $75 min each) and plan review ($0.05/SF, $60 min) on their own lines, on top of the building permit.
- $100 Zoning Permit is excluded: a separate $100 Zoning Permit is paid with the application and is not part of any total above.
- $0.16/SF reaches the $100 minimum at 625 SF; $0.18/SF reaches the $200 minimum at about 1,111 SF - below those points, the category minimum governs.
- Excluded fees: impact fees (none cited) and site plan, stormwater, and erosion-and-sediment (Land Development) review fees are separate and not in any total above.
Practitioner Insight
Fauquier County's $0.18/SF building permit base reads cheap next to its neighbors, but the headline rate is only the start of the stack. Unlike Manassas City, whose $0.45/SF rate is all-inclusive of trades and review, Fauquier prices electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits separately ($0.03/SF, $75 minimum each), adds a separate per-SF plan review fee ($0.05/SF), and then layers a 10% technology surcharge and the 2% Virginia levy on every transaction. A new home that looks like a $432 permit is closer to $870 once trades, plan review, and surcharges are stacked.
That structure matters most on small projects. A 300 SF deck or a 500 SF remodel both land on the $100 minimum and finish at exactly $112.00 all-in - clean and predictable. But anyone budgeting a full build in this Prince William County exurb should price the trade permits and plan review as separate lines from the start, and remember the separate $100 Zoning Permit that rides with the application. The two surcharges are exact and itemized on the schedule, so the only real budgeting variable is per-transaction rounding on a multi-permit new build.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Fauquier County
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home (R-5) | Yes | $0.18/SF (min $200) | Trades + plan review separate; +10% tech +2% levy |
| Accessory structure | Yes | $0.16/SF (min $100) | 625 SF or less lands on the $100 minimum |
| Deck | Yes | $0.16/SF (min $100) | 300 SF deck = $112.00 all-in with 10% + 2% |
| Residential alteration / remodel | Yes | $0.16/SF (min $100) | 500 SF = $112.00 all-in; trades separate |
| Swimming pool | Yes | $250 in-ground / $100 above-ground | In-ground = $280 all-in; pool electrical separate |
| Demolition | Yes | $90 flat | All or partial (line 602) |
| Roofing and/or siding only | Yes | $100 flat | Line 618 |
| Standalone trade work (electrical / plumbing / mechanical) | Yes | $0.03/SF, $75 min each | Electrical service $75 / $100 / $180 by amperage |
Permit trigger thresholds and classifications are set by Fauquier County and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. A separate $100 Zoning Permit is paid with the application. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact the Department of Community Development before starting work.
Fauquier County Building Permit Office
Department of Community Development - Building and Inspections
Fauquier County, VA
Building, Permitting & Inspections
Application info at fauquiercounty.gov; a separate $100 Zoning Permit is filed with the application
Fee Schedule (Building and Inspections)
Effective July 1, 2025 · Legal authority: Virginia USBC
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Per-transaction surcharge rounding can shift a multi-permit total
The 10% technology surcharge and the 2% Virginia levy apply to permit fees on each transaction. On a single flat-fee permit (deck, pool, alteration) the all-in is exact - $112.00 on a $100 base. But on a new home filed with separate building, trade, and plan-review permits, the exact all-in depends on how the county batches the surcharge per transaction, which is why the ~$870 new-home figure is labeled an estimate built from the schedule.
A separate $100 Zoning Permit is not in these totals
Fauquier charges a $100 Zoning Permit that is paid with the application and sits outside the building fee schedule. It is not included in any building-permit total on this page - add it when budgeting your full filing.
Trade permits and plan review are priced separately
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits each bill at $0.03/SF with a $75 minimum, and plan review bills at $0.05/SF (minimum $60) - all on their own lines on top of the building permit. A building-permit-only figure understates the total for any project that involves trade work or required plans.
Land Development and other agency fees are excluded
Site plan, stormwater, and erosion-and-sediment review sit in separate Land Development fee sections, and no impact fees are cited on the building schedule. None of these are included in any figure on this page. A larger project may add several of these on top of the building permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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Fauquier County Fee Schedule (Department of Community Development, Building and Inspections) Effective July 1, 2025 · Legal authority Virginia USBC · Source of the $0.18/SF and $0.16/SF rates, the $200/$100 minimums, all flat project fees, the trade and plan-review rates, and the 10% technology surcharge and 2.00% Virginia fee levy (line 800) · Verified June 8, 2026 Verified
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Fauquier County - Building, Permitting & Inspections Current · Department landing page · Hosts the fee schedule and permit application information
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Code of Virginia §36-137 - USBC State Levy Authority Current · Virginia General Assembly · Authorizing statute for the 2% statewide building permit levy itemized on the Fauquier schedule (line 800)
See how Fauquier's stacked per-SF structure compares to its neighbors, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Fauquier County 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 Fauquier County. See how each Virginia jurisdiction calculates the ongoing property tax impact at CountyTaxTools.com.
Zoning, site plan, and Land Development fees for larger projects
The separate $100 Zoning Permit, site plan, stormwater, and erosion-and-sediment review fees in Fauquier County are separate from the building permit. Research zoning costs at ZoneFee.com.