Hampton, VA Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fee structure from the City of Hampton Fee Schedule - Permits and Development Review (Revised August 2025). Verified directly against the published city document.
This page covers: The residential building permit fee in the City of Hampton - a value-based 0.39% of construction value (new building, renovation, and tenant buildout are all 0.39%), the $50 minimum permit fee, the $10 technology fee, and the 2% Virginia state levy. Because the fee is value-based, decks, pools, fences, additions, and accessory structures are all computed from declared construction value at the same 0.39% rate.
This page does NOT cover: Trade permits (electrical, mechanical/gas, plumbing), which are charged at 0.9% of construction value on separate lines; zoning permit fees; sign permits; Wetlands Board and Chesapeake Bay review fees; impact or proffer fees; and water/sewer connection and Health Department fees.
Plan review is separate: A residential construction-document review fee of $20 applies in addition to the building permit (commercial initial review is $50). It is a small, separate line and is shown alongside the worked examples below.
Hampton charges a single value-based building permit fee: 0.39% of the value of construction, with a $50 minimum. On top of the permit fee, every permit adds a flat $10 technology fee and a 2% Virginia state levy of the permit fee. Because the rate is value-based, decks, pools, fences, and additions all use the same 0.39%. A $15,000 deck works out to about $69.67 all-in; a $300,000 new home is about $1,203.40 all-in (plus a separate $20 residential plan review).
- The building permit fee is 0.39% of the value of construction - the same rate for a new building, a renovation, or a tenant buildout.
- The minimum permit fee is $50, which covers projects up to about $12,820 of construction value before the percentage takes over.
- A flat $10 technology fee and a 2% Virginia state levy (of the permit fee) apply to every building permit.
- Because the fee is value-based, decks, pools, fences, and additions are all computed at 0.39% of their declared construction value - there are no separate project-type line items.
- Trade permits (electrical, mechanical/gas, plumbing) are charged separately at 0.9% of construction value, each with the same $50 minimum, $10 technology fee, and 2% levy.
Hampton Building Permit Fee Structure
Hampton uses a single value-based percentage for the building permit, with a $50 minimum and two flat add-ons. Every figure below is exact from the fee schedule (Revised August 2025).
| Project / Fee Type | Base Fee (exact) | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New building permit | 0.39% of value | Value-based | $50 minimum |
| Renovation permit | 0.39% of value | Value-based | $50 minimum |
| Tenant buildout permit | 0.39% of value | Value-based | $50 minimum |
| Minimum permit fee | $50.00 | Flat floor | Covers value up to ~$12,820 |
| Technology fee | $10.00 | Flat per permit | Not in the 2% levy base |
| Residential plan review | $20.00 | Flat | 3rd+ submission $100 each |
| Demolition (per structure) | $50.00 | Flat | Same as mobile-home setup, tents |
| Trade permit (E / M+G / P) | 0.9% of value | Value-based | $50 min each; separate from building permit |
Source: City of Hampton Fee Schedule - Permits and Development Review, Revised August 2025. All figures are exact from the published schedule. Verify current rates before filing.
Hampton Permit Fee Components
Hampton's all-in number is simple: the value-based permit fee (subject to the $50 minimum), a flat $10 technology fee, and the 2% Virginia state levy applied to the permit fee. A separate residential plan review of $20 applies to projects needing construction-document review.
| Component | Amount | In 2% Levy Base? |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | 0.39% of value (min $50) | Yes (levy = 2% of this) |
| Technology fee | $10.00 flat | No |
| Virginia state (USBC) levy | 2% | Of the permit fee only |
| Residential plan review | $20.00 (separate) | No |
Every figure here is exact from the Revised August 2025 schedule. The schedule itemizes the levy as "State levy (applicable to all building permits) 2% of permit fee," confirming the levy applies to the permit fee and not to the technology fee.
Worked Examples
Example 1: $15,000 Residential Deck (value-based)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | 0.39% × $15,000 | $58.50 |
| 2% state levy | 2% × $58.50 | $1.17 |
| Technology fee | Flat | $10.00 |
| All-in building permit total | $58.50 + $1.17 + $10 | $69.67 (exact) |
Assumptions: $15,000 declared construction value, above the $50-minimum threshold so the 0.39% rate governs. A separate $20 residential plan review applies if construction-document review is required. Any deck electrical work needs a separate trade permit. Source: City of Hampton Fee Schedule (Revised August 2025).
Example 2: Small Project at the Minimum Fee
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Calculated permit fee | 0.39% × $8,000 = $31.20 | below minimum |
| Minimum permit fee applies | Floor | $50.00 |
| 2% state levy | 2% × $50.00 | $1.00 |
| Technology fee | Flat | $10.00 |
| All-in building permit total | $50 + $1 + $10 | $61.00 (exact) |
Assumptions: Any project under about $12,820 of declared value lands on the $50 minimum, so the all-in building permit is $61.00. A separate $20 residential plan review may apply. Source: City of Hampton Fee Schedule (Revised August 2025).
Example 3: New $300,000 Home (value-based)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | 0.39% × $300,000 | $1,170.00 |
| 2% state levy | 2% × $1,170 | $23.40 |
| Technology fee | Flat | $10.00 |
| All-in building permit total | $1,170 + $23.40 + $10 | $1,203.40 (exact) |
Assumptions: $300,000 declared construction value. This is the building-permit side only - a separate $20 residential plan review applies, and electrical, mechanical/gas, and plumbing trade permits (0.9% each) are separate. Impact and utility connection fees are not included. Source: City of Hampton Fee Schedule (Revised August 2025).
Practitioner Insight
Hampton has one of the cleanest fee structures in Hampton Roads: one rate, 0.39%, applied to the value of construction, with a $50 floor. There are no separate deck, pool, or fence line items to look up - you take your contract value, multiply by 0.0039, add $10 and the 2% levy, and you are done. That 0.39% is genuinely low; a $15,000 deck is under $70 all-in, where a per-$1,000 city like Chesapeake would charge several times that on the same job value.
Two things to watch. First, the fee scales with declared value, so the number you give the city matters - a realistic construction value keeps you honest and keeps the fee fair. Second, trade permits are charged at 0.9% - more than double the building-permit rate - so a renovation that pulls electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits can carry more in trade fees than in the building permit itself. Price all four lines before you assume Hampton is cheap.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Hampton
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Base Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | Yes | 0.39% of value (min $50) | $15,000 deck = $69.67 all-in |
| Swimming pool | Yes | 0.39% of value (min $50) | Barrier/fence + electrical separate |
| New construction | Yes | 0.39% of value (min $50) | $300,000 home = $1,203.40 all-in |
| Renovation / addition | Yes | 0.39% of value (min $50) | Trade permits separate |
| Fence | Yes | 0.39% of value (min $50) | Zoning permit ($15) may also apply |
| Demolition | Yes | $50 per structure | Flat fee |
| Electrical / mechanical / plumbing | Separate trade permit | 0.9% of value (min $50) | Each separate; $10 tech + 2% levy each |
Permit trigger thresholds and classifications are set by the City of Hampton and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact the Development Services Center before starting work.
Hampton Building Permit Office
Development Services Center
22 Lincoln Street, 3rd Floor, Hampton, VA 23669 · 757-728-2444
Online Permits & Inspections Center
Apply and pay online at hampton.gov
Revised August 2025
Permits and Development Review
When This Estimate May Not Apply
The fee scales with declared construction value
Because the permit fee is 0.39% of value, your number changes with the construction value you declare. Use a realistic value - the worked examples assume the declared value shown.
Trade permits cost more than the building permit
Electrical, mechanical/gas, and plumbing permits are 0.9% of value each - more than double the 0.39% building rate. A multi-trade renovation can carry more in trade permits than in the building permit.
Plan review and resubmissions are separate
A $20 residential construction-document review applies, and 3rd-and-later submissions are $100 each. Multiple plan-review cycles add up on a complex project.
Waterfront and environmental review
Hampton has significant waterfront. Wetlands Board and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area review fees are separate sections and can apply to shoreline projects. Zoning, sign, impact, and utility connection fees are also separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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City of Hampton Fee Schedule - Permits and Development Review (Revised August 2025) Revised August 2025 · Development Services Center · Source of the 0.39% building permit rate, $50 minimum, $10 technology fee, 2% state levy, plan review fees, and the 0.9% trade-permit rate · Verified June 8, 2026 Verified
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City of Hampton - Permits Center Current · Development Services Center · Permit information and online application portal
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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
Compare Hampton fees against a neighboring Hampton Roads city, or calculate your project cost.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Hampton 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 Hampton. See how each Virginia jurisdiction calculates the ongoing property tax impact at CountyTaxTools.com.
Zoning, waterfront, and connection fees for larger projects
Zoning permits, Wetlands Board and Chesapeake Bay review, and water/sewer connection fees in Hampton are separate from the building permit. Research zoning costs at ZoneFee.com.