James City County, VA Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees from Appendix A (Fee Schedule for Development Related Permits) of the James City County Code, Chapter 4 - the schedule the county's Building Safety & Permits page links as its fee schedule. Read directly from the codified text on October 26, 2026 and checked against the adopting ordinance.
This page covers: The residential building, plan review and trade permit fees in the Building Safety and Permits (Chapter 4) part of Appendix A of the James City County Code. A new home or an addition that adds floor area is $0.1365 per sq ft, measured from the exterior dimensions at each floor. A garage, barn or pole shed built later on its own permit is $0.105 per sq ft. Alterations, repairs, decks, fences, pools and other structures are 1.05% of the job value. Every building permit has a $52.50 minimum (demolition of a building of 200 sq ft or less has no fee), and plan review is $21.00 per 1,000 sq ft of floor space. The county's Building Safety & Permits Division issues these permits for unincorporated James City County; the City of Williamsburg is a separate city with its own building department.
The state levy is applied by PermitPrice: Appendix A lists the levy "required by the Code of Virginia of up to two percent" but does not print the rate the county charges or which fees it applies to. The statewide building code fixes the rate: USBC Section 107.2 (13VAC5-63-70) requires a 2.0% levy of fees charged for building-code permits. PermitPrice adds 2% to the building and trade permit fees only, not to plan review or the certificate of occupancy.
Source age: these building fees were set by Ordinance No. 222A-2, adopted June 9, 2020 and effective January 1, 2021. The county's ordinance archive shows no later change to the Chapter 4 fees: the 2024 and April 2026 amendments to Appendix A changed only the stormwater (Chapter 8) and zoning (Chapter 24) fees.
This page does NOT cover: Chapter 8 erosion and stormwater fees (for example the $105.00 land-disturbing plan fee for a single-family structure), Chapter 24 zoning, site plan and sign fees, James City Service Authority water and sewer connection fees, Health Department well and septic permits, and commercial fees. These are excluded from every figure here.
A new home or addition in James City County, VA is $0.1365 per sq ft of floor area, with a $52.50 minimum. For a new 2,400 sq ft home the building fee is $327.60, and with the 2% state levy ($6.55) and $63.00 plan review the building permit totals $397.15. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are separate. Decks, pools, fences and remodels are 1.05% of job value, so a $15,000 deck is $157.50, or $160.65 with the levy.
- New homes and additions that add floor area are $0.1365 per sq ft, measured from exterior dimensions at each floor, with a $52.50 minimum.
- A new 2,400 sq ft home: $327.60 building fee + $6.55 levy + $63.00 plan review = $397.15 for the building permit.
- Plan review is $21.00 per 1,000 sq ft of floor space or part thereof (minimum $15.75), paid when you apply.
- Alterations, repairs, decks, fences and pools are 1.05% of the value of all labor and materials: $420.00 for a $40,000 pool.
- A garage or pole shed built after the house is $0.105 per sq ft; demolition of a building over 200 sq ft is $52.50.
- Starting work before the permit doubles the building permit fee, and reinspections climb from $52.50 to $105.00 to $210.00.
James City County is not yet in the PermitPrice calculator. Use the worked examples below for James City County figures.
James City County Building Permit Fee Structure
James City County sets its building fees in Appendix A of the County Code under Sec. 4-8, not in an annual budget schedule. The tables below show the Chapter 4 figures as codified, before the state levy.
Building permit (Sec. 4-8)
| Work | Fee |
|---|---|
| Minimum building permit fee | $52.50 |
| New building, or addition that increases floor area (exterior dimensions, each floor) | $0.1365 per sq ft |
| Garage, barn, pole shed or similar, not built at the same time and under the permit of the main dwelling | $0.105 per sq ft |
| Alteration or repair; piers, bulkheads, exterior walls or fences, towers, swimming pools or other structures | 1.05% of value of all labor and materials |
| Construction not covered above | 1.05% of value (min $52.50) |
| Demolition of a building over 200 sq ft | $52.50 (no fee at 200 sq ft or less) |
| Relocating a building | $0.105 per sq ft of gross floor area |
| Construction started before a permit is obtained | Fee doubled |
The code excludes unenclosed carports, porches and stoops built with the dwelling at the same time from the square footage. It does not name decks expressly; a deck falls under "other structures or things" on the 1.05% value line, and the "not covered above" line uses the same 1.05% rate.
Plan review (Sec. 4-8)
| Review | Fee |
|---|---|
| Plan review (paid at application submittal) | $21.00 per 1,000 sq ft of floor space or part thereof (min $15.75) |
| Supplemental plan review for work in the floodplain | $52.50 |
| Revised plans (substantially different, or comments not addressed) | $21.00 per 1,000 sq ft or part thereof (min $7.35) |
"Or part thereof" means a partial 1,000 sq ft is billed as a full unit: 2,400 sq ft is three units, or $63.00. The code does not say how plan review is figured for a deck, fence or pool that has no floor space.
Trade permits (residential)
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical, mechanical, gas and plumbing - minimum permit fee | $52.50 each |
| Electrical - new service, single phase | $52.50 (to 100 A), $63.00 (101-150 A), $68.25 (151-200 A) |
| Electrical - new service over 200 A | $68.25 single phase / $73.50 three phase + $15.75 per added 50 A |
| Electrical - service increase up to 200 A; relocating a service | $52.50 |
| Electrical - addition to an existing installation, 1-100 outlets | $52.50 (+ $0.21 per outlet over 100) |
| Mechanical or gas - new or replacement | $52.50 for the first $1,000 + $5.25 per added $1,000 or fraction |
| Plumbing - each fixture or appliance | $7.35 |
| Plumbing - water distribution system, per building | $15.75 |
| Plumbing - building drain connection; each sewer, manhole or roof drain | $7.35 each |
Domestic cooking equipment and space heaters in dwelling units are exempt from mechanical permit fees, though they still need inspection.
Inspection, occupancy and other fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certificate of occupancy (residential and nonresidential) | $52.50 |
| 30-day temporary certificate of occupancy - residential (renewal) | $52.50 ($105.00) |
| Reinspection - first / second / third and later | $52.50 / $105.00 / $210.00 |
| Mobile home installation | $52.50 |
| Permit reissuance (invalid permits, up to five years) | $52.50 per six-month period |
James City County Permit Fee Components
A James City County residential building permit is the square-foot or value fee (or the $52.50 minimum), plus the state levy, plus plan review. There is no technology fee in Appendix A.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | $0.1365 or $0.105 per sq ft, or 1.05% of value; min $52.50 | Exact from County Code Appendix A, Chapter 4 |
| Virginia state levy | 2% (PermitPrice-applied) | Appendix A says "up to two percent"; USBC Section 107.2 requires 2.0%; no base printed |
| Plan review | $21.00 per 1,000 sq ft (min $15.75) | Exact; paid at application submittal |
| Technology fee | None listed | Appendix A has no technology fee |
| Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) | Separate permits, $52.50 minimum each | Exact; levy applied by PermitPrice |
| Stormwater, zoning, utility fees | Separate schedules | Excluded from every figure on this page |
How the totals on this page are built: permit fee + (permit fee x 2%), then plan review. For a 2,400 sq ft home that is $327.60 + $6.55 + $63.00 = $397.15. The 2% rate comes from USBC Section 107.2 (13VAC5-63-70), which requires a 2.0% levy of fees charged for building-code permits (enabling statute Va. Code 36-137); James City County does not print the rate or the base, so applying 2% to the permit fee only is PermitPrice's reading.
Worked Examples
Every base fee below is exact from Appendix A of the James City County Code. The 2% levy is applied by PermitPrice. Where an example depends on an input the code does not fix (fixture count, equipment value, job value) or on a reading of the code, it is labeled as an estimate.
Example 1: New 2,400 Sq Ft Single-Family Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | 2,400 x $0.1365 | $327.60 |
| Virginia state levy (PermitPrice-applied) | $327.60 x 2% | $6.55 |
| Plan review | 3 x $21.00 per 1,000 sq ft | $63.00 |
| Building permit total (assumes 2% levy) | fee + 2% + plan review | $397.15 |
| Electrical new service, 200 amps single phase | $68.25 + $1.37 | $69.62 |
| Plumbing permit, 20 fixtures (estimate) | 20 x $7.35 + $15.75 + $7.35 = $170.10 + $3.40 | $173.50 |
| Mechanical permit, $12,000 of equipment and labor (estimate) | $52.50 + 11 x $5.25 = $110.25 + $2.21 | $112.46 |
| Certificate of occupancy | flat | $52.50 |
| Estimated total with trade permits and CO | $397.15 + $355.58 + $52.50 | ~$805.23 |
Assumptions: The $0.1365 per sq ft rate, the $21.00 per 1,000 sq ft plan review, the $68.25 electrical service fee, the plumbing line fees, the mechanical rate and the $52.50 certificate of occupancy are exact from the County Code. The 2% levy is applied by PermitPrice to the permit fees, not to plan review or the certificate of occupancy. The 20-fixture count and $12,000 mechanical value are illustrative inputs, so the ~$805.23 all-in figure is an estimate. The 2,400 sq ft is measured from exterior dimensions and excludes an unenclosed porch or carport built with the house. Source: James City County Code, Appendix A, Chapter 4 (Sec. 4-8).
Example 2: 600 Sq Ft Home Addition
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | 600 x $0.1365 (min $52.50) | $81.90 |
| Virginia state levy (PermitPrice-applied) | $81.90 x 2% | $1.64 |
| Plan review | 1 x $21.00 per 1,000 sq ft | $21.00 |
| Building permit total (assumes 2% levy) | fee + 2% + plan review | $104.54 |
Assumptions: The code prices "construction of any building or addition where the floor area is increased" at $0.1365 per sq ft, so an addition uses the floor-area line. An addition of 384 sq ft or less pays the $52.50 minimum. Remodeling work inside the existing house during the same project is an alteration on the 1.05% value line and could be billed on top. Trade permits for the addition are separate. Source: James City County Code, Appendix A, Chapter 4 (Sec. 4-8).
Example 3: In-Ground Pool Valued at $40,000
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pool building permit fee | $40,000 x 1.05% | $420.00 |
| Virginia state levy (PermitPrice-applied) | $420.00 x 2% | $8.40 |
| Pool building permit total (estimate) | fee + 2% | $428.40 |
Assumptions: The $40,000 pool value is an illustrative input. Swimming pools are named on the 1.05% value line. The code does not say how the $21.00 per 1,000 sq ft plan review applies to a pool, so plan review is not included here. Electrical work for the pool (bonding, circuits, pump) is a separate electrical permit with a $52.50 minimum. Source: James City County Code, Appendix A, Chapter 4 (Sec. 4-8).
Example 4: Deck, Detached Garage, Demolition and Service Upgrade
| Project | Rule Applied | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Deck valued at $15,000 | 1.05% = $157.50 + $3.15 | $160.65 |
| 24 x 24 ft (576 sq ft) detached garage built later (estimate) | 576 x $0.105 = $60.48 + $1.21 + $21.00 plan review | $82.69 |
| Demolition of a building over 200 sq ft | $52.50 + $1.05 | $53.55 |
| Electrical service increase to 200 amps | $52.50 + $1.05 | $53.55 |
Assumptions: The $15,000 deck value is an illustrative input; the deck figure does not include plan review because the code does not say how it applies to a deck. Including plan review on the garage (one 1,000 sq ft unit) is PermitPrice's reading of the "floor space" rule. Small decks still pay at least the $52.50 minimum. Demolition of a building of 200 sq ft or less has no fee. Source: James City County Code, Appendix A, Chapter 4 (Sec. 4-8).
Read before you budget from these examples
- The levy is our addition: the County Code says "up to two percent" and prints no rate; USBC Section 107.2 requires 2.0%. We apply 2% to permit fees only, not to plan review or the certificate of occupancy.
- Plan review on decks and pools is unclear: the code bills plan review per 1,000 sq ft of floor space and does not say how it applies to work without floor space.
- Trade permits are extra: electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are separate, each with a $52.50 minimum.
- Site and utility fees are excluded: stormwater, zoning and James City Service Authority connection fees are set separately.
Practitioner Insight
In James City County, adding floor area is cheap and remodeling is not. A 600 sq ft addition is $81.90 on the square-foot line, but a $50,000 kitchen and bath remodel inside the existing house is an alteration on the 1.05% value line: $525.00 before the levy. The same 1.05% applies to decks, fences and pools, so the permit fee rises with every dollar of the contract. Because the fee is a share of "all service, labor and materials," the value you declare on the application drives the fee.
Before you budget, ask Building Safety & Permits (757-253-6626) whether plan review applies to your project and how the state levy is charged. To see how other Hampton Roads localities price the same work, compare Newport News permit fees, Hampton permit fees and Suffolk permit fees. Next door, York County building permit fees run $0.17 per sq ft for new homes and additions with a $90 minimum, and price remodels and pools in $5,000 value steps instead of a flat percentage.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in James City County
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Yes | $0.1365 per sq ft + plan review | 2,400 sq ft: $397.15 building permit; trade permits separate |
| Addition | Yes | $0.1365 per sq ft + plan review | 600 sq ft: $104.54 |
| Shed under 256 sq ft | No (exempt) | - | One-story, detached; a permit is required in a flood hazard area, resource protection area, Chesapeake Bay preservation area or conservation easement |
| Deck | Yes | 1.05% of value, min $52.50 | $15,000 deck: $160.65 with levy |
| Swimming pool or hot tub | Yes | 1.05% of value | $40,000 pool: $428.40 with levy |
| Re-roof (shingles over existing area) | No | - | Listed by the county as cosmetic work; a floodplain review is still required in a special flood hazard area |
| Moving or adding a stud wall | Yes | 1.05% of value, min $52.50 | The county's FAQ says this includes knee walls, load bearing or not |
| Demolition | Yes | $52.50 over 200 sq ft | $53.55 with levy; no fee at 200 sq ft or less |
Which projects need a permit, and which fee line applies, is decided by James City County Building Safety & Permits under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. The shed, re-roof, wall and pool answers come from the county's Building Safety & Permits page. When unsure, contact the Division before starting work.
James City County Building Safety & Permits
Building Safety & Permits Division
101 Mounts Bay Road, Building E, Williamsburg, VA 23185 · 757-253-6626
PO Box 8784
Williamsburg, VA 23185
JCC PermitLink (online)
Applications and inspection scheduling are linked from the county's Building Safety & Permits page
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Your project is billed on the value line
Remodels, repairs, decks, fences and pools are 1.05% of the value of all labor and materials. A higher contract value raises the fee in direct proportion: $525.00 for a $50,000 job.
The state levy is charged differently
The County Code says "up to two percent," but USBC Section 107.2 requires a 2.0% levy on building-code permit fees. If the levy is also charged on plan review, a 2,400 sq ft home rises by $1.26; if the county already includes it in its printed fees, the total falls by up to $6.55.
Plan review is figured differently
Plan review is $21.00 per 1,000 sq ft of floor space. The code does not say how it applies to a deck, fence or pool; revised plans and floodplain reviews add more.
The County Code is amended
The building fees date from January 1, 2021 (Ord. No. 222A-2). The Board of Supervisors amended other parts of Appendix A in 2024 and April 2026; any later change to Chapter 4 would change these figures.
Work starts early or inspections fail
Construction started before a permit is obtained pays double the building permit fee, and reinspections cost $52.50, then $105.00, then $210.00 for each later one.
Site and utility fees apply to a new build
A new home that disturbs land may also need a land-disturbing plan ($105.00 for a single-family structure under Chapter 8), and water and sewer connections through the James City Service Authority are billed separately. None of these are in the figures on this page.
Source note: Fees come from Appendix A (Fee Schedule for Development Related Permits), Chapter 4, of the Code of the County of James City, Virginia, which the county's Building Safety & Permits page links as its fee schedule. The Chapter 4 lines were set by Ordinance No. 222A-2 (adopted June 9, 2020, effective January 1, 2021); the codified Appendix A carries amendments through Ord. Nos. 222A-4 and 222A-5 (April 14, 2026), which changed only Chapters 8 and 24. Read on October 26, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
Code of the County of James City, Appendix A - Fee Schedule for Development Related Permits Chapter 4 (Building Safety and Permits) effective January 1, 2021; codified through Ord. Nos. 222A-4 and 222A-5 (April 14, 2026) · Source of the building, plan review, trade, occupancy and reinspection fees · Verified October 26, 2026
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Ordinance No. 222A-2 - Appendix A Fee Schedule (Board of Supervisors) Adopted June 9, 2020 · Effective January 1, 2021 · Sets the Chapter 4 building fees · Verified October 26, 2026
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James City County - Building Safety & Permits Current · Fee schedule link, shed, re-roof and wall permit FAQ, office address and phone · Verified October 26, 2026
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Code of Virginia 36-137 - USBC State Levy Authority Current · Virginia General Assembly · Authorizes the state levy on permit fees collected by local building departments
See how James City County's fees compare with other Hampton Roads localities, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your James City County permit cost, two related numbers round out your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted addition, garage or new home may change the property's assessed value in James City County. The county's Real Estate Assessments office determines that value, separately from this permit fee.
Zoning, utility and stormwater fees for larger projects
James City County's zoning and stormwater fees sit in other chapters of the same Appendix A, and water and sewer connection charges are set by the James City Service Authority. They 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 →