Newport News, VA Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fee structure from the City of Newport News Permit Fee Schedule (City Code Section 13-26). Verified directly against the published city document.
This page covers: The residential building permit fee in the City of Newport News - a value-based 0.44% of construction value for use groups R3/R4/R5 (0.48% for other use groups), the $56.10 minimum permit fee, and the 2% Virginia state levy. Because alterations, repairs, decks, pools, fences, and similar structures are billed directly off declared construction value at 0.44%, those project costs are fully computable from the published schedule.
This page does NOT give a new-construction or addition dollar example: New buildings and additions use a different path - (Table 13-26 cost-per-square-foot × floor area) × a 0.88 regional factor × 0.44%. The Table 13-26 square-foot cost table is referenced in City Code but is not contained in the published fee PDF, so a new-home or addition dollar figure cannot be reproduced from the source alone. We disclose the formula but do not publish an unverifiable new-construction total.
This page does NOT cover: Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical), which are separate permits on their own fee lines; impact and proffer fees; water and sewer connection fees (Public Utilities); Health Department fees; and zoning fees.
Newport News charges a value-based building permit fee: 0.44% of the value of construction for residential use groups R3/R4/R5 (0.48% for other use groups), with a $56.10 minimum. A 2% Virginia state levy is then added to the computed permit fee. Because alterations, decks, pools, and fences bill directly off construction value, a $15,000 deck works out to about $67.32 all-in, and any project under roughly $12,750 of value lands on the $56.10 minimum ($57.22 all-in).
- The residential building permit fee is 0.44% of the value of construction for use groups R3/R4/R5; other use groups are charged 0.48%.
- The minimum permit fee is $56.10, which covers projects up to about $12,750 of construction value before the percentage takes over.
- A 2% Virginia state levy is added to the computed permit fee on every permit.
- Alterations, repairs, decks, pools, fences, piers, and bulkheads bill directly off declared construction value at 0.44% - there are no separate flat project-type line items.
- New construction and additions use a square-foot cost table (Table 13-26) that is not in the published fee PDF, so a new-home dollar figure cannot be computed from the source alone - confirm Table 13-26 with the department.
- The published schedule is printed "Effective July 1, 2009" and is still the city's current adopted fee schedule - the source-age caveat is disclosed throughout this page.
Newport News Building Permit Fee Structure
Newport News uses a value-based percentage for the building permit, with a $56.10 minimum and a 2% state levy on top. Two valuation paths apply: alterations and accessory structures bill directly off construction value, while new construction and additions add a square-foot cost table and a regional factor.
| Project / Fee Type | Base Fee (exact) | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alteration / repair (R3/R4/R5) | 0.44% of value | Value-based | $56.10 minimum; direct off value |
| Deck / pool / fence / pier (R3/R4/R5) | 0.44% of value | Value-based | Same path as alterations; $56.10 min |
| Alteration / structures (other use groups) | 0.48% of value | Value-based | $56.10 minimum |
| New construction / addition (R3/R4/R5) | SF table × 0.88 × 0.44% | SF cost table | Table 13-26 SF cost not in fee PDF - verify with dept |
| Minimum permit fee | $56.10 | Flat floor | Covers value up to ~$12,750 |
| Electrical (by service panel amps) | $56.10 - $198.90 | Tiered by amps | Separate trade permit; +$30.60 per added 50A |
| Plumbing | $56.10 + $10.20/fixture | Per fixture | Separate trade permit; $56.10 min |
| Mechanical | 0.44% / 0.48% of value | Value-based | Separate trade permit; $56.10 min |
| Virginia state (USBC) levy | 2% | Of computed fee | Added to every permit |
Source: City of Newport News Permit Fee Schedule (City Code Section 13-26), printed effective July 1, 2009 and still published as the current schedule. Value-based figures are exact from the schedule; the new-construction square-foot cost table (Table 13-26) is referenced but not contained in the fee PDF. Verify current rates and Table 13-26 before filing.
Newport News Permit Fee Components
The all-in number on a value-based path is the computed permit fee (subject to the $56.10 minimum) plus the 2% Virginia state levy. The schedule's header notes that fees "include" the 2% surcharge, but the city's own worked examples add the 2% as a separate line - we follow the city's worked-example method.
| Component | Amount | In 2% Levy Base? |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | 0.44% of value (min $56.10) | Yes (levy = 2% of this) |
| Virginia state (USBC) levy | 2% | Of the computed permit fee |
The city's printed example confirms the method: a $13,000 residential project is $13,000 × 0.0044 = $57.20 base, plus a 2% surcharge of $1.15, for $58.35 total. There is no separate technology fee or local surcharge on the Newport News schedule.
Worked Examples
Example 1: $15,000 Residential Deck (value-based)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | 0.44% × $15,000 | $66.00 |
| 2% state levy | 2% × $66.00 | $1.32 |
| All-in building permit total | $66.00 + $1.32 | $67.32 (exact) |
Assumptions: $15,000 declared construction value, above the $56.10-minimum threshold so the 0.44% rate governs. Decks bill on the alteration/structures path - directly off value, with no square-foot table or regional factor. Any deck electrical work needs a separate trade permit. Source: City of Newport News Permit Fee Schedule, Section (a)(3).
Example 2: Small Project at the Minimum Fee
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Calculated permit fee | 0.44% × $10,000 = $44.00 | below minimum |
| Minimum permit fee applies | Floor | $56.10 |
| 2% state levy | 2% × $56.10 | $1.12 |
| All-in building permit total | $56.10 + $1.12 | $57.22 (exact) |
Assumptions: Any project under about $12,750 of declared value produces a calculated fee below $56.10 and therefore pays the $56.10 minimum, so the all-in building permit is $57.22. Source: City of Newport News Permit Fee Schedule, Section (a)(1).
Example 3: $50,000 Major Renovation (value-based)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | 0.44% × $50,000 | $220.00 |
| 2% state levy | 2% × $220.00 | $4.40 |
| All-in building permit total | $220.00 + $4.40 | $224.40 (exact) |
Assumptions: $50,000 declared construction value for an interior alteration/renovation (value-based path). This is the building-permit side only - electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work pulls separate trade permits, each with its own $56.10 minimum and 2% levy. Source: City of Newport News Permit Fee Schedule, Section (a)(3).
Why there is no new-home dollar example here
New construction and additions are not billed off declared value - they use (Table 13-26 cost per square foot × floor area) × a 0.88 regional factor × 0.44%. Table 13-26 sets the per-square-foot construction cost by building type and is not printed in the published fee PDF, so any new-home total would be an unverifiable guess. Confirm Table 13-26 with the Department of Codes Compliance before budgeting new construction.
Practitioner Insight
Newport News is one of the lower-cost building-permit cities in Hampton Roads on remodel-type work: 0.44% of value with a $56.10 floor means a $15,000 deck is under $70 all-in, and there is no technology fee or plan-review add-on stacked on top the way some Northern Virginia counties do. For decks, pools, fences, and interior alterations, you can price the permit in one line - value times 0.0044, plus 2%.
The catch is new construction. The 0.44% rate does not apply directly to a new home's value - the city runs it through a published square-foot cost table (Table 13-26) and a 0.88 regional factor, and that table is not in the fee PDF. If you are pricing a new house or a large addition, do not assume 0.44% of the construction contract; call the Department of Codes Compliance and ask for the Table 13-26 cost-per-square-foot figure for your building type. And remember the schedule is the long-standing 2009-adopted structure - still in force, but always worth a confirmation call before you file.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Newport News
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Base Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | Yes | 0.44% of value (min $56.10) | $15,000 deck = $67.32 all-in |
| Swimming pool | Yes | 0.44% of value (min $56.10) | $30,000 pool = $134.64; barrier + electrical separate |
| Fence | Yes | 0.44% of value (min $56.10) | Listed with other structures in Section (a)(3) |
| Alteration / repair | Yes | 0.44% of value (min $56.10) | $50,000 renovation = $224.40 all-in |
| New construction / addition | Yes | SF table × 0.88 × 0.44% | Table 13-26 SF cost not in fee PDF - verify with dept |
| Electrical / plumbing / mechanical | Separate trade permit | $56.10 min each | Electrical tiered by amps; plumbing per fixture |
Permit trigger thresholds and classifications are set by the City of Newport News and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Work performed before obtaining the required permit is subject to a double-fee charge. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact the Department of Codes Compliance before starting work.
Newport News Building Permit Office
Department of Codes Compliance
City Hall, 2400 Washington Ave., Newport News, VA 23607 · 757-926-8861
Newport News Permits
Apply and check permit info at nnva.gov
City Code Section 13-26
Printed effective July 1, 2009 (still current)
When This Estimate May Not Apply
New construction and additions use a separate cost table
The 0.44% value-based path applies to alterations, decks, pools, and fences. New buildings and additions run through Table 13-26 (cost per square foot) and a 0.88 regional factor, and that table is not in the published fee PDF. Do not apply 0.44% directly to a new home's value.
The schedule carries a source-age caveat
The published schedule is printed "Effective July 1, 2009." The city still lists it as the current fee schedule and confirms the $56.10 minimum, but a structure this established is always worth a confirmation call before you file.
Trade permits are separate
Electrical (tiered by service-panel amps), plumbing (per fixture), and mechanical (0.44%/0.48% of value) are separate permits, each with its own $56.10 minimum and 2% levy. A multi-trade renovation pulls several permits.
Work before permit doubles the fee
Any work started before the appropriate permit is issued is charged a double fee, except defined emergencies (emergency heat, water-heater replacement, safety-glass replacement) where the permit must be obtained the next working day. Zoning, impact/proffer, utility connection, and Health Department fees are also separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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City of Newport News Permit Fee Schedule (City Code Section 13-26) Printed effective July 1, 2009 · still published as the current schedule · Source of the 0.44%/0.48% value-based rates, the $56.10 minimum, the 2% state surcharge, and the electrical/plumbing/mechanical trade-permit fees · Verified June 8, 2026 Verified
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City of Newport News - Permit Fee Schedule (landing page) Current · Department of Codes Compliance · Confirms the schedule is the current published fee structure
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City of Newport News - Permits Current · Department of Codes Compliance · 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 Newport News 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 Newport News 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 Newport News. See how each Virginia jurisdiction calculates the ongoing property tax impact at CountyTaxTools.com.
Zoning and connection fees for larger projects
Zoning permits, impact/proffer fees, and water/sewer connection fees in Newport News are separate from the building permit. Research zoning costs at ZoneFee.com.