Portsmouth, VA Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees from Appendix A (Fee Schedule) of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Chapter 7 - the schedule the City's Permits & Inspections pages link as the "Permit Fee Schedule." Read directly from the codified text, current through Ordinance No. 2026-64, on October 21, 2026.
This page covers: The residential building, plan review and trade permit fees in Chapter 7 of Appendix A of the Portsmouth City Code. A new single-family home, duplex or townhome is priced per 100 sq ft: $8.00 per 100 sq ft up to 1,999 sq ft, then $160.00 for the first 2,000 sq ft plus $7.00 per 100 sq ft, then $370.00 for the first 5,000 sq ft plus $6.00 per 100 sq ft. Garages, porches and decks have their own lower per-100-sq-ft rate. Alterations, repairs, pools, roofing and siding are priced by job value. Every building permit has a $50.00 minimum. The Department of Permits and Inspections issues these permits for the City of Portsmouth, an independent city.
The state levy is applied by PermitPrice: Appendix A does not print a state levy rate or say which fees it applies to, and it has no technology fee. The City's 2025 Building Permit Application has a separate "State Levy" line with no rate. PermitPrice adds the 2% levy authorized by Va. Code 36-137 to the permit fee only, not to plan review.
Open questions in the schedule: the code does not define how square footage is measured; the plan review fee is printed as $50.00 "under 2,000 square feet" and $80.00 "over 2,000 square feet," so a home of exactly 2,000 sq ft fits neither band; and it does not say whether a deck or accessory building also pays plan review. The newest Chapter 7 amendment (Ord. No. 2022-42, adopted May 24, 2022) prints no effective date.
This page does NOT cover: zoning permits ($15.00 application) and historic or design review approvals, Engineering Department stormwater, erosion and right-of-way approvals, Public Utilities water and sewer connection fees, fire prevention permits and fire protection plan review, and commercial fees. These are excluded from every figure here.
A new home in Portsmouth, VA is $8.00 per 100 sq ft up to 1,999 sq ft, and $160.00 for the first 2,000 sq ft plus $7.00 per 100 sq ft above that, with a $50.00 minimum. For a new 2,400 sq ft home the building fee is $188.00, and with the 2% state levy and the $80.00 plan review the building permit totals $271.76. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are separate. A 300 sq ft deck pays the $50.00 minimum, or $51.00 with the levy.
- New single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes are $8.00 per 100 sq ft up to 1,999 sq ft, $160.00 plus $7.00 per 100 sq ft from 2,000 sq ft, and $370.00 plus $6.00 per 100 sq ft from 5,000 sq ft.
- A new 2,400 sq ft home: $188.00 building fee + $3.76 levy + $80.00 plan review = $271.76 for the building permit.
- Garages, porches and decks are $7.00 per 100 sq ft with a $50.00 minimum, so any deck up to 700 sq ft pays the minimum.
- Alterations, repairs, pools, roofing and siding are priced by value: $20 per $1,000 up to $4,999, then $100, $250 or $625 plus a falling per-$1,000 rate.
- Trade permits are separate: a new single-phase electrical service is $25.00 per 50 amps, plumbing is $50.00 plus $6.00 per fixture, and mechanical is 1.1% of value.
- Starting work without a permit adds a $150.00 administrative fee, and each reinspection is $50.00.
Portsmouth is not yet in the PermitPrice calculator. Use the worked examples below for Portsmouth figures.
Portsmouth Building Permit Fee Structure
Portsmouth sets its building fees in the City Code, not in an annual budget schedule. The tables below show the Chapter 7 figures as codified, before the state levy. "Or fraction thereof" in the code means a partial 100 sq ft or partial $1,000 is billed as a full unit.
New homes: single-family, duplex, townhome (Sec. 7-132(3))
| Floor area | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to and including 1,999 sq ft | $8.00 per 100 sq ft (min $50.00) |
| 2,000 to 4,999 sq ft | $160.00 for the first 2,000 sq ft + $7.00 per 100 sq ft |
| 5,000 sq ft and over | $370.00 for the first 5,000 sq ft + $6.00 per 100 sq ft |
Garages, porches, decks and similar accessory buildings (Sec. 7-132(2))
| Floor area | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 999 sq ft | $7.00 per 100 sq ft (min $50.00) |
| 1,000 sq ft and over | $70.00 for the first 1,000 sq ft + $5.00 per 100 sq ft |
Alterations, repairs, pools, roofing, siding, walls (Sec. 7-132(4), by value)
| Job value | Fee |
|---|---|
| Minimum fee | $50.00 |
| Up to $4,999 | $20.00 per $1,000 |
| $5,000 to $19,999 | $100.00 for the first $5,000 + $10.00 per additional $1,000 |
| $20,000 to $99,999 | $250.00 for the first $20,000 + $5.00 per additional $1,000 |
| Over $100,000 | $625.00 for the first $100,000 + $4.00 per additional $1,000 |
This value-based line covers alterations, repairs, private piers, bulkheads, pools, walls, bay windows, dormers, roofing, siding and miscellaneous structures. The code prints "up to and including $99,999.00" and then "over $100,000.00," so a job valued at exactly $100,000 is not assigned to a band.
Plan review (Sec. 7-104)
| Project | Plan review fee |
|---|---|
| New construction and additions to one- and two-family buildings - under 2,000 sq ft | $50.00 |
| New construction and additions to one- and two-family buildings - over 2,000 sq ft | $80.00 |
| Existing structures altered, 3,000 sq ft or more or over 2 1/2 stories; trade plan review | $50.00 |
The City's Permit Needed page says plan examination fees are due before plan examination begins. The code does not say which band applies to a home of exactly 2,000 sq ft, or whether decks and accessory buildings pay plan review.
Trade permits (residential)
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical - minimum permit fee | $50.00 |
| Electrical - new service, single phase (includes all circuits) | $25.00 per 50 amps |
| Electrical - change of service, single phase | $12.50 per 50 amps + circuit fees |
| Electrical - additions or repairs, per circuit | $5.00 (0-30 amps) to $18.00 (over 200 amps) |
| Electrical - pool inspection; pool grounding | $50.00 each |
| Plumbing - each permit | $50.00 |
| Plumbing - each fixture, trap, sewer, water service or water heater | $6.00 each |
| Mechanical - new construction | 1.1% of value (min $50.00) |
| Mechanical - replacement, repair or alteration | 1.1% of value (min $25.00) |
| Mechanical - one kitchen hood vent and up to three bath vents (single-family) | $65.00 |
Demolition, inspection and administrative fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Demolition - single-family structures | $50.00 |
| Demolition - any other structure | $450.00 |
| Reinspection (each) | $50.00 |
| Certificate of occupancy - existing structure; temporary residential CO | $50.00 each |
| Administrative fee - failure to obtain a permit, inspection or certificate of occupancy | $150.00 |
| Appeal to the building official | $100.00 |
| Refund processing fee | $25.00 |
Portsmouth Permit Fee Components
A Portsmouth residential building permit is the square-foot or value fee (or the $50.00 minimum), plus the state levy, plus plan review where it is charged. There is no technology fee in the City Code.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Per 100 sq ft or by value, min $50.00 | Exact from City Code Appendix A, Chapter 7 |
| Virginia state levy | 2% (PermitPrice-applied) | Not printed by the City; the permit application has a "State Levy" line with no rate |
| Plan review | $50.00 or $80.00 | New construction and additions to one- and two-family buildings |
| Technology fee | None listed | Appendix A has no technology fee |
| Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) | Separate permits | Each has its own minimum; levy applied by PermitPrice |
| Zoning, engineering, utility, fire 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 where shown. For a 2,400 sq ft home that is $188.00 + $3.76 + $80.00 = $271.76. 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); Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth City Code. The 2% levy is applied by PermitPrice. Where an example depends on an input the code does not fix (fixture count, equipment value, pool 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 | $160.00 + 4 x $7.00 | $188.00 |
| Virginia state levy (PermitPrice-applied) | $188.00 x 2% | $3.76 |
| Plan review | over 2,000 sq ft | $80.00 |
| Building permit total | fee + 2% + plan review | $271.76 |
| Electrical new service, 200 amps single phase | 4 x $25.00 = $100.00 + $2.00 | $102.00 |
| Plumbing permit, 20 fixtures (estimate) | $50 + 20 x $6 = $170.00 + $3.40 | $173.40 |
| Mechanical permit, $12,000 of equipment and labor (estimate) | 1.1% = $132.00 + $2.64 | $134.64 |
| Estimated total with trade permits | $271.76 + $410.04 | ~$681.80 |
Assumptions: The $160.00 + $7.00 per 100 sq ft rate, the $80.00 plan review band, the $25.00 per 50 amp electrical service fee, the $50.00 + $6.00 per fixture plumbing fee and the 1.1% mechanical rate are exact from the City Code. The 2% levy is applied by PermitPrice. The 20-fixture count and $12,000 mechanical value are illustrative inputs, so the ~$681.80 all-in figure is an estimate. At exactly 2,000 sq ft the building fee is $160.00 ($163.20 with levy), but the code's "under 2,000" and "over 2,000" plan review bands leave the plan review at $50.00 or $80.00 ($213.20 or $243.20 total). Source: Portsmouth City Code, Appendix A, Secs. 7-104, 7-132 to 7-135.
Example 2: 800 Sq Ft Home Addition
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | 8 x $8.00 (min $50) | $64.00 |
| Virginia state levy (PermitPrice-applied) | $64.00 x 2% | $1.28 |
| Plan review | addition, under 2,000 sq ft | $50.00 |
| Building permit total (estimate) | fee + 2% + plan review | $115.28 |
Assumptions: The code names plan review for "new construction and additions to one-family and two-family buildings," so plan review is included. Pricing the addition on the single-family square-foot line ($8.00 per 100 sq ft) is PermitPrice's reading; the code does not say expressly whether an addition uses that line or the value-based alterations line. If the City bills it by value instead, an $80,000 addition would be $250.00 + 60 x $5.00 = $550.00 before levy and plan review. Trade permits for the addition are separate. Source: Portsmouth City Code, Appendix A, Secs. 7-104(1), 7-132(3)-(4).
Example 3: In-Ground Pool Valued at $40,000
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pool building permit fee | $250.00 + 20 x $5.00 | $350.00 |
| Virginia state levy (PermitPrice-applied) | $350.00 x 2% | $7.00 |
| Pool building permit total | fee + 2% | $357.00 |
| Electrical pool inspection + pool grounding (estimate) | $50.00 + $50.00 + $2.00 | $102.00 |
| Estimated pool total | $357.00 + $102.00 | ~$459.00 |
Assumptions: The $40,000 pool value is an illustrative input. Pools are named in the value-based line of Sec. 7-132(4). The $102.00 electrical figure assumes both the pool inspection and pool grounding lines are charged on one electrical permit with the levy; the City may bill them differently. The Chapter 34 swimming pool fee ($50 seasonal, $75 year-round) appears to be an operating permit and is not included. A pool barrier fence and any mechanical equipment are separate. Source: Portsmouth City Code, Appendix A, Secs. 7-132(4), 7-133(a)(6).
Example 4: Deck, Re-Roof, Demolition and Service Change
| Project | Rule Applied | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 300 sq ft deck | 3 x $7 = $21 -> $50 min + $1.00 | $51.00 |
| Re-roof valued at $12,000 | $100 + 7 x $10 = $170.00 + $3.40 | $173.40 |
| Demolition, single-family structure | $50.00 + $1.00 | $51.00 |
| Electrical service change to 200 amps | 4 x $12.50 = $50.00 + $1.00 | $51.00 |
Assumptions: Decks are named in the garages, porches and decks line, so any deck up to 700 sq ft pays the $50.00 minimum (701-800 sq ft is $56.00). The deck figure does not include plan review, which would add $50.00 if the City charges it. The $12,000 roof value is an illustrative input. The service change figure excludes circuit fees for any circuits added or worked on. Source: Portsmouth City Code, Appendix A, Secs. 7-132(2), 7-132(4), 7-133(a)(4), 7-138(a).
Read before you budget from these examples
- The levy is our addition: Portsmouth's code prints no state levy rate. We apply 2% to the permit fee only, not to plan review.
- Plan review has a gap at 2,000 sq ft: the code prints $50.00 under 2,000 sq ft and $80.00 over 2,000 sq ft, and does not say whether decks pay it.
- Trade permits are extra: electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are separate, each with its own minimum.
- Site and utility fees are excluded: zoning, engineering, Public Utilities connection and fire fees are set separately.
Practitioner Insight
The line your project falls under matters more in Portsmouth than the rate itself. A new home or addition is priced by floor area, but alterations, pools and roofing are priced by job value, and the value line climbs faster: an $80,000 project on the value line is $550.00 before levy, while an 800 sq ft addition on the square-foot line is $64.00. Decks have their own lower line, and most residential decks never get past the $50.00 minimum.
Before you budget, ask the Department of Permits and Inspections (757-393-8531) which line your project uses and which plan review band applies. To see how neighboring Hampton Roads cities price the same work, compare Chesapeake permit fees, Norfolk permit fees and Suffolk permit fees.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Portsmouth
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Yes | Per 100 sq ft + plan review | 2,400 sq ft: $271.76 building permit; trade permits separate |
| Addition | Yes | Per 100 sq ft (our reading) + plan review | 800 sq ft: $115.28 estimate |
| Shed up to 256 sq ft | No (exempt) | - | Detached, single-story, no trade systems; exemption does not apply in flood hazard or historic districts |
| Deck | Yes | $7.00 per 100 sq ft, min $50 | 300 sq ft: $51.00 with levy |
| Fence | Some fences | Not a named fee line | City lists fences for pedestrian safety or required pool, hot tub or spa barriers; historic districts need Zoning review |
| Swimming pool | Yes (over 150 sq ft, 5,000 gallons and 24 in deep) | By value | $40,000 pool: $357.00 building permit with levy |
| Re-roof | Ask the City | By value | Roofing is named in the value-based line; $12,000 job: $173.40 |
| Demolition | Yes | $50 single-family / $450 other | $51.00 for a single-family structure with levy |
Which projects need a permit, and which fee line applies, is decided by the Portsmouth Department of Permits and Inspections under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. The shed, fence and pool answers come from the City's Permit Needed page. When unsure, contact the Department before starting work.
Portsmouth Department of Permits and Inspections
Department of Permits and Inspections
801 Crawford Street, 4th Floor, Portsmouth, VA 23704 · 757-393-8531 · permits@portsmouthva.gov
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Apply for Construction Permits (online form)
Linked from the City's Permits & Inspections page, along with the Permit Fee Schedule and application forms
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Your project is billed on a different line
An addition priced by value instead of floor area changes the fee sharply: $64.00 on the square-foot line versus $550.00 for an $80,000 job on the value line.
The state levy is charged differently
Portsmouth prints no levy rate. If the levy is also charged on plan review, a 2,400 sq ft home rises by $1.60; if it is not charged at all, the total falls by $3.76.
Your square footage is measured differently
The code does not define whether floor area is gross, finished or heated, and partial 100 sq ft blocks are billed as full blocks. The Department decides which figure applies.
The City Code is amended
The building fees were last amended by Ord. No. 2022-42 (adopted May 24, 2022), which prints no effective date. Any later ordinance would change these figures.
Work starts early or inspections fail
Failing to obtain a permit, inspection or certificate of occupancy adds a $150.00 administrative fee, and each reinspection is $50.00.
Site and utility fees apply to a new build
Zoning permits, Engineering stormwater and right-of-way approvals, and Public Utilities water and sewer connection fees are separate from the building permit and can be much larger.
Source note: Fees come from Appendix A (Fee Schedule), Chapter 7, of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, which the City's Permits & Inspections pages link as the Permit Fee Schedule. The codified text is current through Ordinance No. 2026-64 (enacted June 23, 2026); the Chapter 7 history ends with Ord. No. 2022-42, adopted May 24, 2022. Read on October 21, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
Code of the City of Portsmouth, Appendix A - Fee Schedule (Chapter 7) Codified through Ord. No. 2026-64 (June 23, 2026); Chapter 7 last amended by Ord. No. 2022-42 (May 24, 2022) · Source of the square-foot and value fees, plan review, trade, demolition and administrative fees · Verified October 21, 2026
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City of Portsmouth - Permits & Inspections Current · Links the Permit Fee Schedule, the online permit application and contact details · Verified October 21, 2026
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City of Portsmouth - Permit Needed Current · Shed exemption, fence and pool permit triggers, plan review payment timing · Verified October 21, 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 Portsmouth's fees compare with other Hampton Roads cities, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth. The City Assessor determines that value, separately from this permit fee.
Zoning, utility and stormwater fees for larger projects
Portsmouth's zoning fees sit in a separate chapter of the City Code fee schedule, while water and sewer connection charges are set by Public Utilities and stormwater approvals go through Engineering. 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 →