Roanoke City, VA Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fee structure from the City of Roanoke Fee Compendium (City Code Chapter 7, Section 7-44). Verified directly against the published city document.
This page covers: The residential building permit fee in the City of Roanoke - a value-based tiered fee charged off the project's Total Valuation, starting at a $45 minimum permit fee. Because renovations, remodels, decks, and similar projects are billed off the contract price on the application, those project costs are fully computable from the published tier table. The 10% plan-review fee (when plans must be submitted) and the 2% Virginia state levy on fees are also covered.
This page treats the new-construction figure as illustrative: Total Valuation is defined as the greater of (a) the contract price on the application, or (b) total square footage × the square-foot cost from the Building Valuation Data (BVD) table attached to the fee compendium. For renovations, remodels, and special construction the contract price is used and the result is exact. For new construction, the BVD square-foot cost may set a valuation floor higher than the contract price, so the new-home figure on this page is an illustrative estimate based on a $300,000 contract-price valuation.
This page does NOT cover: Zoning and site-plan-review fees (separate, under the Zoning Ordinance); water and sewer connection fees; impact fees (none cited); Certificate of Occupancy, change-of-use, and reinspection charges beyond what is listed below.
Roanoke City charges a value-based building permit fee off the project's Total Valuation, with a $45 minimum. From $1,000 to $50,000 of value the fee is $45 plus $5 per additional $1,000. A $15,000 deck works out to $115, a $30,000 remodel to $190, and a $300,000 home to about $1,177.50. A 10% plan-review fee is added when plans must be submitted, and a 2% Virginia state levy applies to the fees.
- The building permit fee is value-based, charged off the project's Total Valuation, with a $45 minimum permit fee.
- From $1,000.01 to $50,000 of value, the fee is $45 for the first $1,000 plus $5 per additional $1,000 (or fraction).
- A $15,000 deck is $115, a $30,000 alteration is $190, and a $300,000 new home is about $1,177.50 (illustrative - see new-construction note).
- A 10% plan-review fee is charged in addition to the permit fee when plans must be submitted for review, and a 2% Virginia state levy applies to permit fees.
- Total Valuation is the greater of the contract price or total square footage times the BVD square-foot cost - for new construction the BVD figure can set a valuation floor that is not in this extraction, so the new-home figure is an estimate.
- The schedule is effective July 1, 2023 (over 24 months old as of mid-2026) and is the current schedule posted on the official Roanoke City Fees index page - the source-age caveat is disclosed throughout this page.
Roanoke City Building Permit Fee Structure
Roanoke uses a tiered value-based fee on the project's Total Valuation, starting at a $45 minimum. The same valuation tiers apply to Building, Electrical, Mechanical (HVAC), and Gas trade permits through a combination permit that bundles the trades into the total cost of construction. A 10% plan-review fee is added when plans are required, and a 2% Virginia state levy applies to the fees.
| Total Valuation Range | Building Permit Fee (exact) | Method |
|---|---|---|
| $0.01 - $1,000 | $45 | Flat (minimum) |
| $1,000.01 - $50,000 | $45 + $5 / $1,000 | Per $1,000 (or fraction) |
| $50,000.01 - $100,000 | $290 + $4 / $1,000 | Per $1,000 (or fraction) |
| $100,000.01 - $250,000 | $490 + $3.50 / $1,000 | Per $1,000 (or fraction) |
| $250,000.01 - $500,000 | $1,015 + $3.25 / $1,000 | Per $1,000 (or fraction) |
| $500,000.01 and up | $1,827.50 + $3 / $1,000 | Per $1,000 |
| Plan review fee | 10% of permit fee | When plans required |
| Virginia state (USBC) levy | 2% | Of fees charged |
Source: City of Roanoke Building Inspection Fees (Fee Compendium), effective July 1, 2023 and still published as the current schedule on the official Roanoke City Fees index page. Tier values are exact from the schedule; the Building Valuation Data (BVD) square-foot cost table that can floor new-construction valuation is referenced in the compendium but is not contained in this extraction. Verify current rates and the BVD table before filing.
Base Building Permit Fee at Common Valuations
| Total Valuation | Base Building Permit Fee |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $65 |
| $10,000 | $90 |
| $15,000 | $115 |
| $20,000 | $140 |
| $25,000 | $165 |
| $50,000 | $290 |
| $100,000 | $490 |
Base building permit fee only - excludes the 10% plan-review fee (when plans are required) and the 2% Virginia state levy. Values are computed directly from the published valuation tiers.
Roanoke City Permit Fee Components
The all-in number is the base building permit fee from the valuation tier, plus a 10% plan-review fee when plans must be submitted, plus a 2% Virginia state levy on the fees. A handful of fixed charges (Certificate of Occupancy, change of use, reinspection) apply only when those events occur.
| Component | Amount | When It Applies |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Value-based (min $45) | Every building permit |
| Plan review fee | 10% of permit fee | When plans must be submitted for review |
| Virginia state (USBC) levy | 2% | Of fees charged on USBC permits |
| Certificate of Occupancy (permanent) | $30 | When a CO is issued |
| Certificate of Occupancy (temporary, first) | $45 | First temporary CO |
| Change of use | $30 | Change-of-use application |
| Reinspection fee | $45 | Per reinspection |
| Manufactured / modular (single-wide) | $75 | Single-wide manufactured / modular |
Electrical, mechanical (HVAC), and gas trade permits are not separately priced flat fees - they share the same valuation table and are bundled into the total cost of construction through a combination permit. There is no separate technology fee on the Roanoke schedule beyond the 10% plan review and the 2% state levy.
Worked Examples
Example 1: $15,000 Residential Deck (contract-price valuation)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | $45 + $5 × 14 | $115 (exact) |
| Plan review fee (if plans required) | 10% × $115 | $11.50 |
Assumptions: $15,000 contract-price valuation, in the $1,000.01-$50,000 tier, so the fee is $45 for the first $1,000 plus $5 for each of the 14 additional $1,000 increments. The $11.50 plan-review fee applies only when plans must be submitted for review. A 2% Virginia state levy also applies to the fees. Source: City of Roanoke Fee Compendium, valuation tier table.
Example 2: $30,000 Alteration / Remodel (contract-price valuation)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | $45 + $5 × 29 | $190 (exact) |
Assumptions: $30,000 contract-price valuation for an interior alteration/remodel, in the $1,000.01-$50,000 tier: $45 for the first $1,000 plus $5 for each of the 29 additional $1,000 increments. A 10% plan-review fee ($19) applies if plans are required, and a 2% Virginia state levy applies to the fees. Source: City of Roanoke Fee Compendium, valuation tier table.
Example 3: $300,000 New Single-Family Home (illustrative)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | $1,015 + $3.25 × 50 | $1,177.50 (estimate) |
| Plan review fee | 10% × $1,177.50 | $117.75 |
Assumptions: This example assumes a $300,000 contract-price valuation, in the $250,000.01-$500,000 tier: $1,015 for the first $250,000 plus $3.25 for each of the 50 additional $1,000 increments. For new construction the Total Valuation is the greater of the contract price or total square footage times the BVD square-foot cost - the BVD table can set a higher valuation floor, so treat the $1,177.50 figure as an illustrative estimate, not an exact quote. A 2% Virginia state levy also applies to the fees. Source: City of Roanoke Fee Compendium, valuation tier table.
Why the new-home figure is an estimate
For renovations, remodels, and decks, Roanoke uses the contract price on the application, so those figures are exact. For new construction, Total Valuation is the greater of the contract price or total square footage times the Building Valuation Data (BVD) square-foot cost attached to the fee compendium. The BVD table is referenced but is not contained in this extraction, so a new-home valuation may be floored higher than the contract price. Confirm the BVD square-foot cost with the Inspections Division before budgeting new construction.
Practitioner Insight
Roanoke's tiered structure is easy to price on remodel-type work: anything from $1,000 to $50,000 of value is $45 plus $5 per $1,000, so a $15,000 deck is $115 and a $30,000 kitchen remodel is $190. Where the cost adds up is the 10% plan-review fee - on jobs that need plan review, that is a real line item on top of the permit fee, plus the 2% state levy.
The catch is new construction. The fee table is straightforward, but the valuation that feeds it is the greater of your contract price or a square-foot cost from the BVD table, so a new home can be assessed above its contract price. If you are pricing a new house or a large addition, do not assume the contract price will govern; ask the Inspections Division for the BVD square-foot cost for your building type. And remember the schedule is dated July 1, 2023 - still posted as current, but always worth a confirmation call before you file.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Roanoke City
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Base Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | Yes | Value-based (min $45) | $15,000 deck = $115 base permit fee |
| Alteration / remodel | Yes | Value-based (min $45) | $30,000 remodel = $190 base permit fee |
| New construction / addition | Yes | Value-based; BVD floor | $300,000 home ≈ $1,177.50 (illustrative; BVD may raise valuation) |
| Manufactured / modular (single-wide) | Yes | $75 | Fixed fee for single-wide |
| Electrical / mechanical / gas | Yes (combination permit) | Same valuation table | Bundled into total cost of construction; not separate flat fees |
Permit trigger thresholds and classifications are set by the City of Roanoke and the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact the Inspections Division before starting work.
Roanoke City Building Permit Office
Planning, Building & Economic Development
Inspections Division, City of Roanoke
Roanoke City Fees & Permits
Fee information at roanokeva.gov
City Code Chapter 7, Section 7-44
Fee Compendium effective July 1, 2023 (still current)
When This Estimate May Not Apply
New construction can be valued above the contract price
For renovations, remodels, and decks, Roanoke uses the contract price, so those figures are exact. For new construction, Total Valuation is the greater of the contract price or total square footage times the BVD square-foot cost, and that table is not in this extraction. The $300,000-home figure is an illustrative estimate based on contract price - the BVD table may raise the valuation.
The schedule carries a source-age caveat
The Fee Compendium is dated effective July 1, 2023 - over 24 months old as of mid-2026. The city still lists it as the current fee schedule on the official Roanoke City Fees index page, but a structure this established is always worth a confirmation call before you file.
Plan review and the state levy add to the base fee
A 10% plan-review fee is charged in addition to the permit fee when plans must be submitted for review, and may be revised during technical review. A 2% Virginia state levy applies to fees charged on USBC permits. The base permit fee figures on this page do not include these add-ons.
Zoning, utility, and other fees are separate
Zoning and site-plan-review fees (under the Zoning Ordinance) and water/sewer connection fees are separate from the building permit. No impact fees are cited. Certificate of Occupancy ($30 permanent / $45 first temporary), change of use ($30), and reinspection ($45) charges apply only when those events occur.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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City of Roanoke Building Inspection Fees (Fee Compendium) Effective July 1, 2023 · Source of the value-based valuation tiers, the $45 minimum permit fee, the 10% plan-review fee, the 2% state levy, and the Certificate of Occupancy / change-of-use / reinspection / manufactured-home fees · Verified June 8, 2026 Verified
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City of Roanoke - Fees (index page) Current · Confirms the Fee Compendium is the current published fee schedule for the city
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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 Roanoke City fees against the surrounding county, or calculate your project cost.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Roanoke City 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 Roanoke City. See how each Virginia jurisdiction calculates the ongoing property tax impact at CountyTaxTools.com.
Zoning and connection fees for larger projects
Zoning and site-plan-review fees and water/sewer connection fees in Roanoke City are separate from the building permit. Research zoning costs at ZoneFee.com.