Building permits in Lee County come from the County’s Department of Building Safety / Inspection in the courthouse at Jonesville (276-346-7715), which also houses the Zoning Department that issues the $20 zoning permit most projects need first. Applications can be started online in the County’s iWorQ portal, and a house is charged $0.10 per square foot with a $35 minimum.
What requires a permit in Lee County?
The Department of Building Safety / Inspection says a building permit is needed for any new construction, addition or major renovation in the County. Its own list names the following work.
Buildings
- Residential, commercial and public buildings
- Additions to existing buildings
- Alterations of structural components
- Manufactured homes
- Demolition of a building or structure
Systems and hazards
- Electric wiring
- Fire protection, mechanical and fuel supply systems
- Installing, removing or closing underground and above-ground storage tanks
- Removing or disturbing asbestos-containing material
- Repair or replacement of a required part of a fire- or smoke-rated assembly
The Zoning Department asks for a zoning permit for the same kinds of project: new residential, commercial or public buildings, additions, structural alterations, manufactured homes and storage tanks. The fee schedule also prices permits for swimming pools, signs, generators, sprinkler systems, moved buildings and towers. If a job is not on these lists, the department asks owners to phone the office before starting.
Who issues building permits in Lee County?
The County Code sets up a Building Inspection Department headed by a Building Official appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The County’s website calls it the Department of Building Safety / Inspection and names Joshua Cox as Building Code Official. The Zoning Department shares the same courthouse room and phone line.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Lee County Courthouse, 2nd Floor, Room 206, 33640 Main St., Jonesville, VA 24263 |
| P.O. Box 367 (Building Safety) or P.O. Box 912 (Zoning), Jonesville, VA 24263 | |
| Phone | 276-346-7715 |
| bldginsp@leecova.org | |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; the Zoning Department closes from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. |
| Online applications | Lee County iWorQ Citizen Portal |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Lee County has 2 incorporated towns, and each handles its own zoning:
- Pennington Gap — the Town issues a combined zoning permit and certificate of occupancy and compliance for a $15 filing fee. Its application states that the applicant must also meet all building requirements and obtain the necessary permits from Lee County, so the building permit still comes from the County office. Town Hall is at 528 Industrial Drive (276-546-1177).
- Jonesville — the county seat has its own zoning map and zoning permit application, handled at Town Hall, 842 Park Street (276-346-1151; weekdays 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., closed 12:00–1:00 p.m.). The Town lists no building department of its own, and the County’s building application is made subject to both County and Town ordinances.
Lee County permit applications and online filing
The County’s iWorQ Citizen Portal has 8 separate applications. Pick the one that matches the work:
- Building Permit Application — new homes, additions, remodels and decks. The form also covers solar PV systems, swimming pools and emergency generators as project types, and has tick-boxes to add electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits to the same filing.
- Manufactured Home Application — a new or used manufactured home. Modular homes regulated by the state housing department go on the building application instead.
- Storage Tank Application — installing or closing underground or above-ground tanks for propane, gasoline, kerosene or diesel.
- Demolition Application — taking down a structure.
- Electrical Application — meter or panel upgrades, new circuits and repairs to service entrance conductors.
- Plumbing Application — new drain or supply lines and new fixtures.
- Mechanical Application — an HVAC unit larger than the one it replaces, and fuel-fired appliances such as heaters and stoves.
- Sign Application — residential or commercial signs.
Zoning forms are separate. The Zoning Department publishes PDF applications for a zoning permit, variance, special use permit, rezoning and zoning text amendment. They can be typed on a computer, but a printed copy has to be brought to Room 206 to file.
Lee County permit costs and fees
The department posts its fee schedule on the Building Safety / Inspection page; under the County Code, these fees are set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. Every building permit also carries a 2% state surcharge.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential building, including garages, carports and decks | $0.10 per sq ft, $35 minimum |
| Unfinished basement or storage building | $0.03 per sq ft, $35 minimum |
| Single-wide manufactured home | $75 |
| Double-wide manufactured home | $150 |
| Commercial building | $0.15 per sq ft, $50 minimum |
| Sprinkler system, residential or commercial | $0.05 per sq ft |
| Certificate of occupancy | $15 residential, $35 commercial |
| Change of occupancy | $25 residential, $35 commercial |
| Swimming pool | $50 private, $100 public |
| Demolition | $50 residential, $100 commercial |
| Moved building | $30 |
| Tanks, towers, utility and similar structures | $5 per $1,000 of value, $50 minimum |
| Sign | $25 up to 100 sq ft, $50 for 100–200 sq ft, $100 above 200 sq ft |
| Re-inspection | $50 |
| Zoning permit | $20 |
At the residential rate, the building fee for an 1,800 sq ft house works out to $180, before the trade permits, the $15 certificate of occupancy and the 2% surcharge.
A contractor’s licence tax applies when the work is valued at $150,000 or more, and the County will not issue any permit until that tax is paid. Other zoning charges are $100 (residential) or $150 (commercial) for a variance or special use permit, and $150 for a rezoning or zoning text amendment.
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas permits
The same County office issues trade permits. A trade permit can be requested on its own application or added to a building application by ticking the electric, plumbing or mechanical box and entering the service size, fixture count or equipment.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential electrical | $50 |
| Residential plumbing | $50 |
| Residential mechanical (HVAC, gas logs, heaters) | $50 |
| Residential generator | $60 |
| Commercial plumbing | $50 |
| Commercial mechanical | $0.008 per sq ft, $45 minimum |
| Commercial kitchen hood | $80 |
| Commercial generator or solar PV system | $70 |
| Electrical service, 100 amp | $25 single-phase, $30 three-phase |
| Electrical service, 200 amp | $50 single-phase, $75 three-phase |
| Electrical service, 400 to 600 amp | $125 |
| Electrical service above 600 amp | $200 |
Rooftop and small solar: a residential grid-tied PV array, whether roof, ground or pole mounted, is covered by an electrical permit. Before applying, the owner has to obtain the power company’s approvals. For an array on an existing roof, the County wants a certification letter from a structural engineer or architect that the roof can carry the load, plus an electrical drawing and component literature. Solar thermal and commercial PV systems need a separate permit, and so does a standby generator.
What the Lee County application asks for
The online building application will not submit without a property selected from the County’s parcel search. Plans must be supplied before the application counts as complete: upload them with the form or hand them in at the courthouse.
Building application
- Applicant and owner contact details
- Site address and tax map reference number
- Health Department number
- Building width and length, number of floors and bedrooms, basement type
- Project type, class (residential, commercial, industrial or utility), area in square feet and project cost
- Answers on subdivision status, flood hazard area and land disturbance over 10,000 sq ft
- Name, licence number and class for the building, electrical, plumbing and heat pump contractors
Manufactured home
- Parcel ID, zoning district and lot number
- Home type, size, year built and cost
- Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- Power company and water source
- Description of the home and its serial number
- Invoice or description of the home and a copy of the deed for the zoning permit
Rather not deal with the Lee County building department?
Get a free quote →By signing, the applicant states either that a licensed contractor is doing the work or that the applicant is exempt from contractor licensing. A zoning permit application needs a copy of the recorded deed, and a special use permit also needs the VDOT commercial entrance approval.
How to apply: 6-step Lee County process
For a lot that will use a septic system, obtain the approval from the Lee County Health Department in Jonesville; the building application has a required Health Department number field.
Call 276-346-7715. For a manufactured home, A-1 and R-2 land qualifies for a zoning permit directly; any other district needs a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals first.
Bring the printed application, a copy of the recorded deed and $20 to Room 206. Inside Pennington Gap or Jonesville, apply to the Town for its zoning permit.
Use the matching form in the iWorQ Citizen Portal, tick any trade permits needed, and upload plans or deliver them to 33640 Main St. The County says the building permit can be obtained at the same time as the zoning permit.
Pay the permit fees with the 2% state surcharge, and the contractor’s licence tax if the work is valued at $150,000 or more.
The Building Inspector visits at stages of construction and issues the Certificate of Occupancy when the inspections are complete.
Lee County building inspections
Inspections are arranged directly with the Building Inspector’s office at 276-346-7715; the County does not post an online scheduling tool. The inspector visits the property at various stages of construction, and once those inspections are done the office issues the Certificate of Occupancy ($15 for a home, $35 for a commercial building). A repeat visit is billed at the $50 re-inspection fee.
In Pennington Gap there is a second, town-level close-out: the owner must tell the Town’s zoning officer within 10 days of finishing the work so that a final zoning inspection can be made before the Town signs its certificate of occupancy and compliance.
Local requirements in Lee County
Septic and wells: permits for onsite sewage systems and private wells are issued by the Virginia Department of Health through the Lee County Health Department, 134 Hill Street, Jonesville (276-346-2011), part of the LENOWISCO Health District. The County lists septic approval as the first step before a manufactured home is placed on a vacant lot.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Land disturbance: the building application asks whether more than 10,000 sq ft will be disturbed. The County’s erosion and sediment control ordinance exempts smaller areas and names the Daniel Boone Soil and Water Conservation District as the plan-approving authority. The land disturbing permit fee is $30, with a bond of $1,000 per acre.
Flood hazard areas: a flood plain development permit costs $2 per acre, with a $50 minimum and a $100 maximum.
Zoning hearings: variances go to the Board of Zoning Appeals with a list of adjacent property owners. The Planning Commission meets on the third Wednesday of each month and is reviewing the County zoning map for possible revisions.
Commercial entrances: a special use permit application must include the Virginia Department of Transportation’s commercial entrance approval.
Virginia building code
Every Virginia locality enforces the Uniform Statewide Building Code, 2021 edition, in effect since 18 January 2024. No Virginia locality can adopt its own building code or amendments, so what varies locally is zoning conditions, historic districts and flood plain rules. How Virginia’s statewide code works
Official Lee County permit resources
- Virginia DPOR license lookup
- Virginia DHCD — Uniform Statewide Building Code
- Lee County iWorQ Citizen Portal (online applications)
- Lee County Department of Building Safety / Inspection
- Lee County Zoning Department
- Lee County Code of Ordinances
- Town of Pennington Gap applications and permits
- Town of Jonesville ordinances and zoning
- LENOWISCO Health District environmental health (septic and wells)
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Lee County permit FAQs
How much is a building permit in Lee County, Virginia?
A residential building permit is $0.10 per square foot with a $35 minimum, so $180 for an 1,800 sq ft house. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are $50 each, the certificate of occupancy is $15, and a 2% state surcharge is added.
Do I need a permit for a storage building or deck?
The fee schedule prices both: decks are charged at the $0.10 per square foot building rate and storage buildings at $0.03 per square foot, each with a $35 minimum. Call 276-346-7715 if you are unsure whether a small structure needs one.
Can I apply online?
Yes. The County’s iWorQ Citizen Portal takes building, manufactured home, storage tank, demolition, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and sign applications. Zoning applications are filed on paper in Room 206.
Who issues building permits in Pennington Gap and Jonesville?
Each town issues its own zoning permit. Pennington Gap’s zoning application tells applicants to obtain the necessary building permits from Lee County, whose office is in the Jonesville courthouse.
What do I need to set up a manufactured home?
Septic approval from the Lee County Health Department, a zoning permit (bring the invoice or description of the home and your deed), then the manufactured home permit: $75 for a single-wide or $150 for a double-wide.
Who is the Building Code Official?
The County lists Joshua Cox as Building Code Official. The office phone is 276-346-7715.
Where do septic permits come from?
From the Virginia Department of Health at the Lee County Health Department, 134 Hill Street, Jonesville, 276-346-2011.
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More Virginia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Lee County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.