Nelson County, Virginia Building Permit Guide

All building permits in Nelson County come from the Department of Building Inspections, 80 Front Street, Lovingston (434-263-7080). Applications can be submitted through the County’s iWorQ Citizen Portal or brought to the office with two sets of plans. The fee is $5 per $1,000 of project value with a $25 minimum, a new home’s fee covers its trade permits, and inspections are normally carried out within two working days of the request.

What requires a permit in Nelson County?

The County’s online portal splits permits into two applications, and its forms page adds the special cases.

Two points are specific to Nelson County. Every project needs some form of land disturbance permit, and renovation, demolition or re-roofing of any structure built before January 1, 1985 needs a completed Asbestos and Demolition Certification Form. A farm building claimed as exempt is filed on the County’s Farm Structure Exemption form.

Who issues building permits in Nelson County?

The Department of Building Inspections reviews applications, issues permits, inspects the work and issues certificates of occupancy. Jeremy Marrs is the Building Official. Nelson County has no incorporated towns, so the same office covers every address in the county.

The office asks visitors to call for an appointment, and to leave a message if staff are with other customers.

Nelson County applications and the online portal

Permits can be applied for in the Nelson County iWorQ Citizen Portal or on paper at the office.

• Building Permit Application (portal) — for new dwellings and residential accessory structures, with the plat, health or utility paperwork, land disturbance form and plans uploaded.
• General Permit Application (portal, PDF or fillable PDF) — for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, demolition and similar permits, listing every contractor on the job.
• Owner Affidavit — signed by a homeowner who applies in their own name and will do the work as their own contractor. A notary is available in the office.
• Agreement in Lieu of an Erosion & Sediment Control Plan — the usual land disturbance form for a new house or accessory structure, with the Responsible Land Disturber named on page 2.
• Application for Land Disturbing Permit — for projects that need an engineered erosion plan.
• Farm Structure Exemption, Asbestos & Demolition Certification, and the duct leakage, HVAC compliance and blower door test forms used at closeout.

The portal’s Permit Search also lets a permit holder check status, request an inspection or send the County a message.

Nelson County permit costs and fees

Nelson County charges by project value. The County’s Building Inspections page lists the fees below, and a 2% state levy is added to every building permit fee.

For example, a new house valued at $300,000 has a permit fee of $1,500, and the 2% levy adds $30, for $1,530 including its trade permits. The land disturbance fee is added to that.

All permit fees are paid when the plans are submitted. The office takes cash, checks payable to County of Nelson, and Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover, including card payments by phone.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas permits

Trade permits for a new home are covered by the home’s permit fee when they are applied for at the same time. On any other job each trade permit is priced on its own value, with a $25 minimum, and is filed on the General Permit Application.

The County checks every listed contractor against the state licensing board for current status, class and specialty, and each company must also hold a current Nelson County business licence. That covers the general contractor and the separate electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical contractors.

For a house on a private system, the well and septic construction permit comes from the Health Department (434-263-8315), and the County will not issue the building permit without it. On public service, the Nelson County Service Authority (434-263-5341) issues the water and sewer connection application. Either is needed only for a new or modular home, a new or replacement manufactured home, or an added bedroom.

Nelson County construction documents

The Building Permit Application Checklist sets out what to bring or upload at submission.

Plans are drawn to scale with numbered pages. A house under the size and height limits in the County’s checklist does not ordinarily need an architect or engineer, but unsealed plans must be signed by the individual responsible for the design, not just a company name. Planning & Zoning uses the plat to check setbacks and flood maps.

How to apply: 7-step Nelson County process

Nelson County building inspections

The owner or contractor requests each inspection by calling 434-263-7080 or through Permit Search in the portal. Under normal conditions the County inspects within two working days of the request, and it emails the inspection report to the permit holder. Post the permit card where it is clearly visible before asking for the first inspection, and do not cover any work until it has passed.

The County’s Mandatory Inspections list (last modified June 21, 2022) runs from footing, projection, dampproofing and foundation through setback, slab, veneer, the four sub-trades, framing, insulation, water and sewer lines, trenches and gas tanks to the finals.

• Footing depth: at least 18 inches east of Route 151 and 24 inches west of it.
• Erosion control first: an E&S inspection is required before every footing inspection, driveway entrance stone must be down, and the Responsible Land Disturber must confirm in writing that perimeter measures are installed.
• Third-party inspectors: must be ICC-certified, carry $1 million of professional insurance naming the County, give 24 hours’ notice, use the County’s inspection form and return results within 72 hours.
• Not ready: a $25 re-inspection fee applies when a requested inspection finds the work not ready.
• Certificate of occupancy: issued once all building inspections have passed, the site is graded, seeded and strawed, the water and sewer paperwork is complete and Planning & Zoning has signed off.

Local Nelson County requirements

Design criteria: the County’s sheet sets a 30 psf ground snow load, a 115 mph design wind speed, seismic design category B and a frost line of 18 inches east of Route 151 and 24 inches to the west.

Land disturbance: a lot in a residential development is not exempt just because it disturbs under 10,000 sq ft, if the development as a whole disturbs 10,000 sq ft or more. Under the agreement in lieu, cleared areas must be stabilized within 7 days of final grading. When more than 1 acre is disturbed, the stormwater plan goes to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Culverts and drainage: a culvert outside the VDOT right of way must be sized by a surveyor or engineer for a 10-year storm, and a lot whose grading changes the natural drainage may have to submit a grading and drainage plan.

Energy testing: the County supplies its own duct leakage, HVAC system compliance and building envelope (blower door) test forms.

Before the final: the County asks owners to check with the Health Department or the Service Authority that their paperwork is complete as the project nears completion.

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 Nelson County permit resources

• Virginia statewide permit rules
• Nelson County Building Inspections forms and publications
• Nelson County permitting process and application checklist
• Nelson County Building Inspections (fees and contacts)
• Nelson County iWorQ Citizen Portal (apply, search permits, request inspections)
• Mandatory inspections
• Nelson County Mandatory Inspections list (PDF)
• Residential Plan Checklist (PDF)
• Agreement in Lieu of an Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (PDF)
• Third-party inspection policy (PDF)
• Nelson County design criteria (PDF)

Nelson County permit FAQs

How much is a building permit in Nelson County?

$5 per $1,000 of project value for work valued over $5,000, and a $25 minimum below that, plus the 2% state levy. A new home’s fee includes its trade permits. The agreement in lieu for land disturbance costs $35 to $450.

Why do County pages show both $25 and $25.50 as the minimum?

The minimum fee is $25, and $25.50 is the same fee with the 2% state levy added.

Can I apply online?

Yes. The Nelson County iWorQ Citizen Portal takes building and general permit applications with their uploads, and its Permit Search is used to request inspections.

Can a homeowner pull a permit?

Yes. A homeowner applying in their own name signs the County’s affidavit stating that they own the property, will do the work and are responsible for it meeting the building code.

How soon will an inspection happen?

The County says inspections are normally carried out within two working days of the request.

Do I need a septic permit before the building permit?

For a new or modular home, a manufactured home or an added bedroom, yes: the Health Department’s well and septic construction permit, or a Service Authority water and sewer application, is part of the submission.

Who issues permits in Lovingston?

The County. Nelson County has no incorporated towns, and the Department of Building Inspections is itself in Lovingston at 80 Front Street.

Simplify Nelson County permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Virginia. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Nelson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.