Building permits throughout Prince George County are issued by the Building Inspections Division of Community Development, at 6602 Courts Drive, First Floor (804-722-8659). The County does not accept building permit applications online: you return the paper application with 3 sets of plans, staff calculate the fee, and you are sent a payment link. A new home is charged a $100 base fee plus $0.22 per finished square foot.
What requires a building permit in Prince George County?
The Division issues permits for all new construction, alterations, repairs, removal and demolition. Its FAQ page answers the questions homeowners ask most:
Permit needed
- Gas logs, and the installation or replacement of any fuel-fired appliance
- Any electrical service change or upgrade
- Carports and storage buildings over 256 sq ft
- Swimming pools more than 2 ft deep
- Re-roofing a commercial building
- Replacing more than 100 sq ft of roof sheathing on a house
- A fence that serves as a pool barrier
No building permit
- Fences, other than pool barriers
- Driveways (a land disturbance permit may apply, depending on size)
- Re-roofing a residence without replacing more than 100 sq ft of sheathing
- Siding and replacement windows
A fence or driveway built in a Special Flood Hazard Area still needs an SFHA Development Permit. The County also has an Exempt Structure Application and a Farm Structure Affidavit among its permit forms, and it charges no permit fee for farm buildings.
Who issues Prince George County permits?
Building Inspections is a division of the Department of Community Development and Code Compliance, whose Director is Charles L. Harrison, III. The division reviews plans, issues building and trade permits and inspects at the critical points of construction. Prince George County has no incorporated towns, so the County is the building authority for every address in the county.
| Item | Contact or process |
|---|---|
| Office | Prince George County Building Inspections Division |
| Address | 6602 Courts Drive, First Floor, Prince George, VA 23875 |
| Post Office Box 68, Prince George, VA 23875 | |
| Phone | 804-722-8659 (fax 804-722-0702) |
| inspections@princegeorgecountyva.gov | |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays |
| Planning & Zoning | 804-722-8678 |
| Utilities (County water and sewer) | 804-722-8706 |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Local requirements in Prince George County
Zoning permit: the County has created a Zoning Permit application that is separate from the Building Permit application. The Planning Division checks that the dwelling is allowed on the lot, sits inside the buildable area and meets any proffered conditions such as minimum lot or house size.
Erosion and the Chesapeake Bay Act: the Environmental Division reviews plans, inspects and enforces erosion and sediment control and the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. A Land Disturbance Permit Application is among the County’s forms, and the Division publishes an E & S initial site inspection policy for new homes.
Flood hazard areas: work in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs an SFHA Development Permit, including fences and driveways that need no building permit.
Wells and septic: the Health Department reviews applications for homes on a private well or septic system, checking the well location and the drain field. It is in the Human Services Building at 6400 Courthouse Road, Building #12 (804-733-2630).
Street address: the County’s Information Technology Department assigns the house number as part of the permit review.
Pool fences: under Chapter 10 of the County Code, a pool that can hold 24 inches or more of water must be enclosed by a fence at least 4 ft high, around the pool or the property, that keeps small children out.
Prince George County permit applications
Building permit applications cannot be submitted online. Pick up or download the form, complete it and return it to the Building Inspections Division at 6602 Courts Drive. The County’s Citizen Self Service portal is used for online payment once staff have calculated the fee.
Applications in the County’s Document Center include:
- Building Application
- Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) and Gas Permit Applications
- Zoning Permit application (Planning & Zoning)
- Land Disturbance Permit Application
- Fire Protection System, Tank, Tent and Sign Permit Applications
- Elevator or Conveyance Equipment Permit Application
- Exempt Structure Application and Farm Structure Affidavit
- Certificate of Occupancy Request and Temporary Certificate of Occupancy Renewal
- Amusement Device Permit Application
The County says incomplete applications are the main cause of permit delays, and publishes residential and commercial checklists to work from.
Trade permits in Prince George County
The County Code calls electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits “auxiliary permits”. Each has its own application and its own fee:
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →- New one- and two-family homes: $100 base fee plus $0.07 per finished sq ft for each auxiliary permit.
- Additions, garages and attachments: $100 base fee plus $0.07 per sq ft above 150 sq ft.
- Residential renovations and repairs: $100 base fee plus 1% of estimated cost.
- Gas permit (gas piping, fireplace logs, new equipment): $50.
- Water or sewer connection permit: $40 each.
- Generator, including electrical: $100. Spa or hot tub, including electrical: $70.
- Commercial auxiliary permits (electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical, sprinkler, alarm, underground utilities): $200 plus 1% of estimated cost when the work is over $1,000, or $150 for jobs up to $1,000.
The County enforces the 2020 National Electrical Code with the 2021 state codes. A swimming pool permit does not include the electrical work, which needs a separate electrical permit.
Application documents and plan review
The Residential Permit Application Checklist asks for 3 sets of each drawing with the completed application:
Plot plans (3 sets, to scale)
- Lot and structure location and dimensions
- Distances from the proposed structure to the front, side and rear lot lines
- Existing structures on the property
- Easements
- Private well and drain field, existing or proposed
Structural plans (3 sets)
- Footing and foundation plan
- Roof plan, or truss package with an engineer’s seal on each sheet
- Floor plans, with engineered floor system plans if used
- Sizes, locations and spans of all structural members
- Wall sections
- Every room labeled with its use; window and door sizes and locations
- Siding, roofing and interior wall and ceiling finishes
- Insulation R-values for walls, ceilings and floors
An older County page on building a house mentions two plot plans; the checklist asks for three.
One application is routed to several offices: Building Inspections for the building code, Planning for zoning, proffers and erosion control, Information Technology for the address, Utilities for County water and sewer connections, and the Health Department for private wells and septic systems.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Commercial: under the County’s Minimum Plans Information policy, required code information that is missing from the first submission has to be added to revised drawings before the permit is issued. The County posts checklists for new construction and additions, alterations and tenant work, and converting a house to a business office, with policies on when a registered design professional must prepare the electrical, mechanical and plumbing design.
Building permit fees in Prince George County
Permit fees are written into Section 10-2 of the County Code, last amended on May 11, 2021, and repeated on the County’s Fee Schedule page. Fees are paid to the County Treasurer before the permit is issued. Residential fees are based on finished square footage, which the Code defines as insulated, finished, heated or air-conditioned interior space measured from the exterior walls.
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| New one- or two-family dwelling, site-built or modular | $100 base fee plus $0.22 per finished sq ft |
| Addition, garage, attachment or annex | $100 base fee plus $0.07 per sq ft |
| Renovations and repairs | $100 base fee plus 1% of estimated cost |
| Mobile or manufactured home on private property or a new park lot | $150 |
| Manufactured home on an existing park site or change-out | $50 per unit |
| Detached accessory structure up to 256 sq ft | $70 |
| Prefabricated carport | $70 |
| Swimming pool | 1% of estimated cost, $35 minimum |
| Demolition | $50 |
| Chimney lining | $70 |
| Accessible ramp valued under $2,500 | No fee |
For example, a new house with 2,000 finished sq ft has a building permit fee of $540 and $240 for each auxiliary permit, before the $30 departmental routing fee and the state levy, currently 2%. The County’s web page still describes these permits as “$95.00 plus square footage fee”; the Code sets the base at $100.
Rather not deal with the Prince George County building department?
Get a free quote →Commercial: a building permit is $200 plus 1% of estimated cost when the work is over $5,000, and $150 for work up to $5,000. Re-roofing, siding and demolition permits are 1% of estimated cost, a sign permit is $50 plus 2% of estimated cost, and a change of use with no build-out is $150.
Other charges: amendments, transfers, reinstatements, extensions and renewals $40; plan re-submittals $40; re-inspection $50; temporary certificate of occupancy $50 residential or $125 commercial. Starting without a permit brings a code investigation fee equal to 100% of the permit fee, and occupying a building before the certificate of occupancy is issued carries a $100 penalty. A cancelled permit is refunded less 25% if requested in writing within 6 months of application or 12 months of issue.
How to apply: 6-step Prince George County process
Download the Building Application and the separate Zoning Permit application, or collect them at 6602 Courts Drive.
Show setbacks, easements and any well and drain field, because Planning, Utilities and the Health Department all review it.
Put together 3 sets of plot plans and 3 sets of structural plans against the Residential Permit Application Checklist.
Hand the application to the Building Inspections Division; it cannot be filed online.
Staff calculate the fee and send a payment link for the Citizen Self Service portal.
The permit is mailed or picked up at the Building Official’s office; inspections follow at each critical stage.
Inspections, occupancy and closeout
The Division inspects each structure at the critical points of construction. Its contact for inspections is the Building & Permitting mailbox, inspections@princegeorgecountyva.gov, and the office line, 804-722-8659. Inspections outside normal working hours have to be approved by the Building Official and are charged at cost, with an estimate given beforehand.
A re-inspection costs $50 when work is not ready, not accessible or corrections have not been made. For commercial jobs the County posts its Commercial Inspections Requirements and Special Inspections Guidelines, with a Final Report of Special Inspections form.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →A Certificate of Occupancy is requested on the County’s own form. A temporary certificate is $50 for a residence and $125 for a commercial building, and moving in before the certificate is issued costs a $100 penalty, paid to the Building Official before the certificate is released.
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 Prince George County permitting resources
Prince George County’s Building Inspections pages, checklists and County Code Chapter 10:
- Prince George County Building Inspections
- Prince George County Fee Schedule
- County Code Chapter 10, Buildings and Building Regulations
- Building Inspections forms
- Residential Permit Application Checklist
- Commercial Permit Application Checklist
- Building a Residential Structure in Prince George County
- Building Inspections FAQs
- Online Services
- Environmental Division
- Prince George County government
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Prince George County building permit FAQs
Who issues building permits in Prince George County?
The County’s Building Inspections Division at 6602 Courts Drive, First Floor (804-722-8659). The county has no incorporated towns, so there is no separate town building office.
How much is a building permit for a new house in Prince George County?
A $100 base fee plus $0.22 per finished square foot under County Code Section 10-2, plus $100 and $0.07 per finished sq ft for each electrical, mechanical or plumbing permit, a $30 routing fee and the 2% state levy.
Can I apply for a building permit online?
No. The County says building permit applications cannot be submitted online. Its Citizen Self Service portal is for payments.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
Not unless it is a pool barrier. In a Special Flood Hazard Area a fence needs an SFHA Development Permit.
Do I need a permit to re-roof my house?
Only if more than 100 sq ft of roof sheathing is replaced. Commercial re-roofing always needs a permit.
Do I need a permit for a shed or carport?
Carports and storage buildings over 256 sq ft need a permit.
What is the penalty for building without a permit in Prince George County?
A code investigation fee equal to 100% of the permit fee is charged on top of the permit.
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More Virginia permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Prince George County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.