Residential Building Permits | Albemarle County, VA

Ready to apply for a residential building permit? Please refer to the table below on which type of permit you would like to apply for. If you do not see the application you need, log into Civic Access here to search for applications.

If you have already started an application with Civic Access, please click here to access your dashboard to continue your application.

Please Note: In order to link directly to an application you will need to have first registered in Civic Access.

Application Type	Required Documents
Additions Adding new* square footage*	Building Plans, Plat, and HD approval (if applicable)
Alteration, Remodel, Repair Modifying existing square footage (attached garages, detached garages, sheds, decks, and porches 10 sq. ft. or larger)	Building Plans, Plat, and HD approval (if applicable)
Change in Building Occupancy Classification	Building Plans
Demolition	Building Plans, Plat, and Utility Cut Off Letter
Duplex	Building Plans, Plat, and HD approval (if applicable)
Electrical Sub-Permits	None
Elevator, Escalators, and Lifts	Building Plans
Farm Building	Building Plans, Plat, and Affidavit
Ground Mount Solar Panel	Manufacturer Specs, Plat, and HD (if applicable)
Mechanical Sub-Permits	None
Modular/Manufactured Homes	Building Plans, Plat, and HD approval (if applicable)
Plumbing Sub-Permits	None
Roof Mount Solar Panel	Manufacturer Specs, Plat, and HD (if applicable)
Single-Family Accessory Apartment	Building Plans, Plat, Accessory Apartment Form, Critical Resource Map
Single-Family Condominium	Building Plans
Single-Family Detached	Building Plans, Plat, and HD approval (if applicable)
Single-Family Townhouse	Building Plans, Plat
Sprinkler	Manufacturer Specs, Calculations
Storage Building/Accessory Structures	Building Plans, Plat, and HD approval (if applicable)
Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, and Spas	None
Tents	Manufacturer Specs and Flame Resistant Information
Other Permits not listed above	Contact Community Development

HVAC testing paperwork and certifications

Effective 1/1/23. We will be requiring all mandatory residential HVAC testing paperwork and certifications.

Permits issued by the County after 1/1/23 will still need to comply with the duct testing and blower door testing, if applicable, but will not be required to submit the certification form. Energy compliance for existing buildings shall be in accordance with the 2018 VECC (Virginia Energy Conservation Code).

Remember for energy compliance a residential building is defined as: RESIDENTIAL BUILDING. For this code, includes detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses as well as Group R-2, R-3, and R-4 buildings three stories or less in height above grade plane.

As for the timing of receipt of these forms, please note the following:

The certification form must be submitted prior to rough-in inspection. County inspectors will be inspecting to that form as well as the code.
The duct testing form should be submitted prior to rough-in inspection, however the code allows this to be submitted at the end. We would prefer to receive the duct testing form prior to rough-in inspection.
The blower door test is to be completed and the County must have the results in hand prior to HVAC final inspection.

RESOURCES