Building Permit Fee Calculator (2026)
Enter an estimated project cost to see the real permit fee, broken into line items by your jurisdiction's actual fee schedule. Covers all 6 live Virginia jurisdictions: Fairfax, Loudoun, Chesterfield, Henrico Counties, Richmond City, and Virginia Beach City. A $15,000 deck in Fairfax County, VA costs $688.50 all-in; the same deck is $144.75 in Richmond, $163.20 in Henrico, $166.28 in Chesterfield, and $402.90 in Loudoun. Virginia Beach uses square-footage formulas for decks (a 200 sq ft deck = $94.16); the calculator covers Virginia Beach's value-based projects (pools, alterations, hot tubs, driveways) and routes sq-ft projects to the Virginia Beach page.
7 Virginia jurisdictions plus Washington, DC are live. Project options update based on each jurisdiction's official fee schedule. Virginia Beach exposes value-based projects (pool, alteration). Norfolk exposes flat-fee projects (alteration, pool, demolition). Washington DC exposes flat-fee projects (in-ground pool, garage/shed, fence, awning, instant permit) - DC's alteration tier formula and cubic-foot new construction are documented on the DC fee schedule page. Square-footage-based projects (decks for Norfolk, additions for Virginia Beach) are documented on each jurisdiction page - see Norfolk City and Virginia Beach.
- Building Permit Fee $450.00
- Plan Review (50%) $225.00
- Virginia State Levy (2%) $13.50
Formula: max(cost × 3%, $72) + 50% plan review + 2% VA levy on subtotal. Estimate only - verify with Fairfax County Land Development Services before filing.
- Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical/HVAC) - issued separately with their own fees.
- Zoning review, site plan review, or land-disturbance review charged outside the building permit.
- Impact fees, proffer fees, school/transportation impact charges where the jurisdiction collects them.
- Utility connection or tap fees (water, sewer, gas, electric meter connection).
- Re-inspection fees, after-hours inspection fees, revision fees, and work-without-permit penalty fees.
- Final fees are determined by the local building department at permit issuance and may differ from this estimate.
PermitPrice is not an official quotation. See Disclaimer and Methodology.
This calculator covers the building permit fee only. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are separate and issued at additional cost. Always verify with your local building department before filing.
How This Is Calculated
Every permit fee estimate uses the actual formula from the jurisdiction's adopted fee schedule. There are no generic ranges or averages in this calculator.
| Step | Fee Component | Formula (Fairfax County) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Building Permit Fee | max(project cost × 3%, $72 min) | Appendix Q, Chapter 61 (FY2025) |
| 2 | Plan Review Fee | Building permit fee × 50% | Appendix Q, Chapter 61 (FY2025) |
| 3 | Virginia USBC State Levy | (Step 1 + Step 2) × 2% | Code of Virginia §36-139 |
| 4 | Total | Step 1 + Step 2 + Step 3 | - |
Pool exception: In-ground pools in Fairfax County use a flat $270 permit fee (not the 3% formula). Plan review adds 50% ($135). State levy adds 2% on the combined $405. Total pool permit: $413.10.
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Fairfax County - Appendix Q, Land Development Services Fee Schedule (FY2025) Effective July 1, 2024 · Verified March 15, 2026 Verified
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Code of Virginia §36-139 - USBC State Levy Current · Virginia General Assembly
What This Calculator Shows That Others Don't
"Every other permit fee calculator I've seen either shows a generic range or gives just the base permit number. The two items that trip people up are plan review and the state levy. In Virginia, plan review alone adds 50% to the base fee - that's not a rounding error. The USBC state levy is smaller but it's on the combined subtotal, so it's always calculated last. This calculator shows all three line items because that's what you'll actually see on your permit invoice."
Real-World Example: $15,000 Deck, Fairfax County VA
400 sqft composite deck, attached to dwelling · Building permit (residential alteration) · Stated valuation: $15,000 · Formula: Appendix Q FY2025 (effective July 1, 2024)
What generic cost guides say for this same project: $300-$500. The actual number is $688.50 - 37-130% higher than the generic estimate, depending on which guide you consult.
When This Calculator's Results Don't Apply
- Other Virginia jurisdictions: This calculator uses Fairfax County's fee formula. Prince William County, Arlington County, Loudoun County, and Alexandria City all have different formulas. Do not apply Fairfax rates to other jurisdictions.
- Trade permits: Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC permits are not included. In Fairfax County, a 200-amp electrical service change adds $341-$633 separately.
- New residential construction: New homes and new garages use a per-square-foot rate, not the 3% formula. Use the full Fairfax County jurisdiction page for those calculations.
- After annual rate changes: Fairfax County updates its fee schedule each July 1. If the current date is after July 1, 2025, verify against the new FY2026 Appendix Q before relying on this calculator.
- When stated valuation is disputed: If the building official determines your stated construction value is below market, they may substitute the ICC Building Valuation Data table, increasing the base fee.
Calculator FAQ
See the full formula for your jurisdiction - including all fee components, project-type breakdowns, worked examples, and permit office contact info.