Permits, inspections and fees shall be required for all work as established by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Permit applications shall be made in writing on such forms as are prescribed by the building code official. A permit shall be issued by the building code official before any of the work or actions noted in the following sections is commenced.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the owner of any single-family dwelling from performing additions, alterations or repairs to the dwelling in which he or she resides. Such owner shall obtain all required permits and shall make all required tests of the completed work before approval of the work is granted by an inspector. No such installation shall be put into service prior to final approval by such inspector.

It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee, agent or any person having any authority or duty in connection with any building or premises knowingly to employ or hire any per-son to perform any electrical, plumbing or building-related mechanical work in or upon such building or premises unless such person is a certified master in the field in which the work is to be performed, or qualifies for an exemption from certification under the provisions of the Virginia Board for Contractors’ Tradesman Certification Rules and Regulations. It shall also be unlawful for any contractor, firm or corporation to undertake or contract to perform any electrical, plumbing or building-related mechanical work in or upon any building or premises unless such contractor, firm or corporation is a state-registered contractor or is exempt from such registration by law, and such contractor, firm or corporation has in its employ a certified master in the field in which the work is to be performed or qualifies for an exemption from certification under the provisions of §54.1-1131 of the Code of Virginia.

(a) Building Permits. A building permit shall be required for the following types and classes of activities. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work is not covered by a building permit and, if such work is to be performed, separate permits shall be obtained and the applicable fees shall be paid. No building permit shall be issued unless and until a certificate of zoning compliance, as required by this Code, has been obtained from the zoning administrator. Fees for building permits shall be as follows:

       (1) For new construction (including additions in all use groups).

            Fee (Based on gross floor area, as defined in the International Building Code)
 

       (2) Garages, sheds, decks and porches.

      (3) For the alteration or repair of any building or structure; the construction or erection of piers, bulkheads, towers, swimming pools or pool systems; the installation of fire alarm systems; the installation of security or energy systems; the installation of site illumination; the removal of asbestos; and any other additions or alterations to these or similar structures or systems. (Fee is based on current value of all service, labor and materials.)

    (4) For the installation or erection of a manufactured (mobile) home, industrialized building unit, or moveable structure, the fee is $75.00.

      (5) For the placing of tents greater than 900 square feet and an occupant load of greater than 50 persons, the fee is:

           a. Fee for each tent inspection $ 75.00

           b. Annual tent permit $200.00

      (6) For the demolition or razing of any building or structure serviced by Virginia Power and/or Virginia Natural Gas the fee is $50.00.

      (7) For the removal and placement of an existing building or structure, in part or in whole, from one location to another new location, whether or not the new location is on the same lot or parcel of land, the fee is $85.00.

       (8) For the installation of fencing for swimming pools and around hazardous material, be it wood, metal, masonry or another material, the fee is $50.00.

       (9) For construction not covered by any of the above, the permit fee shall be assessed and collected at the rate of one percent (1%) of the retail value or current market value of the work being done, provided that the minimum permit fee shall be $50.00.

(b) Plumbing Permits. A plumbing permit shall be required for any work which includes but is not limited to the installation or alteration of plumbing fixtures or water supply systems, and connections to any building drain, public or private sanitary sewage system or manufactured (mobile) home hook up.

        (1) New residential R-3 and R-4 and R-5 use groups, per dwelling unit - $87.00 (Gas not included)

         (2) Additions R-3 and R-4 and R-5 use groups per dwelling unit - $50.00.

       (3) New commercial (including additions) - $87.00 plus $21.00 for each additional bathroom group (sink, toilet and/or tub).

         (4) Alterations and repairs (all use groups) per dwelling unit or bathroom group - $50.00.

         (5) Water, sewer - $50.00 plus $25.00 if a septic tank is abandoned.

         (6) Gas Permit Fees:
              Gas Distribution Systems (Natural/LP)       Base Fee: $25.00
              Each additional outlet                                                 $ 8.00

              LP Gas Tanks:

       (7) For plumbing permits not covered by any of the above, the permit fee shall be assessed and collected at the rate of one percent (1%) of the retail value or current market value of the work being done, provided that the minimum permit fee shall be $50.00.

FIRE PROTECTION FEES:

        (8) Fire-suppression/sprinkler systems for buildings:

Fire Pumps                                                                       $75.00 per pump
Standpipe System                                                             $40.00 per riser
Kitchen Systems                                                                $40.00 per hood

(c) Electrical Permits. An electrical permit shall be required for the following types and classes of activities. Fees for said permits shall be as indicated.

      (1) New residential (R-3 and R-4 and R-5 use group) fee is $87.00 per dwelling unit.

     (2) Commercial fee is $87.00. Greater than two hundred (200) amperes, the fee is $87.00 plus $21.00 for each additional fifty (50) amperes or fraction thereof in excess of two hundred (200) amperes.

     (3) Increasing the size of electrical service the fee is $60.00. Greater than four hundred (400) amperes the fee is $60.00 plus $21.00 for each additional fifty (50) amperes or fraction thereof in excess of four hundred (400) amperes.

      (4) For the addition or alteration of electrical fixtures or outlets in existing buildings or structures (provided however, that no outlet fee shall be assessed where a service upgrade is involved) the fee is $50.00.

     (5) For the connection or reconnection of electrical service to a manufactured home, trailer or an industrialized building unit, the fee is $50.00.

      (6) Temporary service fee is $50.00.

     (7) For electrical permits not covered by any of the above, the permit fee shall be assessed and collected at the rate of one percent (1%) of the retail value or current market value of the work being done, provided that the mini-mum permit fee shall be $50.00.

(d) Mechanical Permits. A Mechanical permit shall be required for the following types and classes of activities. Fees for said permits shall be as indicated.

    (1) For the installation, replacement, repair or alteration of mechanical sys-tems or equipment, or freestanding fireplaces, solid fuel stoves, and other mechanical installations or alterations.

            a. New residential (R-3 and R-4 and R-5 use groups) fee is $87.00 per dwelling unit (Gas not included).

            b. Alterations, repairs, additions (R-3 and R-4 and R-5 use groups) fee is $50.00 per dwelling unit.

             c. New commercial fee, including additions to existing systems:

              d. Alterations and repairs (commercial) fee is $60.00.

              e. Prefab fireplaces fee is $50.00.

        (2)  Storage tanks for liquids or gases - installation, removal or replacement per tank:

       (3)  Fee for kitchen hood (Including Duct and Fan)
            Type I (Grease and other hazards)             $75.00 per hood
            Type II (Heat, Dishwasher)                          $50.00 per hood

      (4) New elevators, dumbwaiters, moving stairs and walks, man-lifts, hoisting or conveying equipment the fee is $125.00 for each one installed.

    The owner/contractor shall be responsible for obtaining the permits and paying the requisite fee, and shall have the inspection performed by a certified individual in the presence of a county inspector.

      (5) Gas Permit Fees:
           Gas Distribution Systems (Natural/LP)       Base Fee: $25.00
           Each additional outlet                                                 $ 8.00

              LP Gas Tanks:

     (6) For mechanical permits not covered by any of the above, the permit fee shall be assessed and collected at the rate of one percent (1%) of the retail value or current market value of the work being done, provided that the minimum permit fee shall be $50.00.

(e) Sign Permits. A sign permit shall be required for the erection, relocation or structural alteration of all signs. No sign permit shall be issued unless and until a certificate of zoning compliance, as required by this Code, has been obtained from the zoning administrator. The fee for such permits shall be as follows:

      (1) For erection and/or relocation of signs, the fee shall be $ 50.00 plus an amount based on the total square footage of all faces of the sign, as follows:

      (2) For structural alterations the fee shall be $50.00 plus the applicable amount from the above table matching the increase, if any, in sign area.

     (3) In addition to the permits for material installation, if the sign is illuminated an electrical permit shall be required.

     (1) In addition to the permits for the installation of material, all elevators, dumbwaiters, moving stairways and man lifts shall be subject to an annual operating permit and inspection as required by the USBC. The owners/operators of establishments having such facilities shall be responsible for obtaining the permits, and for paying the requisite fee, at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the then-in-effect annual permit. The applicant shall have the inspection performed by a certified individual in the presence of a county inspector and shall submit the inspection report to the building code official not later than thirty (30) days after the inspection has been conducted. In addition, all of the above shall be subject to the three- or five-year maintenance inspections required by the USBC.

           a. Fee for annual inspection - $50.00

           b. Fee for maintenance inspection - $63.00

     (2) In addition to the permits for material installation, all amusement devices and rides shall be subject to an annual permit and inspection, as required in the Amusement Device Regulations of the USBC, prior to each seasonal opening. The owner/operator of an establishment having such facilities shall be responsible for obtaining the permit and for paying the requisite fee, at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the then-in-effect annual permit. In addition, all of the above shall be subject to the operation inspection as required in the Amusement Device Regulation of the USBC.

          a. Fee for each ride for the annual inspection - $45.00

          b. Fee for the operation inspection for the entire park or facility - $200.00

     (3) A permit and inspection shall be required for rides that consist principally of portable devices temporarily situated at a site, and as defined in the Virginia Amusement Device Regulations, as amended.