Administrative overview · FIPS 51510
Alexandria city County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
City of Alexandria Department of Code Administration / Alexandria Permit Center
For a project in or near Alexandria city, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
703-746-4200
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Redella S. "Dell" Pepper Community Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive, 2nd Floor, Alexandria, VA
Operating hours
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM Eastern, closed 12:00-1:00 PM for lunch; public doors lock at 4:30 PM and same-day service ends at 4:15 PM. The Permit Center closes at 2:00 PM on the first Monday of each month.
Review expectation
Published plan-review targets are 20 business days for commercial and multifamily projects and 10 business days for one- and two-family residential projects unless eligible for walk-through review. Minor walk-through projects are scoped for a 20-minute Code Administration review; Permit Center support inquiries are answered within 24 hours or one business day.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Alexandria city
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
City of Alexandria Department of Code Administration / Alexandria Permit Center is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 703-746-4200.
How long might review take?
Published plan-review targets are 20 business days for commercial and multifamily projects and 10 business days for one- and two-family residential projects unless eligible for walk-through review. Minor walk-through projects are scoped for a 20-minute Code Administration review; Permit Center support inquiries are answered within 24 hours or one business day.
How are inspections scheduled?
Schedule and track inspections online through APEX; the Permit Center page also links a Daily Inspection Viewer with step-by-step scheduling instructions. If APEX is unavailable, call 703-746-4200 during regular business hours for scheduling assistance. Occupied-dwelling residential inspections may be conducted virtually by video call under the city's current operations notice.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code became effective January 18, 2024. Alexandria administers the 2021 Virginia Construction, Residential, Existing Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, and Property Maintenance codes with Virginia amendments; the city's current plan-review requirements direct electrical designs to the 2023 National Electrical Code. Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2 exemptions include qualifying one-story detached sheds, playhouses, and similar structures not over 256 square feet; fences unless used for pool barriers or required for construction-site pedestrian safety; swimming pools not over 150 square feet and less than 24 inches deep; qualifying low-voltage wiring; limited roof-deck replacement of 256 square feet or less on R-3/R-4/R-5 buildings; floor finishes; qualifying interior wall or ceiling finishes; cabinetry and trim; paint and wallpaper; and other minor ordinary repairs approved by the building official. Exempt work remains subject to all other applicable code and zoning requirements.