Administrative overview · FIPS 51013
Arlington 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
Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development - Inspection Services Division
For a project in or near Arlington County, 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
703-228-3800
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Permit Arlington Center, Ellen M. Bozman Government Center, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite 1000, Arlington, VA 22201
Operating hours
Permit Arlington Center in-person service Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m., with modified hours 8:30 a.m.-noon every third Wednesday; phone staff Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., closing at noon every third Wednesday; online portal available 24/7
Review expectation
Residential application completeness check approximately 2 business days; published plan-review targets are approximately 10 business days for new construction and route-through additions, 5 business days for route-through alterations, and 2 business days for express additions. Final contractor verification and fee calculation take about 2 business days, and the approved plan set is generally available about 2 business days after permit issuance/payment. Revisions or incomplete submissions add time.
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 Arlington County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development - Inspection Services Division 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 703-228-3800.
How long might review take?
Residential application completeness check approximately 2 business days; published plan-review targets are approximately 10 business days for new construction and route-through additions, 5 business days for route-through alterations, and 2 business days for express additions. Final contractor verification and fee calculation take about 2 business days, and the approved plan set is generally available about 2 business days after permit issuance/payment. Revisions or incomplete submissions add time.
How are inspections scheduled?
Schedule each building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fence, sign, demolition, and applicable fire-protection inspection separately through Permit Arlington while logged in; the permit number is required. Keep the approved permit, certified plat, and plans available onsite. On the inspection morning, assigned-inspector information appears in the portal and is emailed between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m.; the onsite representative must contact the inspector or the inspection can be cancelled. Results and comments are posted in the portal. Virtual inspection may be available for eligible work. For help call 703-228-3800.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Arlington County enforces the mandatory 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code cycle in 2026: the 2021 Virginia Construction Code based principally on the 2021 International Building Code with Virginia amendments, the 2021 Virginia Residential Code, the 2021 Virginia Existing Building Code, applicable 2021 plumbing, mechanical, fuel-gas, energy-conservation, swimming-pool and spa, and fire-code provisions, and the referenced 2020 National Electrical Code with Virginia amendments. The County also enforces its local Building Code chapter and the 2021 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code with Arlington amendments where applicable. Virginia USBC §108.2 exemptions include qualifying one-story detached sheds, playhouses, and similar structures not exceeding 256 square feet; fences other than required pedestrian-safety or swimming-pool barriers; qualifying tents of 900 square feet or less with an occupant load of 50 or fewer; certain low-voltage wiring; limited roof-decking replacement on specified residential occupancies; and minor ordinary repairs such as painting, wall covering, cabinetry, and floor covering. Arlington's zoning, floodplain, Resource Protection Area, land-disturbance, historic-preservation, and other approvals may still apply even when a building permit is exempt.