Administrative overview · FIPS 51043
Clarke 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
Clarke County Building Department
For a project in or near Clarke 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
540-955-5112
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
101 Chalmers Court, Suite B, Berryville, VA 22611
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM; closed daily from 12:00 PM-1:00 PM
Review expectation
Allow 20 to 30 business days for all plan review and permit processing after submission.
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 Clarke County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Clarke County Building Department 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?
No verified online portal was located in the reviewed public materials. Contact 540-955-5112 and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
How long might review take?
Allow 20 to 30 business days for all plan review and permit processing after submission.
How are inspections scheduled?
Request inspections by phone at 540-955-5112 or by email through permits@clarkecounty.gov with at least three to five business days' notice. Include the permit number, property owner's name, job-site address, inspection type, desired date, and daytime contact number. Do not conceal work before the required inspection and approval.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code: 2021 Virginia Construction, Residential, Existing Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes, with Virginia amendments and the 2020 National Electrical Code; applicable Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code and statewide manufactured-home, industrialized-building, and amusement-device regulations also apply. Virginia USBC exemptions include qualifying one-story detached accessory structures used as tool/storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses when no more than 256 square feet; ordinary repairs and cosmetic work that do not alter structural components, means of egress, or regulated systems; qualifying fences that are not pool barriers; and qualifying low-voltage work. Agricultural buildings may be wholly or partly building-permit exempt after the Clarke County Building Official approves an agriculture-exemption determination, but county zoning approval remains required. Emergency repairs may begin immediately when necessary, provided the permit application is submitted by the end of the first workday after work starts.