Administrative overview · FIPS 51045
Craig 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
Craig County Building and Zoning Office
For a project in or near Craig 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
540-864-5010
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
108 Court Street, New Castle, VA 24127
Operating hours
Monday-Thursday, 7:30 AM-5:30 PM
Review expectation
Ask the agency for its current review estimate
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 Craig County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Craig County Building and Zoning Office 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 540-864-5010.
How long might review take?
A typical review timeline was not verified. Ask the agency for its current completeness and review estimate.
How are inspections scheduled?
Use the Craig County CloudPermit account for online permit and inspection functions, or contact the Building and Zoning Office at 540-864-5010 or permits@craigcountyva.gov to arrange required inspections. Request inspections before work is concealed or covered and follow the inspection sequence listed with the approved permit.
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. Local residential design criteria include 30 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind speed, Seismic Design Category B, 24-inch frost depth, and moderate-to-heavy termite exposure; Craig County also enforces its zoning, erosion and sediment control, stormwater, and floodplain ordinances. Craig County specifically lists these permit exemptions: fences except pool or pedestrian-safety barriers; residential replacement windows and doors, reroofing, re-siding, and no more than 256 square feet of roof-sheathing replacement; eligible low-voltage systems; gutters and kitchen cabinets; playground equipment; on-grade patios; flagpoles no more than 30 feet high; temporary residential ramps no more than 30 inches high; and same-location, same-capacity above-ground LP-gas container replacement by the serving supplier. Sheds and playhouses of 256 square feet or less are building-permit exempt but still require zoning approval. Qualifying operating-farm buildings are USBC-exempt after county certification but also require zoning approval.