Administrative overview · FIPS 51053
Dinwiddie 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
Dinwiddie County Office of Building Inspections
For a project in or near Dinwiddie 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
804-469-4500
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
14010 Boydton Plank Road, Dinwiddie, VA 23841; mailing address: P.O. Drawer 70, Dinwiddie, VA 23841
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM-3:30 PM
Review expectation
The county's current Procedures for Obtaining a Building Permit states that, once all required documents are received, Building Official plan review and approval takes 15-20 business days.
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 Dinwiddie County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Dinwiddie County Office of Building Inspections 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 804-469-4500.
How long might review take?
The county's current Procedures for Obtaining a Building Permit states that, once all required documents are received, Building Official plan review and approval takes 15-20 business days.
How are inspections scheduled?
Request inspections and view results through the Dinwiddie County EnerGov Self Service portal. Users can also call Building Inspections at 804-469-4500 for assistance. The portal supports electronic permit applications, payments, document review, status tracking, notifications, inspection requests, and inspection results; no locally published same-day cutoff was found.
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, Property Maintenance, manufactured-home, industrialized-building, and amusement-device regulations also apply. Qualifying one-story detached sheds, playhouses, and similar accessory structures of 256 square feet or less are exempt from a building permit under the Virginia USBC, but Dinwiddie zoning approval and setbacks still apply. Other statewide exemptions include tents no larger than 900 square feet with an occupant load of 50 or less; fences other than pool or pedestrian-safety barriers; ordinary minor repairs and cosmetic work; qualifying low-voltage work; small pools and retaining walls; certain flagpoles and temporary residential ramps; and same-location, same-capacity LP-gas container replacements. Bona fide nonresidential farm buildings can qualify through the county's Farm Building and Structure Affidavit; public-facing agritourism uses, floodplain rules, zoning, and erosion requirements remain applicable.