Fees, valuation & enforcement
Permit fees are a project input. Enforcement exposure is a project risk. Use the official schedule where available, then confirm valuation, trade permits, plan review, and inspection charges with the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Official fee pathway
The final charge may depend on declared construction value, occupancy classification, square footage, plan review, state surcharges, trade permits, technology fees, and inspection activity. Do not use a neighboring city’s fee table as a substitute for this jurisdiction.
Fee desk contact
540-483-3047
Ask the counter to confirm current charges before submitting a project with multiple trades or a change of use.
Financial exposure
Plan for building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire, energy, zoning, septic, right-of-way, or other reviews that the project scope triggers. The lowest initial permit fee is not always the lowest project cost.
Enforcement exposure
When work begins without authorization, the agency may halt the site, require corrective plans, impose additional fees, withhold inspection release, or require concealed work to be exposed for review.
Closeout exposure
A missing final inspection or certificate can complicate occupancy, refinancing, sale, insurance, and utility connection. Preserve the approved plans and signed inspection record through closeout.
Professional field note
Even when a cosmetic or minor project does not require a building permit, zoning, floodplain, shoreline, historic, utility, fire, or right-of-way controls may still apply. Confirm the full jurisdictional picture before work starts.
Source trail
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
Franklin County Building Inspections Office is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 540-483-3047.
Residential plan review typically takes 5 business days; nonresidential review may take up to 4 weeks.
Schedule through the OpenGov permit portal. The county's published scheduling rule says requests received by 3:30 p.m. are normally scheduled for the next working day when requested; the permit number is required, and temporary/permanent electrical-power inspections also require the nine-digit AEP work-order number. Call 540-483-3047 for assistance.
2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, including the 2021 Virginia Construction Code (based on the 2021 IBC), 2021 Virginia Residential Code, 2021 Virginia Existing Building Code, 2021 Virginia Energy Conservation Code, 2021 Virginia Fuel Gas Code, 2021 Virginia Mechanical Code, 2021 Virginia Plumbing Code, and 2020 NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code) Common exemptions include detached storage/utility accessory structures under 256 sq ft (electrical permit still required for wiring); non-pool fences/privacy walls under 6 ft; low-voltage electrical equipment under 50 volts except smoke/fire systems; retaining walls supporting less than 3 ft of unbalanced fill; pools under 150 sq ft, under 5,000 gallons, and under 24 inches deep; tents under 900 sq ft with fewer than 50 occupants; same-capacity/same-location aboveground LP-container replacement by the gas supplier; and ordinary repairs such as paint, wallpaper, flooring, cabinetry, same-size residential windows/doors, residential roof covering/siding, qualifying device replacements, and plumbing-fixture replacement without relocation.
Why permit costs vary
Building departments commonly calculate charges from valuation, occupancy, floor area, project type, plan review effort, trade scope, state surcharges, and inspection activity. A remodel that appears small on paper may still trigger structural, energy, fire, or utility review. Ask the permit counter which disciplines apply before you finalize the construction budget.
The same discipline applies to enforcement. Correcting unpermitted work after finishes are installed can require demolition, revised plans, additional inspections, and schedule disruption. Authorization is usually the less expensive project-management decision.