Administrative overview · FIPS 51073
Gloucester 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
Gloucester County Building Inspection
For a project in or near Gloucester 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
804-693-2744
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
6489 Main Street, Suite 247, Gloucester, VA 23061
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; inspectors are generally in the office 7:30-8:30 a.m. and about 3:00-4:00 p.m.
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 Gloucester County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Gloucester County Building Inspection 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 804-693-2744 and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
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?
Request required inspections through Gloucester County Building Inspection at 804-693-2744. Inspectors are generally available in the office from 7:30-8:30 a.m. before field inspections and return around 3:00 p.m.; no public online inspection scheduler was found.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, including the 2021 Virginia Construction Code, 2021 Virginia Residential Code, 2021 Virginia Existing Building Code, 2021 Virginia Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Virginia Energy Conservation Code, 2021 Virginia Mechanical Code, 2021 Virginia Plumbing Code, 2021 Virginia Fuel Gas Code, and 2020 NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code), together with applicable Gloucester County Code requirements Fences do not require a building permit. Residential cosmetic work such as floor coverings and sheetrock does not require one when no structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical change is involved. Other Virginia-USBC exemptions include one-story detached sheds/playhouses and similar structures not exceeding 256 sq ft, tents not exceeding 900 sq ft with 50 or fewer occupants, low retaining walls, small shallow pools, qualifying low-voltage work, and ordinary minor repairs; however, any construction or improvement in a flood zone requires county review/permit, and portable or temporary buildings are not automatically exempt. Farm buildings meeting USBC Section 102.3 criteria are exempt as provided by state law.