Administrative overview · FIPS 51079
Greene 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
Greene County Building Inspections Department
For a project in or near Greene 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
434-985-5204
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
40 Celt Road, Room 226, Stanardsville, VA 22973
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; permit and inspection requests should be made by 4:00 p.m.
Review expectation
Detailed building permits may take 2-3 weeks to process.
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 Greene County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Greene County Building Inspections 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 434-985-5204 and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
How long might review take?
Detailed building permits may take 2-3 weeks to process.
How are inspections scheduled?
Call 434-985-5204 or email inspections@gcva.us at least 2-3 days in advance with the permit number. Requests made less than 48 hours ahead will not be inserted into the next day's schedule, and requests should be submitted by 4:00 p.m. On the third Thursday morning of each month, staff training shifts scheduled inspections to the afternoon.
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) Greene County expressly exempts residential accessory storage structures of 256 sq ft or less from building and zoning permits. State-code exemptions also cover qualifying farm buildings; low-voltage wiring; utility-equipment buildings not exceeding 150 sq ft; tents not exceeding 900 sq ft with 50 or fewer occupants; most non-pool fences; low retaining walls; small shallow pools; qualifying temporary residential ramps; and ordinary repairs such as paint, cabinets, floor coverings, same-opening windows/doors, and qualifying same-for-same fixtures. Other sheds, garages, decks, carports, oversized tents, generators, gas installations, basement finishing, demolition, and remodeling require permits.