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
540-775-7111
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
King George County Community Development - Building Inspections is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
No verified online portal was located in the reviewed public materials. Contact 540-775-7111 and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
N/A for general building-plan review. The residential packet states that approval for new County Service Authority connections takes approximately 10-14 days.
Call 540-775-7111 before 3:00 p.m. at least one day in advance and provide the permit number plus owner or contractor name. Voicemail and email requests are not honored. For a two-hour arrival window, call on the inspection day between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. Inspections are normally performed the next working day; county-approved plans and the permit card visible from the public right-of-way must remain on site.
Effective for current applications: 2021 Virginia Residential Code, 2021 Virginia Construction Code, 2021 Virginia Plumbing Code, 2021 Virginia Fuel Gas Code, 2021 Virginia Energy Conservation Code, 2021 Virginia Mechanical Code, 2020 National Electrical Code, and 2017 ICC A117.1 accessibility standard, under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. The county directs applicants to Section 108.2 of the 2021 Virginia Construction Code. Exemptions include qualifying low-voltage wiring; detached one-story tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar accessory structures not exceeding 256 square feet; qualifying tents up to 900 square feet with fewer than 50 occupants; fences up to 7 feet unless serving as a pool barrier; low retaining walls; and ordinary cosmetic or maintenance work such as painting, wallpapering, floor finishes, cabinets and trim, and specified replacement work. Zoning and all other applicable requirements still apply.
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.