Administrative overview · FIPS 51107
Loudoun 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
Loudoun County Department of Building and Development
For a project in or near Loudoun 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
703-777-0220
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Loudoun County Government Center, 1 Harrison Street SE, 2nd Floor, Leesburg, VA 20175
Operating hours
Permitting and Land Development Counters: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Building Plan Review and Inspections office: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Review expectation
Residential intake/completeness check: 2-5 business days for county-typical decks, county-typical basements, and residential trades; up to 10 business days for other residential permits. After intake and fee payment, expected building review is 2 days for typical decks, basements, and trades, and 15 days for new construction, alterations, additions, and changes of use; associated zoning review is generally 2 or 10 days depending on type.
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 Loudoun County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Loudoun County Department of Building and Development 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 703-777-0220.
How long might review take?
Residential intake/completeness check: 2-5 business days for county-typical decks, county-typical basements, and residential trades; up to 10 business days for other residential permits. After intake and fee payment, expected building review is 2 days for typical decks, basements, and trades, and 15 days for new construction, alterations, additions, and changes of use; associated zoning review is generally 2 or 10 days depending on type.
How are inspections scheduled?
Request, cancel, and view inspections in LandMARC. Inspections can be booked for the following workday or a future weekday, with a midnight cutoff for the following workday; they are performed Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. For help call 703-777-0220, option 1. Approved plans must be available on site, and reinspection fees may apply when work is not ready.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, including the 2021 Virginia Construction Code, 2021 Virginia Existing Building Code, 2021 Virginia Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Virginia Residential Code, 2021 Virginia Plumbing Code, 2021 Virginia Mechanical Code, 2021 Virginia Fuel Gas Code, 2021 Virginia Energy Conservation Code, 2021 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code, 2020 National Electrical Code, and 2017 ICC/ANSI A117.1 accessibility standard. Virginia's statewide building-permit exemptions include qualifying low-voltage wiring; detached one-story tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar accessory structures under 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. Loudoun requires a county zoning-only residential application for sheds under 256 square feet outside incorporated towns, so a building-code exemption does not eliminate zoning or other approvals.