Administrative overview · FIPS 51121
Montgomery 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
Montgomery County Building Inspections Office
For a project in or near Montgomery 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
540-382-5750
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
755 Roanoke Street, Suite 1D, Christiansburg, VA 24073
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Review expectation
Required county zoning approvals for dwellings and accessory structures are generally completed within 1-2 business days after submittal. No general building-plan review timeline is published; all commercial plans require third-party review before the nonresidential building application is filed.
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 Montgomery County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Montgomery County Building Inspections Office 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 540-382-5750.
How long might review take?
Required county zoning approvals for dwellings and accessory structures are generally completed within 1-2 business days after submittal. No general building-plan review timeline is published; all commercial plans require third-party review before the nonresidential building application is filed.
How are inspections scheduled?
Request an inspection online at https://forms.montva.com/Forms/InspectionRequest or call 540-382-5750 during office hours. The county recommends calling about 36 hours in advance because of workload. County inspectors serve construction in unincorporated Montgomery County; commercial projects may require an approved third-party inspector as determined during plan review.
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 National Electrical Code. Virginia's statewide exemptions include qualifying low-voltage wiring; one-story detached tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar structures not exceeding 256 square feet; qualifying tents up to 900 square feet with 50 or fewer occupants; fences unless required for pedestrian safety or used as a pool barrier; masonry walls not over 6 feet; qualifying low retaining walls and small shallow pools; flagpoles not over 30 feet; minor and ordinary work; and specified like-for-like ordinary repairs and cosmetic work. These exemptions do not remove zoning, floodplain, or other applicable approvals.