Administrative overview · FIPS 51159
Richmond 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
Richmond County Building Inspections Department
For a project in or near Richmond 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
804-333-5460
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
101 Court Circle, Warsaw, VA 22572
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Review expectation
The county says complete single-family applications generally undergo a 1-2 week building and site-plan review. Its FAQ says permit applications can usually be released within 1-3 working days depending on project caliber and complexity.
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 Richmond County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Richmond 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?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 804-333-5460.
How long might review take?
The county says complete single-family applications generally undergo a 1-2 week building and site-plan review. Its FAQ says permit applications can usually be released within 1-3 working days depending on project caliber and complexity.
How are inspections scheduled?
Request an inspection at 804-333-5460, which accepts voicemail after business hours, or 804-333-3415. Provide the permit number, owner and contractor names, physical address, and inspection type. Request at least 24 hours in advance; footings, water/sewer lines, and electrical upgrades may receive same-day inspection when requested by 10:00 a.m. The Health Department sewage-disposal operational permit is required before a final inspection will be scheduled for septic properties.
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. These are Virginia's mandatory 2026 codes; the county Building Inspections landing page still displays an outdated statement that it is using the 2018 VUSBC. 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. Richmond County separately requires zoning, land-disturbance, Chesapeake Bay, wetlands, septic/well, and other approvals when applicable, even if no building permit is required.