Administrative overview · FIPS 51185
Tazewell 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
Tazewell County Department of Building Safety
For a project in or near Tazewell 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
276-385-1215
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
173 Main Street, Tazewell, VA 24651
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
Review expectation
Plan review generally takes 3-10 business days depending on the plans; extensively detailed plans may take longer.
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 Tazewell County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Tazewell County Department of Building Safety 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 276-385-1215 and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
How long might review take?
Plan review generally takes 3-10 business days depending on the plans; extensively detailed plans may take longer.
How are inspections scheduled?
Call 276-385-1215; the county requests 24 hours' notice. Calls from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. may be added to that day's schedule if space is available, while calls after 9:30 a.m. are placed on the following day's schedule. Permits are valid for six months, and the Building Official may grant 90-day extensions while work continues.
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. Tazewell County Code Chapter 4 adopts and enforces the Virginia USBC. County building permits also cover work in Richlands, Cedar Bluff, Pocahontas, and the Town of Tazewell after town zoning approval; work inside Bluefield is permitted through the town office. For single-family dwellings, the county lists painting; drywall, plaster, siding, and shingles-only roof repair; floor coverings and cabinetry; deck or porch flooring and handrail repair that does not involve joists or girders; like-for-like doors and windows without structural change; gutters; driveways and sidewalks; detached sheds or playhouses up to 256 square feet; non-pool fences up to 6 feet; recreational equipment; insulation; wiring/equipment below 50 volts; security alarms; listed like-for-like electrical and plumbing fixtures; and landscaping-only retaining walls. Same-size electric heat-pump replacement without new ductwork is also exempt. Qualifying farm structures can use the county's farm-exemption statement; zoning and other approvals may still apply.