Administrative overview · FIPS 51193
Westmoreland 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
Westmoreland County Building & Zoning Division
For a project in or near Westmoreland 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
804-493-0120
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
George D. English Sr. Building, 111 Polk Street, Montross, VA 22520
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; permit intake stops at 4:00 p.m.
Review expectation
Ask the agency for its current review estimate
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 Westmoreland County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Westmoreland County Building & Zoning Division 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 804-493-0120.
How long might review take?
A typical review timeline was not verified. Ask the agency for its current completeness and review estimate.
How are inspections scheduled?
Use the iWorQ permit portal to search permit records and view inspection information, or contact the Building & Zoning Division at 804-493-0120 to request required inspections. The county does not publish a general request cutoff or guaranteed appointment window on its current public pages.
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. Westmoreland County's Building & Zoning Division administers building permits and inspections under the statewide 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; non-pool-barrier fences; qualifying low retaining walls and small shallow pools; flagpoles not over 30 feet; and specified ordinary repairs and cosmetic work. Qualifying nonresidential farm buildings used for farming purposes may be exempt from the building permit, inspections, and certificate of occupancy after a farm-building affidavit is accepted, but zoning, land-disturbance, stormwater, electrical, and other applicable approvals remain required; restaurants on farms are not exempt.