Administrative overview · FIPS 51199
York 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
York County Division of Building Safety
For a project in or near York 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
757-890-3522
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
100 County Drive, Suite B, Yorktown, VA 23692
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.
Review expectation
York County's development guide states that building plan review takes approximately 5-24 days depending on 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 York County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
York County Division 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?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 757-890-3522.
How long might review take?
York County's development guide states that building plan review takes approximately 5-24 days depending on complexity.
How are inspections scheduled?
After registering and receiving an active account, use the York County Customer Service and Permit Portal to request inspections; the county states that active portal users must request inspections online. Select the permit, open its details, choose an available inspection, and click Request Inspection. Inspections are performed within two working days of scheduling; call 757-890-3522 for assistance. Approved plans with review comments must be onsite, and premature or inaccessible inspections can incur a $90 reinspection fee.
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, 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, 2021 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code, 2020 National Electrical Code, and 2017 ICC A117.1 accessibility standard. York County states that all permits issued after January 18, 2025 are subject to the 2021 VUSBC. York County identifies cosmetic work such as painting, vinyl siding installation, and carpet replacement and ordinary repairs such as cabinetry, nongas kitchen appliances, electrical switches, electric water heaters, and reroofing as exempt. Its residential permit guidance requires a building permit for sheds and similar storage or play structures only when they are 257 square feet or larger, so qualifying structures up to 256 square feet are exempt under the current statewide threshold. Other Virginia exemptions include qualifying low-voltage work, non-pool-barrier fences, low retaining walls, small shallow pools, flagpoles not over 30 feet, and qualifying tents. Zoning setbacks and other approvals still apply.