§ 5-5. Permit fees.
(a)
Generally. Except as provided in this section, every applicant for a building permit must pay the fees set forth in this section before the building official issues a building permit, as required by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. If an applicant makes a change in the scope of work, a permit amendment is required and additional fees may be assessed in accordance with this section.
(b)
Fee schedule. Fees shall be charged in accordance with the following schedule:
(1)
General fees:
a.
State levy: The Commonwealth of Virginia imposes a state levy on all permit fees to fund the state's continuing education and training program for building inspection. All applicants shall be charged the state levy at the same rate charged to the county by the state.
b.
Administrative fees:
1.
Amendments: Change in construction plans and/or setbacks most closely related fee:
(i)
If the amendment results in a change in the scope of work, additional permit fees may be assessed in accordance with this section. If changing lots or replacing house plans; reapply.
(ii)
Change in contractor or lien agent ..... $57.00
2.
Extensions, takeovers, transfers, reinstatements, and permits for CO purposes ..... 57.00
3.
Footing and foundation permits: Available for permit holders accepting risk to commence with footing/foundation construction prior to building permit approval ..... 57.00
4.
Change of use or change of occupancy (no work being done) ..... 59.00
5.
Credit card fees. All applicants who pay fees by Discover® credit card shall pay the credit card company's charge for use of the card, in addition to the permit fee.
6.
Code investigation fees:
(i)
Residential: 25 percent of applicable permit fee, or $57.00, whichever is greater.
(ii)
Commercial: 25 percent of applicable permit fee, or $119.00, whichever is greater.
7.
Reinspection fees ..... 57.00
8.
Not ready for inspection fee ..... 57.00
9.
Refund requests: Refunds shall be allowed only prior to the first inspection. The amount refunded will be the permit fee paid, minus the greater of 25 percent of the permit fee or the minimum amounts listed below:
(i)
Residential: ..... 57.00
(ii)
Commercial: If the permit fee paid is less than the refund amount determined above, a refund will not be given ..... 119.00
(iii)
State levy is not refundable.
10.
Temporary certificates of occupancy and renewals:
(i)
Residential building permits (per unit) and subsequent extensions ..... 57.00
(ii)
Commercial building permits (per building) and subsequent extensions ..... 119.00
a.
"Tenant upfit" permits, where work is incomplete under the "shell" permit ..... No charge
(2)
Residential building permits:
a.
Single-family dwellings including townhouses and condominiums (per unit) ..... 684.00
b.
Modular/manufactured/mobile homes:
1.
Industrialized buildings, modular homes (without a permanent chassis) ..... 285.00
2.
Mobile and manufactured homes on private property ..... 114.00
3.
Mobile and manufactured homes in a mobile home park ..... 57.00
c.
Additions and other accessory structures ..... 399.00
1.
Florida rooms, attached garages, detached garages with occupiable space ..... 392.00
2.
Detached garages (no second floor occupiable space), double-door car shed, and finished pool house ..... 285.00
3.
Alterations, and converting deck/porch/garage to finished space ..... 171.00
4.
Porch and chimney additions ..... 171.00
5.
Deck, carport, gazebo, dormers, greenhouse, unheated pool house, retaining wall, and boat dock with roof ..... 114.00
6.
Sheds:
(i)
150—256 square feet, including prefab sheds on skids and pole sheds ..... 114.00
(ii)
Less than 150 square feet: No permit required
d.
Renovations and repairs:
1.
Renovation, alteration or conversion:
(i)
Resulting in a change in use of square footage. Unfinished space to finished space (with no new footings) ..... 171.00
(ii)
Resulting in no change in use of square footage, where a rough-in inspection is not required ..... 114.00
2.
Exterior renovation and storm damage repairs ..... 57.00
3.
Chimney relining ..... 57.00
4.
Fire damage repair permits: Shall be based upon the most similar permit fee and shall be a minimum fee of ..... 114.00
5.
Floor joist and foundation repair ..... 57.00
e.
Other residential permits:
1.
Residential foundation pour inspections ..... 398.00
(i)
Additional fee if concrete testing is required because out-of-specification concrete is used ..... 117.00
(ii)
Additional fee for reinspection when inspector is present and the concrete pour has been canceled or delayed in excess of one hour ..... 117.00
(iii)
As an alternative to the county's foundation pour inspection, the building official may accept inspection reports from qualified, independent engineers who are approved and reliable.
2.
Swimming pools (above and in-ground) ..... 57.00
3.
Pool barrier fences (if permitted separately from pool) ..... 57.00
4.
Relocation (house moving) ..... 234.00
5.
Demolition ..... 57.00
6.
Elevator and wheelchair lift ..... 57.00
(3)
Residential auxiliary permits:
a.
Electrical:
1.
New single-family dwellings, including townhouses and condominiums, per unit ..... 171.00
2.
Industrialized building (modular home) ..... 114.00
3.
Addition, renovation, and conversion:
(i)
Where rough-in inspection is required ..... 114.00
(ii)
Where rough-in inspection is pre-existing ..... 57.00
4.
Temporary poles, relocation, service change, installation, replacements, repairs ..... 57.00
5.
Mobile or manufactured homes on private property ..... 57.00
6.
Mobile or manufactured homes in a mobile home park (hook-ups only) ..... No fee
b.
Gas:
1.
Natural gas—All new installation, including townhouses and condominiums, per unit ..... 114.00
2.
Propane gas-all new installations:
(i)
Gas piping, propane tank and/or product line ..... 114.00
(ii)
Gas piping to appliances only ..... 57.00
(iii)
Propane tank and/or product line only ..... 57.00
(iv)
Mobile or manufactured homes on private property ..... 57.00
3.
Repairs or replacement with like appliance ..... 57.00
c.
Mechanical, including townhouses and condominiums, per unit:
1.
Heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC):
(i)
New system installation, including townhouse and condominiums, per unit ..... 114.00
(ii)
System replacement with new ductwork ..... 114.00
(iii)
System replacement without new ductwork ..... 57.00
(iv)
New ductwork only ..... 57.00
2.
Woodstove installation ..... 57.00
3.
Fuel tank installation and/or removal or replacement ..... 57.00
4.
Mobile or manufactured homes on private property ..... 57.00
d.
Plumbing:
1.
New residential single-family dwellings, and condominiums, townhouses, and duplexes (per unit) ..... 228.00
2.
Industrialized building (modular homes) ..... 114.00
3.
Addition, renovation and conversion:
(i)
Where rough-in inspection is required ..... 114.00
(ii)
Where rough-in inspection is pre-existing ..... 57.00
4.
Mobile or manufactured homes on private property ..... 57.00
e.
Boiler (each single-family dwelling) ..... 57.00
f.
Fire (each single family dwelling) ..... 57.00
g.
Small appliance installation/replacement ..... 57.00
(4)
Commercial building permits, (including apartments, and apartments sold as condominiums):
a.
Fixed fee for each $1,000.00 or fraction thereof of the estimated construction cost (less the cost used to calculate auxiliary permit fees) 7.40, or the greater of the applicable minimum fee.
b.
Minimum fees:
1.
New construction ..... 297.00
2.
Additions ..... 178.00
c.
Fee for $2,000.00 or less of the estimated construction cost (less the cost used to calculate auxiliary permit fees) for alterations, renovations and improvements of or within existing commercial buildings ..... 119.00
1.
Tenant upfits ..... 119.00
2.
Renovations ..... 119.00
d.
Flat fees:
1.
Communication tower ..... 238.00
2.
Commercial swimming pools ..... 178.00
(i)
Barrier permit, if permitted separately from the swimming pool permit ..... 59.00
3.
Retaining walls ..... 119.00
4.
Tents (greater than 900 square feet) ..... 48.00
5.
Industrialized building, including foundations ..... 119.00
6.
Construction/classroom/office trailer installation or relocation ..... 59.00
7.
Flagpoles ..... 48.00
8.
Demolition of a commercial structure ..... 119.00
9.
Change of use or occupancy, when no work is being performed ..... 59.00
10.
Signs ..... 59.00
(5)
Commercial auxiliary permits:
a.
Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas, active solar system, boiler, and well permits, when the cost of labor and materials for installation, alteration, replacement and/or repair is (rounded up to the nearest dollar) is $1,000.00 or less ..... 59.00
1.
For each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, of the estimated cost over $1,000.00 ..... 6.60
b.
Fire/sprinkler and alarm system installation, alteration, replacement and/or repair when the cost of labor and materials is $1,000 or less ..... 59.00
1.
For each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, of the estimated costs over $1,000.00 ..... 7.40
(6)
Other commercial permits:
a.
Annual certificate of compliance for elevators, escalators (per floor), dumbwaiters and man lifts, payable on or before December 31, for the following year ..... 48.00
b.
Amusement devices (The Virginia amusement device regulations set the maximum fee allowable for amusement devices and are subject to change. Fees will be updated as the Virginia amusement device regulations announce a fee schedule change):
1.
Administrative amusement permit, where no inspections are required ..... 10.00
2.
Kiddie rides ..... 25.00
3.
Major rides ..... 35.00
4.
Spectacular rides ..... 55.00
5.
Rollercoasters more than 30 feet in height ..... 150.00
(7)
Fee exemptions:
a.
A building permit fee will not be required where the cost of construction is less than $500.00 and would not require securing any permit for electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing work in accordance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
b.
A building permit fee will not be required for the construction of building areas designed and used as a place of worship.
c.
A building permit fee will not be required for building permits for construction by county departments funded by the general fund.
d.
A building or auxiliary permit fee will not be charged for commercial construction located in an "enterprise zone" or "subzone" as designated by the Commonwealth of Virginia or "technology zone" as designated by the county and administered by the county economic development office. This exemption shall continue for the life of the enterprise zone or subzone or technology zone.
e.
In the event of a presidentially-declared natural disaster, the board of supervisors may waive permit fees for repair of damage caused by the disaster.
f.
A building permit fee will not be required for the construction of ramps which provide access for handicapped persons to single-family dwellings, including townhouses and condominiums, provided that the permit applicant must provide to the building official proof that an individual who resides in the dwelling is medically in need of such a ramp for ingress to and egress from the dwelling.
(c)
Disposition of fees. All permit fees required by this section shall be paid by the applicant to the county treasurer when the permit application is filed with the building official. The treasurer shall deposit all permit fees in the county's general fund.
(Code 1978, § 6-4; Ord. of 4-9-97, § 1; Ord. of 4-8-98, § 1; Ord. of 3-10-99, § 1; Ord. of 4-28-99, § 1; Ord. of 4-12-00, § 1; Ord. of 4-9-03, § 1; Ord. of 7-1-04, § 1; Ord. of 4-12-06(1); Ord. of 9-27-06(2); Ord. of 5-3-07, § 1; Ord. of 4-9-08(1), § 1; Ord. of 11-13-13(1), § 1)
(Code 1978, § 6-4; Ord. of 4-9-97, § 1; Ord. of 4-8-98, § 1; Ord. of 3-10-99, § 1; Ord. of 4-28-99, § 1; Ord. of 4-12-00, § 1; Ord. of 4-9-03, § 1; Ord. of 7-1-04, § 1; Ord. of 4-12-06(1); Ord. of 9-27-06(2); Ord. of 5-3-07, § 1; Ord. of 4-9-08(1), § 1; Ord. of 11-13-13(1), § 1)