Building Permit Fees in Virginia Beach, VA (2026)

What common projects cost

Kitchen or bath remodel

$25,000 value, remodel 300 sq ft

$288.50

$175.00 building permit + $100.00 plan review + $3.50 state levy + $10.00 technology

Room addition

$75,000 value, addition 400 sq ft

$189.56

$78.00 building permit + $100.00 plan review + $1.56 state levy + $10.00 technology

New single-family home

$350,000 value, new single-family 2,400 sq ft

$332.36

$218.00 building permit + $100.00 plan review + $4.36 state levy + $10.00 technology

How Virginia Beach calculates your permit fee

The city charges a building permit fee using a fee table based on floor area. Plan review is a separate charge: a flat $100.00.

The fee table

Residential living area (heated), new and additions

Floor area	Fee
Over 0 sq ft	$50.00 + $7.00 per additional 100 sq ft or fraction

Residential alterations

Project value	Fee
Over $0	$50.00 + $5.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction

Commercial new and additions

Floor area	Fee
Over 0 sq ft	$50.00 + $8.00 per additional 100 sq ft or fraction

Commercial alterations

Project value	Fee
Over $0	$50.00 + $5.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction

Surcharges

State levy: 2% of the permit fee
Technology fee: $10.00

What counts as project value

Floor area (square feet). New construction and additions are charged per 100 sq ft of area (heated vs non-heated). Alterations, roofing and siding are charged on construction value: "$50.00 plus $5.00 per $1000 of construction value or fraction thereof". The fee sheets do not say how construction value is determined.

Worked example: a $350,000 new home

Building permit fee: $50.00 for the first 0 sq ft + $7.00 × 24 per 100 sq ft over = $218.00
Plan review fee: flat = $100.00
State levy: 2% of $218.00 = $4.36
Technology fee: fixed = $10.00
Total before trade permits: $332.36.

Fees people miss

Fee	Amount
Residential counter plan reviewWhen: small residential plan sets reviewed at the counter (instead of the $100 plan review)	$25.00 each
Residential plan review revisionWhen: revisions	$25.00 each
Commercial (minor) plan reviewWhen: minor commercial projects	$100.00 each
Commercial counter plan reviewWhen: small commercial plan sets reviewed at the counter	$50.00 each
Commercial plan review revisionWhen: revisions	$100.00 each
Special use and occupancy reviewWhen: commercial special use and occupancy review	$400.00 each
Certificate of occupancy	$75.00 each
Re-inspection feeWhen: failed or missed inspection	$75.00 each
Right of way feeWhen: when right-of-way work applies	$35.00 each
Water service lineWhen: when a water service line is installed	$50.00 each
Sewer service lineWhen: when a sewer service line is installed	$50.00 each
Tent permitWhen: tents	$50.00 per tent

2 more fees

Cell site: $100.00 up to 5 facilities
Administrative fee for beginning work without a permit: $250.00 each

How to apply

Gather your plans and your project's total value and floor area.
Submit to Planning Department, Permits & Inspections through Accela (Permits & Inspections online permitting).
Pay the permit and plan review fees when invoiced.
Questions: (757) 385-4211 · Municipal Center, Building 3, 2403 Courthouse Drive, Virginia Beach, VA

Source record

Effective: not stated
Verified: 2026-11-04
Issuer: Planning Department, Permits & Inspections
Valuation: Floor area (square feet)
Confidence: medium

What this page does not cover (5)

No precise effective date: fee sheets only say 'rev. Jul-2025'; the adopting ordinance (City Code fee section) was not located
Whether the 2% state levy also applies to the plan review fee is not stated ('on the permit fees listed above'); modelled on the permit fee only
Plan review modelled as the full $100 residential / $200 commercial fee; small counter-reviewed sets pay $25 / $50 instead
Fee sheets do not say how construction value is determined for alterations
Trade (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas) permit fees not extracted

Separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, impact, utility and school fees are usually not included unless they are listed. BuildingPermitCost is not a government permit office, and this is not legal advice.

Report an error · How we verify fees

How Virginia Beach compares

A $25,000 remodel costs $288.50 in Virginia Beach: 24% below the national median of $380.00, and the 2nd highest of 7 places we cover in Virginia (state median $224.40).

A $75,000 addition costs $189.56 in Virginia Beach: 77% below the national median of $820.58, and the 2nd lowest of 5 places we cover in Virginia (state median $418.65).

A $350,000 new home costs $332.36 in Virginia Beach: 89% below the national median of $2,918.63, and the 2nd lowest of 7 places we cover in Virginia (state median $524.01).

Same standard projects everywhere, including plan review and required surcharges. All Virginia places · Compare side by side

Virginia Beach permit fee FAQ

How much is a building permit in Virginia Beach, VA?

A $25,000 remodel: $288.50. A $75,000 addition: $189.56. A $350,000 new single-family: $332.36. These include every fee the schedule applies to that project; trade permits are separate.

Is plan review included in the Virginia Beach permit fee?

No. Plan review is charged separately at a flat $100.00.

How does Virginia Beach determine project value?

Floor area (square feet). New construction and additions are charged per 100 sq ft of area (heated vs non-heated). Alterations, roofing and siding are charged on construction value: "$50.00 plus $5.00 per $1000 of construction value or fraction thereof". The fee sheets do not say how construction value is determined.

When did these Virginia Beach fees take effect?

The schedule does not state an effective date. We last checked it against the official source on Nov 4, 2026.