Building permits in Arlington County, Virginia
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Arlington County, 6 need a permit outright and 4 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 3 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Arlington County
Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division
- Permit Arlington Center, First Floor, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201
- Phone: 703-228-3800
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Arlington County
Arlington County runs an online permit portal. Many local portals let you check application status, search permit records, and view inspection results without calling the office.
Search the Arlington County permit portal
What needs a permit in Arlington County
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Arlington County, 6 need a permit outright and 4 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | Permit required | No size exemption is published for decks; new decks and deck modifications are treated as additions requiring a Residential Building Permit. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Like for like replacement of switches, receptacles, lighting fixtures and similar elements of the same type, size and location is exempt unless located in plenums or penetrating fire rated or smoke protected construction. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule |
| Fence Permit | Permit required | Arlington requires a fence permit for any new or replacement fence not part of a larger permitted project; the state building code exempts fences from a building permit unless they serve as a swimming pool barrier or are required for pedestrian safety. | Fees per FY27 Planning and Zoning fee schedule |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Replacement of mechanical equipment of the same type, size and location is exempt unless the equipment is fueled by gas, in which case a Plumbing/Gas Permit is required; outdoor equipment locations still need zoning approval. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Arlington lists no patio building permit type; a Land Disturbing Activity/Stormwater permit is required when total land disturbance equals or exceeds 2,500 square feet. | LDA/SWM fees per FY27 DES fee schedule |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Replacement of fixtures, appliances or piping of the same type, size and location on equipment not fueled by gas is exempt; work on gas fueled equipment always requires a permit and inspections. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule plus DES drainage fixture unit fees where applicable |
| Pool Permit | It depends | Under USBC 108.2 a swimming pool is exempt only when its surface area is not greater than 150 square feet and it is less than 24 inches deep; otherwise building and trade permits are required. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Replacing roof covering alone or with less than 256 square feet of roof decking replaced needs no permit; replacing more than 256 square feet of decking requires a building permit, and decking originally required to be fire retardant treated always requires a permit. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule |
| Shed Permit | It depends | One story detached tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures are exempt from a building permit when the building area does not exceed 256 square feet. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Residential solar electric systems require both an electrical permit and a building permit; no size exemption is published. | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule |
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Arlington County permit fees compared with nearby Virginia localities
| Virginia locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington County | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule |
| Chesterfield County | $114 flat fee for a deck, carport, gazebo, or similar... | $114 for a new HVAC system installation or system... | $171 for a new single-family dwelling |
| Culpeper County | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Fairfax County | Billed as an addition under Table 1's area-based... | Direct replacement of HVAC equipment is a household... | Residential addition or alteration electrical work starts... |
Each cell is the opening clause of that Virginia jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
Arlington County permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in Arlington County?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 10 permit types we have verified for Arlington County, 6 always require a permit (for example a deck permit), 4 depend on size or scope (a patio permit, for instance). Each Arlington County permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in Arlington County?
- Arlington County publishes a fee for 10 of the 10 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule (linked on every page that carries one). Fees are set by Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division; we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in Arlington County?
- Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division issues permits in Arlington County, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at 703-228-3800. The Arlington County official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
How the Arlington County pages were verified. 10 permit types, 12 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development, Inspection Services Division or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for Arlington County is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.