Plumbing Permit in Henrico County, Virginia
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
For work that installs new plumbing fixtures or alters the water supply, drainage, or vent systems
Issued byHenrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A plumbing permit is required in Henrico County for the initial installation of plumbing fixtures such as sinks, toilets, showers, and sump pumps, and for any work that alters the water supply, distribution, sanitary drainage, or vent systems, per the county's own Permit Center guidance. Replacing an existing plumbing fixture without altering those systems is exempt.
Who is pulling this permit?
Apply yourself
Hire it out
Sponsored
Plumbing permits are usually pulled by the plumber doing the job. If you are still choosing one, compare a few quotes first.
Compare plumber quotes on Angi
Sponsored link. PermitNotebook may earn a fee if you request quotes through it. Partners never influence our permit data.
When a permit is usually needed
For work that installs new plumbing fixtures or alters the water supply, drainage, or vent systems
What a plumbing permit costs in Henrico County
How Henrico County compares in Virginia
No Virginia jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington County | Permit required | Fees per FY27 ISD fee schedule plus DES drainage fixture unit fees where... |
| Chesterfield County | Permit required | $228 for a new single-family dwelling |
| Fairfax County | Permit required | Residential addition or alteration plumbing work starts at the $141.75 base... |
| Fauquier County | It depends | A single-trade plumbing permit is $84.15 including the technology fee at the... |
| Henrico Countythis page | Permit required | Existing-dwelling trade permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor... |
| Loudoun County | Permit required | Base fee for adding, replacing or relocating plumbing equipment in a 1 or 2... |
| Orange County | Permit required | Billed under the residential Trades category for plumbing work at $0.15 per... |
How to apply in Henrico County
In Henrico County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit.
What most plumbing permit applications include:
- For Henrico County, a permit is required before any owner or authorized agent constructs, alters, repairs, removes, converts, or replaces a plumbing system regulated by the code (IRC R105.1).
- For Henrico County, the application must identify and describe the work, describe the site, state the intended use and occupancy, and be signed by the applicant or an authorized agent (IRC R105.3).
- Two or more sets of construction documents must accompany the application, drawn with enough clarity to show the location, nature, and extent of the proposed plumbing work and how it will conform to code (IRC R106.1, R106.1.1).
- Minor plumbing repairs, such as clearing a stoppage or removing and resetting a water closet without rearranging pipes or fixtures, are exempt from permit (IRC R105.2).
- Once issued, a permit is only valid for a limited window, commonly 180 days, and becomes invalid if the work is not started or is abandoned within that time, though extensions can be requested (IRC R105.3.2, R105.5).
General submittal guidance from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapter 1 Scope and Administration, Sections R105 Permits and R106 Construction Documents. Source. Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections sets the exact checklist for Henrico County.
Where to apply in Henrico County:
Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections
- 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228
- Phone: (804) 501-4360
Plumbing Permit in Henrico County compared with nearby Virginia localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Virginia schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henrico County | Permit required | Not specified | Existing-dwelling trade permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and... | |
| Arlington County | 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 | |
| Chesterfield County | Permit required | Not specified | $228 for a new single-family dwelling | |
| Culpeper County | It depends | Not specified | Not published | |
| Fairfax County | Permit required | Not specified | Residential addition or alteration plumbing work starts at the $141.75 base fee for... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Henrico County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
- In Henrico County: piping and equipment placed under a slab or floor must be in place and inspected before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing is installed over it (IRC R109.1.1.1).
- In Henrico County: rough plumbing, along with the mechanical, gas, and electrical rough-in, must be inspected prior to covering or concealment and before fixtures or appliances are set (IRC R109.1.2).
- In Henrico County: rough drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping is tested with water, air, or (for plastic piping) a vacuum, and must show no evidence of leakage before it is closed in (IRC P2503.5.1).
- In Henrico County: the water-distribution piping is tested and must hold tight under the system's working pressure, or under a 50 psi air test for non-plastic piping, before it is concealed (IRC P2503.7).
- In Henrico County: the framing inspection cannot proceed until the plumbing rough inspection, along with the mechanical and electrical rough inspections, has been approved (IRC R109.1.4).
- In Henrico County: at the final drainage test, each fixture is filled and then drained, and its traps and fixture connections must prove watertight by visual inspection (IRC P2503.5.2).
- In Henrico County: final inspection is made after all work required by the permit is complete, and includes confirming backflow protection, such as vacuum breakers on hose bibbs, is installed (IRC R109.1.6, P2902.4.3).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Henrico County permit portal or by phone at (804) 501-4360.
Inspection sequence from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R109 Inspections and Section P2503 Inspection and Tests. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Plumbing Permit checklist for Henrico County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: For work that installs new plumbing fixtures or alters the water supply, drainage, or vent systems.
- Budget the fee. Existing-dwelling trade permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and materials cost, plus $6 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, plus a 2% state levy; a new-dwelling trade permit is a $100 flat fee plus $2 state levy ($102 total), per Henrico's residential trade permit fee schedule. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Henrico County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit. Start at the Henrico County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections. Phone: (804) 501-4360. Address: 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228.
- Plan for inspections. In Henrico County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a plumbing permit in Henrico County?
- A plumbing permit is required in Henrico County for the initial installation of plumbing fixtures such as sinks, toilets, showers, and sump pumps, and for any work that alters the water supply, distribution, sanitary drainage, or vent systems, per the county's own Permit Center guidance. Replacing an existing plumbing fixture without altering those systems is exempt. Always confirm with the Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections before starting.
- How much does a plumbing permit cost in Henrico County?
- Existing-dwelling trade permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and materials cost, plus $6 per additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, plus a 2% state levy; a new-dwelling trade permit is a $100 flat fee plus $2 state levy ($102 total), per Henrico's residential trade permit fee schedule. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a plumbing permit in Henrico County?
- You can apply through the Henrico County permit portal or contact the Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Henrico County?
- Under Virginia law (Va. Code 54.1-1101(A); 13VAC5-63-80 (USBC Sections 108.3, 108.4)): Yes. Va. Code 54.1-1101(A) exempts any person who performs or supervises construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by them and for their own use during any 24-month period. The exemption covers the whole licensing chapter, including tradesman licensing for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, so it reaches trade work on the owner's own primary residence. Under the USBC the permit applicant may be the owner or the owner's agent, and an applicant may file a written statement that they are not subject to licensure instead of proof of license. Limits: one primary residence per 24 months, for the owner's own use; rental and investment property work is not covered. Confirm how Henrico County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Henrico County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom Remodel Permit | It depends | Not specified | Falls under the existing-dwelling building permit formula of $100 for the first $5,000... |
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Existing-dwelling addition or alteration permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Existing-dwelling trade permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and... |
| EV Charger Permit | Permit required | Not specified | No EV-specific fee |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fences 7 feet or less in height that do not serve as a swimming pool barrier are exempt; taller fences and any fence serving as a pool barrier require a building permit | Fences up to 7 feet that are not a pool barrier need no permit |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Existing-dwelling trade permit fee applies: $100 for the first $5,000 of labor and... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | on-grade concrete or paver patios are exempt; a permit is required for a patio cover, roofed patio structure, or an addition built over or attached to the patio | No permit fee |
| Pool Permit | It depends | pools, hot tubs, or spas with a surface area greater than 150 sq ft, more than 5,000 gallons, or 24 inches or more deep require a building permit; smaller and shallower pools are exempt | Existing-dwelling addition or alteration permit fee applies to swimming pools requiring... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | like-for-like replacement of roof covering on one- and two-family homes is exempt in areas with nominal design wind speed of 100 mph or less; a permit is required when more than 256 sq ft of roof sheathing (decking) is repaired or replaced and may be required in historic districts or flood hazard areas | Roof covering replacement is exempt in unlimited amounts so typical reroofing needs no... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | sheds and playhouses over 256 sq ft or more than one story require a building permit; 256 sq ft or less and only one story is exempt | Sheds of 256 sq ft or less and one story need no permit |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Residential solar needs only an electrical permit with no separate building permit per... |
| Water Heater Permit | It depends | Not specified | Electric, gas and oil water heaters need a mechanical permit for new or replacement... |
Plumbing Permit in other Virginia localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Henrico County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this plumbing permit page for Henrico County was verified. 3 official sources: law.lis.virginia.gov, henrico.gov, henrico.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Plumbing Permit requirements across Virginia localities
Permit office
Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections
(804) 501-4360Permit portal