Plumbing Permit in Loudoun County, Virginia
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
For adding or relocating plumbing fixtures or running new plumbing
Issued byLoudoun County Department of Building and Development
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
A plumbing permit is required in Loudoun County for adding or relocating plumbing fixtures such as bathrooms, sinks, and drains, and for any new plumbing runs. Contractors must hold a master plumber license and a valid Loudoun County business license. Submit applications through the LandMARC online portal or in person at the Government Center.
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When a permit is usually needed
For adding or relocating plumbing fixtures or running new plumbing
What a plumbing permit costs in Loudoun County
How Loudoun County compares in Virginia
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Threshold |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Chesterfield County | Permit required | Any size |
| Fairfax County | Permit required | Any size |
| Fauquier County | It depends | For new plumbing or fixture relocation |
| Henrico County | Permit required | Any size |
| Loudoun Countythis page | Permit required | Any size |
| Orange County | Permit required | Any size |
How to apply in Loudoun County
In Loudoun 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 Loudoun 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 Loudoun 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. Loudoun County Department of Building and Development sets the exact checklist for Loudoun County.
Where to apply in Loudoun County:
Loudoun County Department of Building and Development
- 1 Harrison Street SE, Leesburg, VA 20175
- Phone: (703) 777-0220
Plumbing Permit in Loudoun County compared with nearby Virginia localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each Virginia schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loudoun County | Permit required | Any size | ...replacing or relocating plumbing equipment in a 1 or 2 family dwelling is... | |
| 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. | See schedule | |
| Chesterfield County | Permit required | Any size | $228 for a new single-family dwelling | |
| Culpeper County | It depends | For new plumbing runs, rerouting pipes, or additions | Not published | |
| Fairfax County | Permit required | Any size | Residential addition or alteration plumbing work starts at the $141.75 base fee for... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Loudoun 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 Loudoun 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 Loudoun 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 Loudoun 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 Loudoun 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 Loudoun 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 Loudoun 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 Loudoun 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 Loudoun County permit portal or by phone at (703) 777-0220.
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 Loudoun County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: For adding or relocating plumbing fixtures or running new plumbing.
- Budget the fee. Base fee for adding, replacing or relocating plumbing equipment in a 1 or 2 family dwelling is $70; new or replacement water service and sewer connections are each a separate $70, per the July 2022 fee schedule. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Loudoun 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 Loudoun County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Loudoun County Department of Building and Development. Phone: (703) 777-0220. Address: 1 Harrison Street SE, Leesburg, VA 20175.
- Plan for inspections. In Loudoun 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 .
Permitting activity in Loudoun County
In 2025, Loudoun County authorized permits for 1,561 new residential housing units (641 single-family, 920 in multi-family buildings), valued at $273M, down from 3,314 the year before. That works out to about 3.5 permits per 1,000 residents.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual data · population 449,749.
About Loudoun County
Loudoun County has about 144,804 housing units. The median home is valued at $701,000, against a median household income of $178,707. About 78% of homes are owner-occupied, and the typical home was built around 2002.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a plumbing permit in Loudoun County?
- A plumbing permit is required in Loudoun County for adding or relocating plumbing fixtures such as bathrooms, sinks, and drains, and for any new plumbing runs. Contractors must hold a master plumber license and a valid Loudoun County business license. Submit applications through the LandMARC online portal or in person at the Government Center. Always confirm with the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development before starting.
- How much does a plumbing permit cost in Loudoun County?
- Base fee for adding, replacing or relocating plumbing equipment in a 1 or 2 family dwelling is $70; new or replacement water service and sewer connections are each a separate $70, per the July 2022 fee schedule. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a plumbing permit in Loudoun County?
- You can apply through the Loudoun County permit portal or contact the Loudoun County Department of Building and Development directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Loudoun 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 Loudoun County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Loudoun 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 | Cosmetic and like-for-like work is exempt in Virginia | ...residential alteration: building permit fee is 1% of construction cost plus a $130... |
| Deck Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...design) deck under 1,000 sq ft outside an incorporated town is a flat $265 covering... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...or relocating fixtures, receptacles or circuits in a 1 or 2 family dwelling is... |
| EV Charger Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...home charger circuit files under the standard residential Electrical Permit at $70... |
| Fence Permit | No permit needed | Exempt | Typical residential fences are exempt from the Zoning Permit requirement so no fee applies |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...central heating or air conditioning equipment in a 1 or 2 family dwelling is $70... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | on-grade concrete or paver patios need no building permit; a permit is required for covered patios, patio covers, or slabs designed to support a future structure | Not published |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Any size | Flat $260 covers both the county building and zoning permit fees for a residential pool... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | permit required if replacing more than 256 sq ft of roof decking or making structural changes or changing roofing materials | reroofing bills as a residential alteration at 1% of construction cost plus a $130 plan... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | under 256 sq ft requires zoning permit only; 256 sq ft or larger requires a building permit in addition to zoning permit | Zoning-only permit is $165 |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | Building permit fee is $230 and electrical permit fee is $70 for rooftop systems |
| Water Heater Permit | It depends | A gas or oil fired water heater replacement requires a permit in Virginia: USBC Section... | install or replacement bills under the standard Plumbing Permit at $70 for 1 and 2... |
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 Loudoun County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this plumbing permit page for Loudoun County was verified. 2 official sources: loudoun.gov, loudoun.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Loudoun County Department of Building and Development. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Plumbing Permit requirements across Virginia localities