- How do I ... ?
- Where can I find ... ?
- Why doesn't ... ?
- Who is ... ?
- What is ... ?
- When is ... ?
How Do I know if I need approval from my Home Owners Association?
Restrictive Covenants – Check with your home
owners' association (HOA) to determine whether your community has restrictive
covenants which would require HOA approval on any improvements or maintenance to
the exterior of your house. Typically, these would include roofing, siding,
painting, additions of decks or garages, and landscaping or privacy fences, as
well as changes to entrance doors, garage doors or shutters.
How do I know if I need zoning approval for my project?
Zoning
Approval –
Exterior projects may require approval from the County Zoning Office, whether or
not a Building Permit is required. Zoning approval is always required for decks,
additions, garages or carports, fences and swimming pools. Zoning approval may
be required for retaining walls, depending on the height and the amount of area
being disturbed. You are urged to contact the Zoning Office for your county if
you have any questions on Zoning requirements.
Where can I find information on what my county or city requires for my
project?
County/Municipal Residential Improvement Links in our service area:
-
Fairfax County
-
Prince William County
- Stafford County
- Loudon County
- Arlington County
- City of Alexandria
- City of Manassas park
- City of Fairfax
- City of Falls Church
- City of Manassas
[This is the answer to the question.]
[This is the answer to the question.]
What is the required building code for construction/improvement projects
in Virginia?
Building Code – All
jurisdictions in Virginia are required to use the Uniform Statewide
Building Code (USBC). The state adopts the national model codes,
with amendments, for use statewide so that everyone in the
Commonwealth is subject to the same regulations. The actual code
that is used for home improvements is the 2006 IRC. Please click
this link for more information about
Building Code Information for Residential Projects.
|
When is a permit required?
Permits Always Required – A
permit are always required for any of the following work:
- Finishing
your basement
- Porches or
decks where the floor is 16.5 inches or more higher than the
finished grade
- Additions
- Garages or
carports
- Sheds
greater than 150 square feet in area
- Fences
greater than six feet in height
- All
retaining walls greater than 24" in height
- Any
retaining walls of any height that support a surge from a
structure above (walls, roads, driveways, sidewalks, etc.)
- In-ground or
above-ground swimming pools or spas impounding more than two
feet of water, greater than 150 square feet, and greater than
5000 gallons.
- Removing or
altering any structural (support) members and any work involving
alterations to the house plumbing, electrical, or heating and
air conditioning (mechanical) systems
- Installing a
prefabricated fireplace, wood stove or insert
- Installation
or replacement of doors and/or windows when structural
alterations are made or required
- Replacing
gas or oil furnaces, gas logs, or gas appliances
- Installing a
new electrical circuit, fixture or receptacle (see low voltage
exception below)
- New
appliances in a new location and upgraded appliances requiring
electrical, plumbing or mechanical systems upgrades
When is a permit not required?
Permits Not
Required
–
Please remember that although the work is not subject to
permit requirements, it still must be performed in a
manner meeting code requirements.
The
following work does not require permits:
-
Replacing gutters or downspouts
-
Replacing kitchen cabinets
-
Painting (interior or exterior) and wallpapering
-
Re-roofing or new siding repairs
-
Sheds 150 square feet or less in area
-
Replacing existing
plumbing fixtures (water closets, tubs, sinks,
garbage disposals, etc.) where no alteration to the
supply or drain/waste/vent systems are involved
-
Replacing existing light
fixtures
-
Replacing existing
appliances when replaced in the same location with
units of a similar capacity
-
Fences six feet or less
in height
-
Concrete (patio) slabs
on grade that are not designed to support a future
building addition
-
Replacing any electrical
water heater with the same size heater in the same
location
-
Replacing electric furnace,
heat pump, or air-conditioning condensing unit with
the same type unit in the same location
-
Repairing
air-conditioners or furnaces by installing
replacement parts
-
Installation of
low-voltage wiring (under 50 volts/door bell or
security system)
-
Retaining walls used for
landscaping purposes that are fewer than 24 inches
in height, and do not support a surge from any
structures above (Note: retaining wall systems
composed of several tiers of individual retaining
walls will require a permit if the total height of
the retaining wall system exceeds 24 inches.)
|
|
|
|
