Permits are required for two main purposes: to protect people from repair and construction violations that could cause harm to life and property, and to ensure compliance with federally mandated building related requirements, such as energy conservation and accessibility. Failure to obtain the required permit is a violation of the law.
Acquiring permits for residential construction require different assets depending on the type of construction taking place:
New Construction
- Residential Building Permit Application
- Four (4) copies of the building plans (see below for plan requirements)
- Nine (9) grading plans — must be sealed by Virginia-licensed engineer, architect or surveyor. A grading plan is a drawing of your construction site showing existing and proposed topography, environmental controls, demolition and improvements to the land. A copy of the plat bearing the surveyor’s seal must be attached to each set of drawings submitted, and a completed Land Disturbance Application submitted to the Department of Environmental Services.
- The Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Impact Worksheet is required if the property is located within a Resource Protection Area (RPA). A Flood Plain permit is required if the property is within the 100 year flood plain or County-required Flood Buffer Zone. Check the RPA map for more details.
- Water and Sewer Services application
- Foundation plan
- Structural framing plans for each level and roof accurately detailing all members, sizes, span lengths and spacing
- Evaluation report from an approved listing agency such as the International Code Council (ICC)
- Building Height Information Worksheet
- Lot Coverage Information Worksheet
Plan Requirements
- Minimum page size 11″ X 17″, minimum scale of 1/8 inch = 1 foot; all dimensions must be shown
- Code year used for the design
- Name, address and occupation of the building designer. If the plans are prepared by a Virginia-registered design professional, at least one set of plans must bear the original signature, seal, and date. This set will be retained by the County.
- All plans must adhere to the Architectural, Structural and Mechanical Plan Requirements
- List of material specifications including, but not limited to, grade and species of lumber and concrete and steel strength
- List of design load criteria: live load, dead load, snow load, wind speed, soil bearing capacity, and lateral earth pressure
- Foundation plan
- All Arlington County easements must be shown on a certified plan and plat (please contact the Department of Environmental Services for information about easements)
- Mechanics lien information (if any)
- Building height must be provided by listing the information on the plans or by completing the Building Height Information Worksheet
- Lot coverage must be provided by listing the information on the plans or by completing the Lot Coverage worksheet applicable to your Zoning District.
- Footing details (minimum footing depth is 24 inches)
- Floor plans of all levels with all rooms labeled
- Locations of smoke alarms
- Structural framing plans for each level and roof accurately detailing all members, sizes, span lengths, and spacing
- Structural details of connections
- Evaluation service and load calculations for all adjustable columns
- Typical wall section with sheathing thickness and type
- Insulation R-values and U-factors. See Energy Conservation for more information and specific requirements.
- Wall bracing including location of all braced wall lines and braced wall panels, method(s), and any other special requirements. Proprietary products require an evaluation report from an approved listing agency. Designed shear walls require the submission of design calculations sign and sealed by a Virginia-registered design professional.
- Building cross sections with all posts, joists and beams labeled
- Elevations (front, sides and rear) indicating window and door dimensions. Exterior grade (both preconstruction and post construction) must be accurately shown
- Whirlpool/Jacuzzi/over-sized tub manufacturer’s information showing structural loading requirements
- Location of safety glazing
- Manufacturer’s design specifications for pre-fabricated fireplaces
Addition to an Existing Building (Route-through)
- Three (3) copies of the building plans
- Three (3) copies of survey plat, sealed by engineer or surveyor (applies also to 2nd story additions). Must show location of new outdoor mechanical units.
- Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Impact Worksheet is required if the property is within a Resource Protection Area or a Flood Plain permit is required if the property is within the 100 year flood plain or County-required Flood Buffer Zone. Check the RPA map for more details.
- A certified house location plat, to scale, showing the total area of land disturbance. This must include decks, patios, landscaping, ingress/ egress, stockpile area, etc.
- A development plan is required if the total land disturbance exceeds 2,500 sq ft. Where the disturbed area is calculated to be greater than 2,000 sq. ft., but less than 2,500 sq ft, the limits of disturbance must be shown with a 10-foot buffer around the footprint of the addition and include all patios, driveways, pavers, landscaping, grading, staging, stockpiling, retaining walls, etc, in the calculations shown on the certified plat. Additionally, the physical demarcation of the disturbed area must be staked out in the field through the use of silt fence, snow fence, tree protection fencing or a comparable material and certified by a licensed professional engineer, land surveyor or architect.
Plan Requirements
- Minimum page size 11″ X 17″
- All Arlington County easements must be shown on a certified plan and plat.
- Mechanics lien information (if any)
- Building height must be provided by listing the information on the plans or by completing the Building Height Worksheet.
- Lot coverage must be provided by listing the information on the plans or by completing the Lot Coverage worksheet applicable to your Zoning District.
See Architectural, Structural and Mechanical Plan Requirements for plan details.
Addition to an Existing Building (Walk-through)
Required Plans & Documents
- Three (3) copies of the building plans
- Two (2) sets of mechanical drawings to show Mechanical HVAC Layout and Equipment list, (if resizing furnace, adding additional zone or adding A/C to a house without existing ductwork).
- Two (2) copies of survey plat, sealed by engineer or surveyor (applies also to 2nd story additions). Must show location of new outdoor mechanical units.
- Mechanics lien information (If any)
- A certified house location plat, to scale showing the limits of disturbance, decks, patios, landscaping, flood plain, Resource Protection Area (RPA), and all Arlington County easements.
- A development plan is required if the total land disturbance exceeds 2,500 sq ft. Where the disturbed area is calculated to be greater than 2,000 sq ft., but less than 2,500 sq ft, the limits of disturbance must be shown with a 10-foot buffer around the foot print of the addition include all patios, driveways, pavers, landscaping, grading, staging, stockpiling, retaining walls etc. in the calculations shown on the certified plat. Additionally, the physical demarcation of the disturbed area must be staked out in the field through the use of silt fence, snow fence, tree protection fencing or a comparable material and certified by a licensed professional engineer, land surveyor or architect. This will result in the permit not being processed as a walk-thru.
- Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Impact Worksheet is required if the property is within a Resource Protection Area, and a flood plain permit is required if the property is within the 100 year flood plain or County-required Flood Buffer Zone. This will result in the permit not being processed as a walk-through.
Plan Requirements
- Minimum page size 11″ X 17″
- Building height must be provided by listing the information on the plans or by completing the Building Height Worksheet.
- Lot coverage must be provided by listing the information on the plans or by completing the Lot Coverage worksheet applicable to your Zoning District.
- Floor plans of all levels with all rooms labeled
- Size, spacing and length of all posts, joists, and beams shown on a framing plan (“bird’s eye view”)
- Name, address and occupation of the building designer and project address
- Code year used for design.
See Architectural, Structural and Mechanical Plan Requirements for plan details. (Some additions may result in a route-through)
Interior Alterations (Walk-through)
Required Plans & Documents
- Two (2) sets of building plans
- Mechanics lien information (If any)
Plan Requirements
- Minimum page size 11″ X 17″
- Floor plans of all levels with all rooms labeled
- Name, address and occupation of the building designer and project address
- Code year used for design
- Size, spacing and length of all posts, joists, and beams shown on a framing plan (“bird’s eye view”).
See Architectural, Structural and Mechanical Plan Requirements for plan details (Some additions may result in a route-through).
Other information