BUILDING PERMITS

Finishing a basement in Fairfax County requires the following permits.

• Building Permit.
• Electrical Permit.
• Plumbing Permit if installing plumbing fixtures or gas piping.

To apply for a permit, go to the Permit Application Center at the Herrity Building in Fairfax. To learn more about the permit application process, please refer to our Finished Basements (PDF) publication.

BUILDING PLANS

You must submit two sets of building plans during the permit application process. However, if you agree to finish your basement in strict conformance with the Fairfax County Typical Finished Basement Details, you are not required to submit plans.

Building plans must meet the current building code; for a full list of plan requirements, please refer to our Finished Basements (PDF) publication.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions, please e-mail us or call 703-222-0801, TTY 711 during our hours of operation. The permit, plan review and inspection processes can also be accessed through the Fairfax Inspections Database Online (FIDO).