A Household Appliance permit may be used for the replacement or first-time installation of appliances within a residence. These permits require one inspection to verify code-compliant installation. Fuel-fired appliances, including gas appliances, are included under the Household Appliance permit type when no new gas piping is being installed. Gas appliances are not exempt from permit requirements. Section 108.2 of the Virginia Residential Code (VRC) specifically states that the replacement of mechanical appliances is exempt only if they are not fueled by gas or oil in certain residential occupancies (Groups R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5). Because of this, any gas appliance installation or replacement—such as a water heater, furnace, or boiler—requires a permit, even if it is a like-for-like replacement. If your project includes the installation of new gas piping along with the appliance, you must apply for a Residential Plumbing permit instead of a Household Appliance permit.

This information is the most common for how to obtain the necessary approval for your project and is not representative of all the conditions you may encounter.

 

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Property owners may obtain permits in their own name, however, it is strongly recommended a properly licensed contractor pull the permits as the responsible party so the county can better assist in gaining compliance for defective work.

• Hiring a Contractor
• Verify License on DPOR Website

 

PLAN AHEAD

Before submitting, ensure you are aware of all applicable regulations and conditions that could affect your project to avoid surprises during the review process. Some of those factors include:

• Zoning Information
• Design Codes and Standards
• Do I Need to Hire a Registered Design Professional (RDP)?
• Floodplains
• Resource Protection Areas (RPA)
• Grading/Site Plans
• Parking Tabulation
• Types of Soils and Problem Soils
• Researching Site Conditions

To get a detailed description about each regulation and condition, visit our Plan Ahead page.

 

HOW DO I SUBMIT MY RECORD?

PLUS Application

Apply for your household appliance building permit online in PLUS under the Building tab. If you are a first-time user, you must first register for an account.

 

Instructional Videos for PLUS

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Requirements

Depending on the scope of your project, one or more of the following may be required:

• Chimney Vent Certification
  • Required for the replacement and installation of all fuel-burning appliances and equipment in existing buildings. 
• Permit Authorization
  • Required if the applicant is not the owner and is not a licensed contractor.
• Property Ownership Affidavit
  • Required if the owner information does not match current tax records, often when there is a new owner.
• License Exemption Affidavit
  • Required if a licensed contractor is not listed on the application.
• Projects located in the towns of Clifton or Vienna require separate approvals from the respective towns.
  • Approval documentation from the appropriate township must be uploaded to your PLUS record, via the Digital Plan Room, and named accordingly (e.g., Town of Vienna Approval).
• A2L Refrigeration System Certification
  • Required for all installations of heating and cooling appliances that utilize A2L refrigerants for human comfort in one and two family dwellings.

 

What's Next?

Below are the necessary steps to follow after your application is accepted in PLUS.