Land Development Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Friday, 9:15 a.m. - 4 p.m. Please note that visitors may not be added to in-person queues past 3:45 p.m.
703-222-0801 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Pkwy
Fairfax, VA 22035
Bill Hicks
Director

New Building (BLDR) - Residential

A residential New Building permit is required for the following types of projects:

  • New Single-Family Dwelling (New Custom Home or approved Masterfile)
  • New Single-Family Dwelling on Existing Foundation (based on definition of an addition in Chapter 61 of the Fairfax County Code)
  • New Townhouse
  • New Detached Structure
    • Pool/Bath house, Detached Garage, Detached Carport, Accessory Structure/Building, Gazebo, Pole Barn, Shed (if over 256 square feet)

To determine whether your permit application requires an associated grading plan, visit our Land Disturbance 101 webpage.

Note: Some residential properties (example: apartment buildings and condos) are considered commercial per the building code and therefore require commercial building permits. To be considered residential, a project must consist of a detached one- or two-family dwelling or townhouse and be no more than three stories high above ground level, as defined by code.

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.

 

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 and County Typical Details
  • 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 residential new building record online in PLUS under the Building tab. If you are a first-time user, you must first register for an account.

application tab

 

 

Instructional Videos for PLUS

 
 

 

 

 

Helpful Instruction Guide:

 

Requirements

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

First Submission

 

Subsequent Submissions

If corrections are required, you will receive an email with links and instructions to make corrections and resubmit.

  • Issues” are comments from reviewers, which require an applicant response before resubmitting. Please respond to each “open” comment.
  • Prior to responding to comments and uploading revised plans/documents, navigate to the “Fees” tab and pay any outstanding resubmission fees.
  • Once complete, respond to all “open” issues, upload updated plans and/or documents, if needed, and complete your resubmission.

For further assistance, please refer to the below videos for step-by-step guidance on the resubmission process:

Helpful Videos:

red arrow in gray box Reviewing Issues, Conditions, & Notes in PLUS - YouTube

red arrow in gray box Void a Plan Sheet - YouTube

red arrow in gray box Upload Corrected Plans in PLUS - YouTube

Helpful Instruction Guides:

 

What's Next?

To get a step-by-step guide on PLUS statuses and what they mean, see our What is My PLUS Status? Building Plans Infographic

 

Review Process

Staff from the Permit Application Center, Health Department (if on well or septic), Building Plan Review, Site Technician Review team, Fire Marshal’s Office, Wastewater and Zoning may review your package for completeness and compliance with the building code and county ordinances. You will be notified of any deficiencies. Plan corrections, resubmission fees and additional supporting documents may be required.

For a detailed summary of application progress, to include the name(s) of assigned review staff, click on “Reports” in the top-right corner of the PLUS screen, when you are in a specific record, and select “Workflow Routing Slip Report.”

workflow routing slip

 

Permit Issuance

Once all reviews are approved and fees have been paid, your permit card and approved plans (if applicable) will be available to download from PLUS. You will also receive a link via a PLUS email notification.

Helpful Video:

red arrow in gray box Access Approved Plans in PLUS - YouTube Video

 

Associated Trade Permits

If your project includes electrical, plumbing or mechanical (often referred to as “trades”) work, separate trades permits may be required. When associated with the same project, the trades permits should be related to the main building permit (the “parent” permit) as “child” permits. 

  • Electrical (ELER) and Plumbing (PLBR) Permits
    These permits can be obtained after the building permit has been issued. Plans are not required. Identify that there is a Parent Permit in the Step 2: Application Detail.


Parent Permit screenshot

Input the building permit number in Step 2: Application Detail, when prompted for the Related Parent Record Entry.

application detail tab

  • Mechanical (MECHR) Permits
    These permits are applied for in the same manner as the electrical and plumbing permits. If you are installing a new HVAC system, you must upload a Residential HVAC Certification prior to issuance of the mechanical permit. Additionally you will need to submit an Air Leakage/Duct Leakage Test form online. It must be reviewed/approved prior to calling for a final inspection.

 

Building Inspections

Once the permit is issued and you begin construction, you are required to obtain inspections from the county for your project. The county must be notified when the stages of construction are reached that require an inspection. For more information, see our inspections webpage.

Helpful Video:

red arrow in gray box Building Inspections (an overview on how to schedule an inspection) - YouTube Video

red arrow in gray box Scheduling Building Inspections (a deeper dive into scheduling inspections, including common issues) - YouTube Video

 

 

Occupancy

A Residential Use Permit (RUP) is the occupancy permit issued for a residential unit after all permits receive final inspections and all conditions are met. Occupancy is coordinated with your inspector and is scheduled via email to LDSBuildingInspections@fairfaxcounty.gov.

 

Additional Resources

 

 

Need More Assistance?

For questions or additional information, please contact staff via telephone at 703-222-0801, TTY 711.

 

 

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