Home Town Services Building Inspection Residential Building Permits

Residential Building Permits

Spring has arrived and many citizens will plan to spruce up their decks as part of their spring projects.  The Building Inspections staff would like to remind you of regulations that now require a building permit before reconstructing decks.

Reconstructing decks includes the following:

·          replacement of decking

·          replacement of guardrails

·          stairs replacement

·          replacement of any structural member such as joists and beams

Regulations require the deck to meet all current provisions for the structural load capacity, connections and attachments. If you have any questions regarding this code requirement, or any other code questions, please contact Building Inspections at buildinginspections@herndon-va.gov or by phone (703) 435-6850.  You may also visit us at the 777 Lynn Street, 2^nd floor.

Habitable Building Permits- ie. Basement Finish, Sunroom

Review Process:     Complete all required forms and submit
                            with plans to the Building Inspections Office.
                            Permit approval will take approximately 5 to
                            10 business days.  You will receive a phone
                            call from our office as soon as the permit is
                            approved and ready for pick up.

Required Forms:      Habitable Building Permit Application
                            Owners Affidavit (or current VA Contractor 
                            License)

Required Documents:   3 copies of detailed plan
                                 2 copies of house plat (for additions)

Fee's:                           There are no fee's due until the permit
                             approval has been complete.  You will be
                             informed of the fee when you are contacted
                             informing you the permit is approved and
                             ready for pick up.

If you do any changes or additions to the plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems you will need to fill out a separate permit application for each.  Please see the Trade Permit Page for additional information.

Non- Habitable Building Permits- ie. Deck, Garage, Shed over 200 Sq. feet, etc.


Review Process:   (if you are building a deck skip to step 2)

Step 1:   Obtain approval of a building location survey from the Department of Community Development.

Step 2:   Complete all required forms and submit with plans to the Building Inspections office.  Permit approval will take approximately 5 to 10 business days.  You will receive a phone call from our office as soon as the permit is approved.

Required Forms:   Non-Habitable Building Permit Application
                          Owners Affidavit (or current VA License)

Required Documents:   3 Copies of a detailed plan
                                 2 Copies of house plat w/ addition

Fee's:      There are no fee's due until the permit approval has
             been completed.  You will be informed of the fee when
             you are contacted informing you the permit is
             approved and ready for pick up.

If you do any changes or additions to the plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems you will need to fill out a separate permit application for each.  Please see the Trade Permit Page for additional information.

New Single Family Dwelling

For requirements and procedures for new single family dwellings please click here.