All Cities / Virginia / Virginia Beach
How Much Does a Building Permit Cost in Virginia Beach?
✓ Fee schedule checked against city sources
Fee math from City of Virginia Beach Planning and Community Development, Permits & Inspections, not a national average
Source: City of Virginia Beach Planning and Community Development, Permits & Inspections · Fee schedule source ↗
Data last verified: September 27, 2026
Virginia Beach prices alterations at $50 plus $5 per $1,000, plumbing at $50 plus $6 per fixture, and electrical at a $50 minimum, and every permit adds the 2% state levy and a $10 technology fee. Roofing and siding replacement still need permits here. Pending the permit office's confirmation: water heater and interior demolition.
Permit Cost by Project
Solar Panel Installation$228.60
Building Permit ($25K project)$188.50
Bathroom Remodel$145.46
Roof Replacement$122.20
Building Permit ($12K project)$122.20
Siding Replacement$112.00
Deck / Patio$101.80
Building Permit ($8K project)$101.80
Kitchen Remodel$66.10
EV Charger Installation$66.10
Electrical Panel$61.00
Electrical Permit$61.00
Plumbing Permit$61.00
HVAC / Mechanical Permit$61.00
Do You Need a Permit?
No: Paint, cosmetic updates, fixture swaps
Yes: Bathroom remodel ($145.46)
Yes: Kitchen remodel ($66.10)
Yes: Roof replacement ($122.20)
Exempt: HVAC replacement
Yes: Deck / patio ($101.80)
Exempt: Window replacement (same size)
Yes: Electrical panel ($61.00)
Yes: Solar panels ($228.60)
Verified Permit Cost by Project Type
Solar Panel Installation
$228.60
Building, Electrical
Building Permit ($25K project)
$188.50
Building
Bathroom Remodel
$145.46
Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical
Roof Replacement
$122.20
Building
Building Permit ($12K project)
$122.20
Building
Siding Replacement
$112.00
Building
Deck / Patio
$101.80
Building
Building Permit ($8K project)
$101.80
Building
Compare these permit costs across U.S. cities
Two Types of Permits
Virginia Beach issues building permits for structural work and separate trade permits for plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and roofing. Most remodels need both kinds. See the full breakdown of which projects need a permit and which are exempt.
Virginia Beach Permit Cost Calculator
Choose a common project or enter a project value to estimate local permit fees from City of Virginia Beach Planning and Community Development, Permits & Inspections data.
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Estimate summary
Virginia Beach calculator ready. Select a project to update the local permit estimate.
Estimated permit fee
$122.20
Updates instantly when project type or valuation changes.
✓ Verified local fee schedule
✓ The City lists "Roofing or siding replacements" as requiring permits (so the Virginia USBC 13VAC5-63-80 Sec. 108.2 item 14.5 exemption, limited to areas with a nominal design wind speed of 100 mph or less, does not apply). City Code Sec. 8-31 (c)(10) "Fifty dollars ($50.00) plus five dollars ($5.00) for each one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) of value of construction or fraction thereof" = $110.00 at $12,000, x 1.02 ("A 2% State Levy will be assessed on the permit fees") + Sec. 8-37 "$10.00" technology fee = $122.20.
Local sourceBuilt from City of Virginia Beach Planning and Community Development, Permits & Inspections fee data, not a national average.
Formula-backedValuation-based projects recalculate from the local fee formula.
Bookmark friendlyThe tool lives on this city page so citations and saved links stay stable.
Virginia Beach prices alterations at $50.00 plus $5.00 per $1,000 of value, then adds a 2% state levy and a $10.00 technology fee to every permit. A $12,000 reroof comes to $122.20 and a $7,100 deck $101.80. Virginia's statewide code exempts same-opening windows, fences, and electric appliance swaps such as a central AC replacement. A bathroom remodel in the same layout needs only plumbing and electrical permits, $145.46 together.
Virginia Beach Permit Fees Explained
City Code Chapter 8 sets every fee. Alterations, reroofs, siding and decks are $50.00 plus $5.00 for each $1,000 or fraction (Sec. 8-31). Plumbing is $50.00 plus $6.00 per fixture (Sec. 8-32), mechanical and gas $50.00 plus $5.00 per $1,000 (Sec. 8-33), and electrical $50.00 plus $5.00 per circuit (Sec. 8-34).
Each permit is multiplied by 1.02 for the state levy and gets the $10.00 technology fee (Sec. 8-37). Worked through: a $12,000 reroof is $50 + $60 = $110.00, times 1.02, plus $10, which is $122.20. A $25,000 reroof is $188.50 and a $10,000 siding job $112.00.
What Needs a Permit in Virginia Beach?
The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Section 108.2, lists the exempt work. It covers replacing windows and doors in the same opening, fences (unless a pool barrier), sheds up to 256 square feet, replacing plumbing fixtures without changing the piping, replacing mechanical appliances not fueled by gas or oil, 100 square feet or less of roof covering, and cabinets, flooring and paint.
Virginia Beach lists roofing and siding replacement as needing permits, so a full reroof is not exempt here. A gas water heater is not covered by the appliance exemption; its permit is pending the City's confirmation of whether it takes a plumbing, mechanical or gas permit.
Chuck's Take
"Down here a reroof needs a permit even though the state list exempts it in calmer places. Wind is the reason. Don't let anyone tell you the state rule covers you on the coast."
Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co.
Kitchen and Bath Remodels in Virginia Beach
The City requires a building permit for alterations that cut a wall or partition, cut a structural beam or change an exit. A bath or kitchen that does none of those needs only its trade permits. A bathroom with a new tub valve, toilet and lavatory and one new circuit takes plumbing ($68.00) and electrical ($55.00): $145.46 in total with the levy and technology fees. A kitchen that swaps its fixtures in place and adds one lighting circuit needs only the electrical permit, $66.10.
Who Should Pull the Permit in Virginia Beach?
Your contractor should pull it. That keeps the contractor responsible for code compliance and for the inspections. If a contractor asks you to pull the permit yourself, ask why before you sign anything.
Permits & Inspections is in Building 3 of the Municipal Center, 2403 Courthouse Drive: (757) 385-4211, PermInsp@VBgov.com.
Chuck's Take
"Never let the homeowner pull the permit if I'm doing the work. My license is on the line. A contractor who wants you to pull it is telling you something about his license or his insurance. Find someone else."
Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co.
Quick Reference · Virginia Beach Permit Requirements
| Homeowner Task | Permit? | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Paint interior / exterior | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace flooring | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace kitchen cabinets (same layout) | NO | Cosmetic |
| Swap a light fixture (same location) | NO | Cosmetic |
| Replace a water heater | PENDING | Plumbing · pending the permit office's confirmation |
| Upgrade an electrical panel | YES | $61.00 Electrical |
| Remodel a bathroom | YES | $145.46 Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical |
| Remodel a kitchen | YES | $66.10 Building, Electrical, Plumbing |
| Replace / repair roof | YES | $122.20 Building |
| Build a deck or patio | YES | $101.80 Building |
| Build a fence (≤6 ft) | NO | Typically exempt |
| Install solar panels | YES | $228.60 Building, Electrical |
| Replace HVAC system | EXEMPT | Permit not required |
| Replace windows (same size, same opening) | NO | Exempt |
∗ Costs are verified for Virginia Beach, VA from published fee schedule. Always confirm with your local building department.
Internal Comparison · separate trade permits
Compare Virginia Beach Permit Fees With Related Cities
Use these source-linked city pages to compare Virginia Beach against other Virginia markets and cities with similar permit fee structures.
Richmond, VASame-state Virginia cityBathroom remodel permit package: $153.28 · +$7.82 vs Virginia Beach
Baltimore, MDAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $182.00 · +$36.54 vs Virginia Beach
Denver, COAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $185.00 · +$39.54 vs Virginia Beach
Memphis, TNAlso uses separate trade permitsBathroom remodel permit package: $207.50 · +$62.04 vs Virginia Beach
Chicago, ILCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $325.00 · +$179.54 vs Virginia Beach
Fort Worth, TXCross-market benchmarkBathroom remodel permit package: $525.95 · +$380.49 vs Virginia Beach
Dallas, TXCross-market benchmark
Permit Guides
Permit Cost and Process Guides
Pricing a specific project in Virginia Beach? These guides cover what each permit runs and how the approval process actually works.
Building permit cost, every verified city ranked
How much does a building permit cost?
How long does a permit take to get?
When is a permit not required?
Deck permit cost
Roof replacement permit cost
HVAC permit cost
Kitchen remodel permit cost
Solar panel permit cost
EV charger permit cost
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater?
Do I need a permit for an electrical panel upgrade?
How to speed up a building permit
Getting an electrical permit online
What happens if you build without a permit
Before You Build
Budgeting the whole job? Compare real remodeling cost data at TheFatBook, our companion cost index.
Frequently Asked · Virginia Beach
How much does a building permit cost in Virginia Beach?
$50.00 plus $5.00 per $1,000 of value, times 1.02 for the state levy, plus a $10.00 technology fee. That is $101.80 at $7,100, $122.20 at $12,000 and $188.50 at $25,000.
Do I need a permit to replace windows in Virginia Beach?
Not if the new windows fit the existing framed openings. The statewide code exempts replacing windows and doors of similar operation and size. The City requires a permit if frames or jambs are altered.
Do I need a permit to replace a central air conditioner in Virginia Beach?
Not for an electric system. The statewide code exempts replacing mechanical appliances not fueled by gas or oil in houses.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Virginia Beach?
Not under the building code, which exempts fences of any height unless they are pool barriers. A fence within 30 feet of a public right-of-way needs a zoning fence permit.
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