Alexandria Building and Trade Permit Guide

Table Of Contents

Alexandria, Virginia, protects its historic character while allowing modern construction through a careful permitting system. The city just outside of D.C. has many old buildings, especially in Old Town Alexandria along the Potomac River, where preservation rules are strict.

Getting permits right the first time saves weeks of back-and-forth with reviewers and helps keep your timeline on track. This guide breaks down what you need to know about Alexandria building permits: which projects require them, how to apply online, estimated costs, and how long permits stay valid.

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What requires a building permit in Alexandria?

An Alexandria building permit is required for most construction, demolition, and system upgrades that impact safety or structure.

Common projects that require a permit:

New buildings & structures (all occupancies)
Alterations, renovations, additions, demolitions, and change of occupancy in existing buildings
Any work involving structural elements, egress components, fire/smoke-rated assemblies, water supply/drain/vent piping, electrical wiring, mechanical/fuel systems, or any USBC-regulated equipment
Residential projects that exceed exemption thresholds (see below), e.g., decks, private pools, retaining walls (>2 ft of soil), fences >6 ft, accessory structures >200 sq ft
Work in Old Town or Parker-Gray historic districts that replaces siding, roofing, or windows (permit required even if otherwise exempt)

To get the full list of projects that require a building permit, refer to Alexandria’s “How do I obtain a permit?” and “When a building permit is required” pages.

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What doesn’t require a building permit in Alexandria?

You likely don’t need a permit for:

One-story detached accessory structures (sheds/playhouses, etc.) <200 sq ft and not Group F-1/H
Fences/privacy walls <6 ft (not part of a building or pool barrier)
Retaining walls supporting <2 ft of unbalanced fill (no surcharge, no hazardous liquids)
Small pools: surface area <150 sq ft, <5,000 gal, <24 in deep
Ordinary repairs:
- Like-for-like window/door replacements without changing the framed opening
- Replacing plumbing fixtures without piping changes
- Replacing 120 V switches/receptacles/luminaires/ceiling fans in R-2 (single unit), R-3, R-4, R-5
- Non-gas/non-oil mechanical appliance replacements
- Many finish items (roofing/siding within limits, small roof-decking patches, flooring, trim, paint/wallpaper)
Low-voltage wiring (<50 V) and certain network-powered broadband systems (not in plenums, not penetrating fire/smoke construction, not part of life-safety systems)

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Alexandria building permit cost

Alexandria building permit cost depends on the project type and value. Here’s what you should know.

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Residential fees

Scope	How the fee is calculated
New construction (1–2 family, townhouses under IRC)	$0.75 per sq ft of total gross area
Alterations & repairs	Whichever is greater of the following: $0.30 per sq ft of gross floor area $18.00 per $1,000 of total construction cost The minimum permit fee ($95)
Special construction	Decks: $100 flat fee Pools: $110 Roofing/siding/windows in designated Historic Districts: Minimum permit fee Chimney/fireplace/wood stove/insert: Minimum permit fee ($95) Residential solar PV: Minimum permit fee ($95)
Demolition	Accessory building/detached garage: $85 Residential structure / non-residential accessory structure: $150

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Commercial fees

Scope	How the fee is calculated
New construction (buildings/structures)	$7.50 per $1,000 of estimated total construction cost
Tenant improvements, alterations, repairs	Whichever is greater of the following: $0.48 per sq ft $19.75 per $1,000 of total construction cost The minimum permit fee ($95)
Special construction	Whichever is greater of the following: $0.215 per sq ft $19.75 per $1,000 of total construction cost Minimum permit fee ($95)
Re-roofing	Whichever is greater of the following: $0.22 per sq ft of roof area Minimum permit fee ($95)
Relocation of a building/structure	$15 per $1,000 of the total estimated cost of moving + new foundations + all work to complete at the new location

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Additional fees

There are several additional fees that you should consider:

Application deposit for permits requiring plan review: 35% of the total estimated permit fee (non-refundable; balance due at approval).
Surcharges added to fees processed in APEX:
- Administrative fee: 14%
- Permit Center fee: 11%
- Training Program fee: 0.2% (permits)
- Information Technology fee: 5%
- Virginia Training Academy levy: state levy added to all permit fees (remitted to DHCD)
Plan revisions/resubmittals after approval: $100 per trade (new buildings) or $50 per trade (alterations); if valuation changes, the permit fee is adjusted accordingly

For more information, refer to the Department of Code Administration fee schedule.

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How long do building permits last in Alexandria?

An Alexandria building permit typically remains valid for 180 days from the issuance date. As long as work begins within that window, the permit can remain active. If work halts for more than 180 days, the permit may expire.

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Alexandria trade permits

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Plumbing permits

Required for all new plumbing installations, water heater swaps, fixture replacements (if modifying piping), and commercial systems.

Scope	Fee
New residential unit (IRC 1–2 family/townhouse)	$194.00 per dwelling unit
New non-residential / core & shell – base fee by building size	Up to 3,000 sf: $325.00 3,001–10,000 sf: $487.50 10,001–20,000 sf: $650.00 20,001–30,000 sf: $877.50 Over 30,000 sf: $1,140.00
Alterations/tenant fit-out/additions (all uses)	$19.50 per $1,000 of total construction cost or minimum permit fee of $95 (whichever is greater)

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Electrical permits

Covers service upgrades, wiring, outlets, lighting systems, and EV chargers.

Scope	Fee
New residential unit (IRC 1–2 family/townhouse)	$194.00 per dwelling unit
New non-residential / core & shell – base fee by building size	Up to 3,000 sf: $325.00 3,001–10,000 sf: $487.50 10,001–20,000 sf: $650.00 20,001–30,000 sf: $877.50 Over 30,000 sf: $1,140.00
Alterations/tenant fit-out/additions (all uses)	$19.50 per $1,000 of total construction cost or minimum permit fee of $95 (whichever is greater)
EV charging equipment	$95 (minimum permit fee)
Special electrical – temporary service	60–100 amperes: $82.00 101–401 amperes: $124.00 Over 401 amperes: $192.00
Special electrical – service equipment (new/replacement)	First 200 amperes: $92.00 201–600 amperes: $182.00 601–1200 amperes: $271.00 Over 1200 amperes: $379.00 + $25 per each 100 amperes above 1200 amperes

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HVAC permits

Required for heating, cooling, and ventilation work, including system swaps and ductwork changes.

Scope	Fee
New residential unit (IRC 1–2 family/townhouse)	$194.00 per dwelling unit
New non-residential / core & shell – base fee by building size	Up to 3,000 sf: $325.00 3,001–10,000 sf: $487.50 10,001–20,000 sf: $650.00 20,001–30,000 sf: $877.50 Over 30,000 sf: $1,140.00
Alterations / tenant fit-out / additions; Gas permits (all uses)	$19.50 per $1,000 of total construction cost or minimum permit fee of $95 (whichever is greater)
Gas piping system (install/alter)	Residential base: $40.00 Non-residential base: $60.00 + per outlet: $20.00 Extend/relocate line: $15.50 Automatic gas valve (commercial hood): $15.00

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Roofing, fence, and special permits

Covers work such as roofing, fencing, pools, signage, and retaining walls.

Scope	Fee
Non-residential re-roofing	$0.22 per roof sq ft or minimum permit fee of $95, whichever is higher
Residential roofing / siding / windows in Historic Districts	Charged at minimum permit fee of $95
Decks (residential)	$100.00 flat fee
Pools (residential)	$110.00 flat fee
Signs / retaining walls / miscellaneous structures (non-res)	$0.215/sf or $19.75 per $1,000 of construction cost or minimum permit fee of $95 (whichever is greater)
Tents, tower cranes	Minimum permit fee ($95)
Asbestos abatement	Minimum permit fee ($95)
Demolition	Residential accessory/detached garage: $85 Residential structure / non-residential accessory: $150 Non-residential structures: $250 + performance bond ($1.00/sf, min $1,000)

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More details about trade permit fees can be found in the Department of Code Administration fee schedule.

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How to get a building permit in Alexandria, VA

Step 1: Prepare your application documents

Gather the following documents:

Commercial documents:
- Project data form
- Plat or site plan
- Floor plans, including room designations & ceiling heights
- Roof plan, including covering materials & roof slopes
- Exterior wall sections, including required fire-resistance-rated assemblies
- Building elevations (exterior)
- F.A.R. (Floor Area Ratio) Calculation sheet (P&Z)
Residential documents:
- Project description explaining the work you plan to do with supporting documents
- Electronic plan sets
- Certified survey plat
- Floor plans
- Exterior elevations
- Roof plan
- Soil policy documentation
- Neighbor notification letter
- Professional stamp signed and sealed by a registered design professional (RDP) licensed in Virginia

To find more information on each document, refer to the Residential and Commercial and multi-family building plan submission pages.

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Step 2: Submit the Alexandria building permit application online

Go to the City’s Alexandria permit portal to create a project record, upload all required plans/documents, and pay any application deposits/fees.

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Step 3: Undergo plan review

City reviewers route your submission for multi-discipline review. Residential (VRC) projects take around 10 business days; commercial/multi-family reviews vary with scope and may take longer.

Note: To track your permit application, use the Alexandria permit search page.

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Step 4: Pay your fees and receive the permit

Once reviews are approved, you’ll be notified to pay the assessed fees through APEX. After payment, the permit is issued in your APEX account.

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Step 5: Begin work and schedule inspections

Post the permit and schedule required inspections in APEX. If APEX is unavailable, call 703-746-4200 for scheduling assistance during business hours.

Before scheduling the inspection:

Check the status of a permit
Use How to schedule an inspection through APEX video to schedule an inspection via the platform

If you have additional questions, call:

Building/electrical inspections: Mike.Christesen@alexandriava.gov
Mechanical/gas/plumbing inspections: Irv.Kerry@alexandriava.gov
Special inspections or third-party inspections: Pete.Mensinger@alexandriava.gov

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Alexandria permitting resources

City of Alexandria Permit Center
- Permit Search: alexandriava.gov/Permits
- Address: 4850 Mark Center Dr., Alexandria, VA 22311
- Phone: (703) 746-4200
- Email: Permit.Center@alexandriava.gov
- Hours: Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM
Fee schedules
Permit Center Operations
Code administration applications & forms
Permit application process
Checklists:
- Residential plan submission
- Commercial and multi-family building plan submission

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Streamline Alexandria permitting with PermitFlow

Between Old Town’s historic preservation rules, Virginia’s state building codes, and detailed design documentation requirements, even small projects can face unexpected slowdowns. That’s where PermitFlow comes in.

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Why builders choose PermitFlow for Alexandria projects:

Local expertise: Our team knows Alexandria’s preservation standards and Virginia codes inside and out, helping your applications move through review without delays.
Simplified management: View every permit, inspection, and trade submission in one centralized dashboard.
Faster approvals: We submit complete, accurate applications from the start—saving time, cutting resubmittals, and keeping your projects on schedule.

Don’t let Alexandria’s complex permitting process hold up your next build. Contact PermitFlow today to see how we can help you streamline approvals and stay ahead of deadlines.