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Loudoun County, VA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing adoption
Ch. 1410 adopts VUSBC New Construction Code in full
Issuing agency
Building Official, Dept. of Building & Development
Fee basis (new/additions)
Building Valuation Data Report, updated July 1
Appeal path
County Board of Building Code Appeals (§1410.10)
First-offense penalty
$100 civil fine (§1410.99)
Scope
Unincorporated county; 7 towns permit separately

Summary

Unincorporated Loudoun County requires a building permit for construction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of a building or structure under Chapter 1410, which adopts the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code's New Construction Code 'in its entirety.' The Building Official in the Department of Building and Development issues permits and bases new-construction and commercial-addition fees on the published Building Valuation Data Report.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Loudoun County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

For the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the inspection, construction, alteration, repair, removal and demolition of buildings and structures not otherwise regulated in this Chapter - Building and Housing Code, for the installation of equipment, for the establishment of fees and for the imposition of penalties for violations, those portions of that certain building code known as the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, as amended... are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein... The following portions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code are hereby adopted for enforcement in the County: (1) "New Construction Code," in its entirety;

Full Breakdown

' Subsection (b)(1) adopts the 'New Construction Code' 'in its entirety,' while the adopted Maintenance Code portions are limited to unsafe-structure, exterior-property and occupancy-limitation provisions. 09(c) bases new-building and commercial-addition fees on the Building Valuation Data Report published in the Building Official and Code Administrator Magazine, updated each July 1, with Type R4 fees matched to R3. 10 before any appeal to the State Building Code Technical Review Board. 01(c). This chapter governs the unincorporated county only; Leesburg, Purcellville, Hamilton, Middleburg, Round Hill, Hillsboro and Lovettsville issue building permits under their own town codes.

Violations & Fines

Building without a required permit is a civil violation under §1410.99, $100 for a first offense, $150 for each one after that, or the Code of Virginia maximum, whichever is greater, with every day of a continuing violation a separate offense, limited to one charge per ten-day period and $3,000 total per set of facts. The Building Official can also pursue a civil injunction in repeat or health-and-safety cases, and contested civil summonses proceed to general district court.

Frequently Asked Questions

What triggers a building permit requirement in unincorporated Loudoun County?
Chapter 1410 requires a permit for the 'construction, alteration, repair, removal and demolition of buildings and structures,' adopting the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code's New Construction Code in its entirety under §1410.01(a)-(b); the Building Official in the Department of Building and Development issues the permit before work begins.
How is a Loudoun County building permit fee calculated for a new house?
Under §1410.09(c), fees for new buildings and commercial additions are based on the Building Valuation Data Report published in the Building Official and Code Administrator Magazine and updated every July 1; that single fee includes all associated trade permit fees, and Type R4 rates match Type R3.
Where can I appeal a Loudoun County building permit denial or enforcement action?
Appeals go first to the County Board of Building Code Appeals under §1410.10, which hears disputes over enforcement of the New Construction Code and the adopted Maintenance Code provisions; no appeal to the State Building Code Technical Review Board is allowed before that board rules.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Loudoun County

All Loudoun County rules

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