Albemarle County, VA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 5-202
- Fee schedule
- Chapter 1, Article 5 (§ 1-501)
- Residential plan review
- $0.05 per sq. ft., $10 minimum
- Temporary service fee
- $110 flat
- Accessory/service-change fee
- $35 flat
- Working without a permit
- $250 administrative fee
Summary
Electrical work in Albemarle County requires a permit under County Code § 5-202, with fees set by the countywide fee schedule in Chapter 1, Article 5. Charges run from a flat $35 for accessory-structure or service-change work up to per-square-foot rates for plan review, plus a $110 temporary-service fee.
Electric—Residential Plan Review $0.05 per sq. ft. Minimum fee $10 ... Electric—Temporary Service $110 ... Electric—Mobile/Prefabricated Homes, Fuel Dispensing Pumps, Residential Accessory Structures, Service Change, Swimming Pool, Hot Tub, or Spa $35 ... The fees for electrical permits are as provided in County Code Chapter 1, Article 5.
Full Breakdown
3, and 36-105. 05 per square foot with a $10 minimum; Electric-Temporary Service is a flat $110; and Electric-Mobile/Prefabricated Homes, Fuel Dispensing Pumps, Residential Accessory Structures, Service Change, Swimming Pool, Hot Tub, or Spa is a flat $35. 04 per square foot with a $90 minimum. Under § 1-500, all required fees must be paid in full at the time of application submission, and no application is considered complete until fees are paid. Sixty-five percent of an application fee can be refunded on written request if the application is withdrawn within ten days of submittal and before notices or legal advertisement go out.
Permits are reviewed and issued through the same Building Inspection Office established by § 5-102, and the county waives fees for applications filed by Albemarle County itself or the Albemarle County School Board.
Violations & Fines
Working without an approved electrical permit exposes the owner or contractor to enforcement under Chapter 5's general violation clause, § 5-106, which makes an unpermitted Building Code violation punishable and abated under Virginia Code § 36-106. The county's own fee schedule separately lists a $250 administrative fee for working without a permit under the 'Other' fee category in § 1-501.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albemarle County
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