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James City County, VA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

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

Key Facts

Minimum electrical permit
$52.50
0-60 amp service
$52.50 single or three phase
Over 200 amps
$68.25/$73.50 plus $15.75 per 50 amps
Code adopted
Virginia USBC Electrical Code, Sec. 4-3
Authority having jurisdiction
building official or electrical inspector
Default penalty
Class 1 misdemeanor, up to $2,500, Sec. 1-10

Summary

Sec. 4-3 adopts the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code's Electrical Code for James City County, and Appendix A's Sec. 4-8 fee schedule charges $52.50 minimum for an electrical permit, scaling with service size from $52.50 for a 0-60 amp single-phase service up to $68.25 plus $15.75 per extra 50 amps over 200 amps.

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

(4)Electrical Code (Current Model Code edition referenced in the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code):a.Wherever reference is made to governmental bodies or area jurisdiction, the words "County of James City" shall be deemed to apply.b.Wherever the terms "authority having jurisdiction" or "competent authority" or terms similar in nature are used, it shall be deemed to mean the "building official or a representative he may designate." Such representative shall normally be the electrical inspector, chief electrical inspector, or fire official. ... 4-8 Electrical Permit Minimum Electrical Permit Fee $52.50 Installation of each electrical service system in new construction, the fee shall be determined from the rated size of the service panels in amperes as follows: ... 0-60 amps $52.50 $52.50 ... Over 200 amps, plus $15.75 for each additional 50 amps or fraction thereof over 200 amps $68.25 $73.50

View official code

Full Breakdown

Chapter 4, Building Regulations, folds electrical work into the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code adopted by Sec. 4-3, which substitutes 'County of James City' wherever the code references the local jurisdiction and defines the 'authority having jurisdiction' as the building official or a designated representative, normally the electrical inspector, chief electrical inspector, or fire official. The county's own fee schedule sits in Appendix A under the code reference 4-8, Electrical Permit. 50. 75 for each additional 50 amps or fraction of it over 200 amps.

75 per additional 50 amperes. 21 per outlet after that. Sec. 00 per inspection performed, and Chapter 4 carries no electrical-specific penalty, so a violation defaults to the county-wide Sec. 00 and up to twelve months in jail, with each day a separate offense.

Violations & Fines

Doing electrical work without the Sec. 4-8 permit, or without passing the electrical inspector's review under the Sec. 4-3 amendments to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, is a violation of Chapter 4. Because the chapter sets no specific electrical penalty, Sec. 1-10 applies by default: a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $2,500.00 fine and twelve months in jail, with each continuing day a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is an electrical permit in James City County?
Appendix A's Sec. 4-8 fee schedule sets a $52.50 minimum electrical permit fee, then scales by the rated amperage of the service panel installed, from $52.50 for a 0-60 amp service up to $68.25 or $73.50 plus $15.75 per additional 50 amps once the service exceeds 200 amps.
Who is the 'authority having jurisdiction' for electrical work?
Sec. 4-3(4) defines it as the building official or a representative he designates, normally the electrical inspector, chief electrical inspector, or fire official, under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code's Electrical Code as adopted for the County of James City.
Does adding outlets to my house need a new electrical permit fee?
Appendix A charges $52.50 for adding 1 to 100 outlets to an existing electrical installation, then $0.21 for each additional outlet beyond 100; no extra outlet fee applies when the service size itself is being increased at the same time, per the Chapter 4 fee schedule referenced at Sec. 4-8.
What happens if I do electrical work without a permit?
Chapter 4 has no electrical-specific penalty, so Sec. 1-10 applies: unpermitted work is a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $2,500.00, up to twelve months in jail, or both, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

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All James City County rules

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