Portsmouth, VA Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 7-134
- Fee basis
- Base fee plus per-fixture inspection fees
- Covered items
- Fixtures, sewers, water service, water heaters
- Site visits
- Per-trip fee for site-work inspections
- Enforcement
- § 7-102 misdemeanor for unpermitted work
Summary
Plumbing work in Portsmouth requires its own permit under City Code § 7-134, with the department of permits and inspections charging a base permit fee plus separate inspection fees for every fixture, sewer line, water service and water heater involved.
(a)For each plumbing permit issued, the permit fee shall be as set forth in appendix A to this Code.(b)In addition to the permit fee required in subsection (a) of this section, there shall be inspection fees as set forth in appendix A to this Code for the following:(1)For each plumbing fixture or trap placed or replaced, or removed from one place to another, and for each place roughed-in for a fixture.(2)For each house sewer.(3)For renewal or replacement of existing house sewer.(4)For each house water service.(5)For renewal or replacement of existing house water service.(6)For each water heater.(7)For replacement of water heaters.(8)For roof drains or internal rain leaders.(9)A per trip fee will be charged for site work inspections.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Section 7-134 splits the plumbing permit into a base permit fee under subsection (a) and a list of itemized inspection fees under subsection (b), all set in appendix A to the Code. Each plumbing fixture or trap that is placed, replaced, moved or roughed-in draws its own inspection fee, as does each house sewer and each house water service. Renewing or replacing an existing house sewer or water service is billed separately from installing a new one, and each water heater installed or replaced carries its own fee too.
Roof drains and internal rain leaders get a dedicated inspection fee, and any site-work inspection, meaning a visit to check work outside the structure itself, draws a per-trip charge regardless of how many fixtures are involved. Like the electrical schedule next to it in § 7-133, this fee structure is administered by the department of permits and inspections and enforced through § 7-102, which makes commencing plumbing work before obtaining the necessary permit a misdemeanor. 00 in permit fees.
Violations & Fines
Beginning plumbing work, including fixture placement, sewer or water service connections, or water heater installation, before obtaining the § 7-134 permit is a misdemeanor under § 7-102, and each required inspection still triggers its own fee under appendix A regardless of when the permit issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Portsmouth plumbing permit cover?
Is there a fee for renewing an old sewer line in Portsmouth?
What happens if a plumber skips the Portsmouth permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portsmouth
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