Building Safety in Albemarle County, VA (2026)
6 rules for unincorporated Albemarle County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Elevator Maintenance
Albemarle County charges a $285 building permit fee for elevators, escalators, and lifts, plus a $100 per-elevator certificate fee, under County Code § 1-501. The Building Inspection Office in the Department of Community Development, led by the Building Official, administers these permits and certificates outside Charlottesville and Scottsville.
Albemarle County Elevator Permit and Certificate
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code §§ 1-501, 5-102, 5-106
Sec. 1-501 - Building fees. ... B.Building Fee Amounts. Each of the following applications, permits, or activities is subject to the following fee(s): ... Building—Elevators, Escalators and Lifts $285 ... Other—Elevator Certificate $100 per elevator ... Other—Administrative Fee for Working Without A Permit $250 ... Sec. 5-102 - Building Inspection Office established; powers and duties. ... A.Po...
Childcare Center Rules
In Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville, a child day center must hold a current license from the Virginia Department of Social Services and give a copy to the county zoning administrator, and the Albemarle County fire official may inspect the premises at any time under the Zoning Ordinance's supplementary regulations.
Child Day Center Rules, Albemarle County
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code § 18-5.1.06
Sec. 5.1.06 - Child day centers. Each child day center shall be subject to the following: a.State licensure. Each child day center shall acquire and maintain the required licensure from the Virginia Department of Social Services. The owner or operator of the child day center shall provide a copy of the license to the zoning administrator. The owner or operator's failure to provide a copy of the...
Building Permits
Albemarle County requires a permit before most construction, administered by the Building Inspection Office under County Code § 5-102. Fees are set by a detailed schedule in § 1-501, for example $500 for a new single-family home under 1,500 square feet.
Building Permits Required in Albemarle County
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code §§ 1-501(B), 5-102(A)
B.Building Fee Amounts. Each of the following applications, permits, or activities is subject to the following fee(s): ... Building— ... New Single-Family Residential (less than 1,500 sq. ft.) $500 ... A.Powers and duties. The Building Inspection Office shall be charged with administering and enforcing the Building Code and this chapter, reviewing and acting on plans, inspecting buildings and s...
Electrical Permits
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.
Albemarle County Electrical Permit Fees
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code §§ 1-501, 5-202
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.
Plumbing Permits
Plumbing work in Albemarle County needs a permit under County Code § 5-203, with fees drawn from the countywide fee schedule in Chapter 1, Article 5. Additions, alterations, and repairs run $10 per fixture with a $90 minimum, and sewer or water lateral work not part of a larger permit runs a flat $30.
Albemarle County Plumbing Permit Fees
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code §§ 1-501, 5-203
Plumbing—Additions/Alteration/Repairs $10 per fixture Minimum fee $90 ... Plumbing— ... Sewer Laterals (unless the lines are included as part of a permit) $30 ... The fees for plumbing permits are as provided in County Code Chapter 1, Article 5.
Building Inspections
Albemarle County's Building Inspection Office, housed in the Department of Community Development, administers and enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code across Albemarle County outside Charlottesville and Scottsville. It reviews plans, issues permits, and inspects buildings and structures at each construction stage. A five-member Board of Appeals hears challenges to Building Official decisions and refusals to modify the code.
Albemarle County Building Inspections and Appeals
Some RestrictionsAlbemarle County Code §§ 5-102, 5-105
A.Powers and duties. The Building Inspection Office shall be charged with administering and enforcing the Building Code and this chapter, reviewing and acting on plans, inspecting buildings and structures, and issuing related permits and certificates. ... A.Authority. The Board shall consider appeals by any person aggrieved by the Building Inspection Office's application of the Building Code or...
All Albemarle County ordinances
See every category we cover for Albemarle County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Albemarle County Ordinance Hub →