Building Safety in Roanoke County, VA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Roanoke County, Virginia.
Verified from official government sources
Elevator Maintenance
In Roanoke County, Virginia (outside the independent cities of Roanoke and Salem), elevator construction and maintenance are governed by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, adopted countywide and in the Town of Vinton under County Code § 7-16. The county's own add-on is financial: § 7-73 sets a flat $35.00 fee for every elevator periodic inspection performed by the building official's office.
Elevator Inspection Rules in Roanoke County
Some RestrictionsRoanoke County Code §§ 7-16, 7-73
There is hereby adopted by the board of supervisors, insofar as not inconsistent with the laws of the state, this Code and the ordinances of the county, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use, occupancy, location and maintenance of buildings and structures, including permits and penalties, that certain code kno...
Building Permits
Roanoke County adopts the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code under Sec. 7-16, making a building permit mandatory for constructing, altering or demolishing any structure in the county and the Town of Vinton. Sec. 7-17 extends the permit requirement even to structures the building code itself doesn't cover, and Sec. 7-18 blocks issuance of any permit until the board's fee schedule is paid.
When Roanoke County Requires a Building Permit
Some RestrictionsRoanoke County Code §§ 7-16, 7-17
There is hereby adopted by the board of supervisors, insofar as not inconsistent with the laws of the state, this Code and the ordinances of the county, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use, occupancy, location and maintenance of buildings and structures, including permits and penalties, that certain code kno...
Electrical Permits
Roanoke County requires anyone doing paid electrical work for the public to hold a county certificate of qualification under Sec. 7-42, on top of the building permit the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code requires for the installation itself. Sec. 7-2 lets the building official cut off electrical service to any defective wiring or equipment until it's corrected, and Sec. 7-72 bills the work as a trade permit.
Electrical Work Certification in Roanoke County
Some RestrictionsRoanoke County Code §§ 7-2, 7-42, 7-72
The building official is hereby empowered to order the discontinuance of electrical service to any wiring, devices or materials found to be defective until the correction has been made and the premises rendered safe as directed by the building official. ... (a)It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, or offer to engage in, for the general public for compensation, plumbing, building-rel...
Plumbing Permits
Roanoke County requires paid plumbing work to be done by a certified worker under Sec. 7-42, permitted as a trade permit under Sec. 7-72, and it charges a separate forty-dollar fee for every cross-connection inspection under Sec. 7-75 to keep drinking water isolated from contamination sources.
Plumbing Permits and Certification in Roanoke County
Some RestrictionsRoanoke County Code §§ 7-42, 7-75
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in, or offer to engage in, for the general public for compensation, plumbing, building-related mechanical or electrical work in this county, unless such person has a certificate of qualification issued pursuant to this division. ... Effective July 1, 2022, a fee of forty dollars ($40.00) for each cross connection inspection shall be imposed.
Building Inspections
Roanoke County's building official inspects a building or structure once it's reported unsafe and files a report on its use and the extent of any damage under Sec. 7-65, part of the county's Unsafe Buildings article. Separately, Sec. 7-73 bills fifty dollars for a reinspection on active construction once the same item needs a third look.
Roanoke County Building Inspections and Fees
Some RestrictionsRoanoke County Code §§ 7-65, 7-73
The building official shall inspect every building or structure reported as unsafe and shall prepare a report to be filed in the records of the building inspection department. The report shall include the use of the building and the nature and extent of damages, if any. ... Reinspection on construction: $50.00 (applies on third re-inspection of same item)
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