Permits and licensing · Virginia
Renovation permits and contractor licences in Virginia
Virginia's Board for Contractors licenses businesses that build, remove, repair or improve property owned by others, and also licenses tradesmen in electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas fitting. A contractor licence has two parts: a class (A, B or C) that sets the value of work allowed, and a classification or specialty that sets the type. The state adopts the Uniform Statewide Building Code, and each local building department issues permits.
Regulators and licensing bodies in Virginia
These official bodies license contractors, oversee safety or issue permits in Virginia.
Virginia Board for Contractors (DPOR)
Licenses businesses engaged in the construction, removal, repair or improvement of facilities on property owned by others, and licenses tradesmen and residential building energy analysts.
Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
Houses the Board of Housing and Community Development, which adopts the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. The current code is the 2021 edition, effective January 18, 2024.
Virginia DPOR – Consumer services
Publishes consumer guidance on hiring a regulated professional and administers the Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund, which provides relief to eligible consumers who lost money through a licensed contractor's improper or dishonest conduct.
Trades that need a licence in Virginia
General contracting and renovation
A contractor licence has two parts: the class (A, B or C), which determines the value of the contracts and projects the licensee may perform, and the classification or specialty, which determines what type of work is allowed. Check both against your project.
Sources:Virginia DPOR – Board for Contractors(opens in a new tab)Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100 – Contractor licence classes(opens in a new tab)
Certified trades
Virginia licenses tradesmen separately from contracting businesses. The regulated trades are electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, gas fitting, water well construction, elevator mechanics, backflow prevention and building energy analysis, at journeyman, master and residential levels.
Consumer protection
DPOR says regulatory boards set the minimum competency standards needed to practise without harming the public, and it runs a recovery fund for consumers. Filing a claim does not guarantee payment, and the fund is supported entirely by assessments paid by licensees rather than by tax revenue.
Sources:Virginia DPOR – Consumers(opens in a new tab)Virginia DPOR – Recovery funds(opens in a new tab)
Building and renovation permits in Virginia
Every local building department has a building official as its executive in charge, and that official examines all permit applications within a reasonable time after filing. So permits come from your city or county, under the statewide code: the Virginia Construction Code adopts chapters 2 to 35 of the 2021 International Building Code, with the most recent amendment effective January 18, 2024. Norfolk, for example, requires a permit for any residential or commercial repair, addition or new construction that requires new framing or exposes existing framing.
Sources:Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code – Local building official (13VAC5-63-50)(opens in a new tab)Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code – Permit applications (13VAC5-63-100)(opens in a new tab)Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Part I (13VAC5-63-10)(opens in a new tab)Norfolk – Permits and inspections(opens in a new tab)
Before you hire a contractor in Virginia
Practical checks you can do yourself, using official tools where they exist.
Look the contractor up in DPOR's licence lookup and check its disciplinary history.
Official lookup: Virginia DPOR – License lookup(opens in a new tab)
Check the licence class covers the value of your project and the classification covers the type of work.
Official lookup: Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100 – Contractor licence classes(opens in a new tab)
For electrical, plumbing, HVAC or gas work, check the tradesman licence as well as the contractor licence.
Official lookup: Virginia DPOR – Tradesmen(opens in a new tab)
Ask your local building official which permits your project needs before work starts.
Official lookup: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code – Local building official (13VAC5-63-50)(opens in a new tab)
Confirm the contractor's licence and insurance with your state or county government, and get the work, materials and price in writing.
Official lookup: FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Sources for renovation permits and licences in Virginia
Every fact on this page comes from these official sources.
- Virginia DPOR – Board for Contractors(opens in a new tab)
- Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100 – Contractor licence classes(opens in a new tab)
- Virginia DHCD – Building codes(opens in a new tab)
- Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Part I (13VAC5-63-10)(opens in a new tab)
- Virginia DPOR – Consumers(opens in a new tab)
- Virginia DPOR – Recovery funds(opens in a new tab)
- Virginia DPOR – Tradesmen(opens in a new tab)
- Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code – Local building official (13VAC5-63-50)(opens in a new tab)
- Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code – Permit applications (13VAC5-63-100)(opens in a new tab)
- Norfolk – Permits and inspections(opens in a new tab)
- FTC – How to avoid a home improvement scam(opens in a new tab)
Find licensed pros
Compare local pros for the regulated trades in this guide, then confirm their licence with the regulator before you hire.
Renovation permits in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Planning a renovation?
Describe your project once and hear from local pros. Ask each one for their licence and permit details before you hire.