Permit Center

The Permit Center processes and manages the following construction related permits, certificates, licenses, complaints, records, fees and FOIA requests.

» Click here to access Permit Tracker for permit status
Use Permit Tracker to view (by address or permit number) an existing permit's plan review and inspection history.

Permit Center & Customer Service Manager
James Hunt
703.746.4201
james.hunt@alexandriava.gov

Staff Directory

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (except holidays)

Permits

Code Administration

Applications & Forms

Other City Department Permits

Concealed Handgun Permits
Residential Parking Permits (for residents, businesses, and guests)
Temporary Reserved Parking Permits (for moving, construction, and events)

Certificates

Elevator
Occupancy

Licenses

City of Alexandria

Business License
Home Improvement License

Home Improvement Brochure
Home Improvement Procedures
Home Improvement Application
Home Improvement Waiver
Home Improvement Financial Statement
Home Improvement Bond

State of Virginia

Contractor License (Contractor Business)
- Contractor License Search
Tradesmen Certificate (Individual Licenses & Certificates)
- Tradesmen Certificate Search

Fees

2009 Fee Schedule

WHEN IS A RESIDENTIAL PERMIT REQUIRED?

Note: Approvals by other review agencies, such as, Planning and Zoning (P&Z), Board of Architectural Review (BAR), Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) and the Health Department may be required even when permits are not required by the Commonwealth of Virginia’s USBC.

Permit & Plan Submission Requirements

Note: this a general list of Code Administration (CA) requirements, each project’s scope-of-work may require additional information

Approved permit(s) and plans must be issued prior to commencing work
Submission Documentation Required for Plan Review
Completed Applicable Permit Applications
Complete a Project Data Form
Provide either a completed notarized Property Owner’s Affidavit or Contractor’s information (as applicable - state license number, City of Alexandria business license number and contact information)
Provide 5 copies of construction documents (plans and reports), including all proposed trade work and 6 copies if the project requires Health Department review and approval
Plans must be signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set) if a licensed design professional produced the construction documents or is required by the Virginia Department of Housing & Community Development
Maximum Plan Size is 24”x36” and minimum dimensions for plans is 1/8” = 1’-0” and ¼” = 1’-0” for sections
Site or Plot Plan indicating building(s) existing and/or proposed within scope-of-work
25% Deposit is required plan review – based on estimated permit fee (Refer to CA Fee Schedule). The deposit is non-refundable and is deducted from the total permit fee when the permit is issued.

General Permit Process

Note: this is a general outline of most construction permit applications. Each project’s scope-of-work may require additional information & reviews (Not applicable for Fire Protection System or Fire Prevention Permits)

All construction related permits are received, processed and issued by Code Administration (CA)
One plan set (preliminary) is held for CA review while the other plan sets are routed. As necessary, CA review comments are sent (fax, email or postal-mail) to applicant. Revisions, addressing the CA review comments, are submitted by the applicant to CA (Note: revisions must be made to the preliminary and final plan sets)
One plan set is filed with the Real Estate Assessment Department by CA
Remainder of plan sets are routed to Planning & Zoning (P&Z) for review and approval
1. Plans are routed to Board of Architectural Review (BAR) for review and approval, if the project is within the Old & Historic Alexandria & Parker Gray districts
2. Plans are routed to Planning & Community Development (P&CD) for review and approval, if project requires a site plan process (new commercial or residential development)
Plans are then routed to Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) for review and approval
1. Plans are routed to Environmental Quality (EQ) for review and approval, if the project includes existing hazardous material to be removed and encapsulation before construction
If required, plans are routed to Health Department (HD) for review and approval, click here for a list of projects requiring Health Department review and approval
Two final (field & office) plans sets, with the appropriate above departmental approval stamps affixed to the plans, are returned to CA.
Code Administration reviews the two final plan sets, comparing them to the preliminary plan set, prepares documents for issuance, calculates permit fees and contacts the applicant when the permit is ready to issue.
The approved field plan set is issued to the applicant/contractor and is required to be available to inspectors for all scheduled inspections
Scheduling required inspections