City of Alexandria, VA
Plan Review Unit
The Plan Review Unit reviews building construction documents, for code compliance, under the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC). Building plan reviews are required for all* new or existing renovated and altered commercial and residential buildings within the City of Alexandria. Code Administration’s Plan Review Unit is comprised of Structural, Architectural, Mechanical, Plumbing & Electrical disciplines. *Building construction exempt from permits, please refer to the USBC, sec. 108
Supervisor
Al Cox, FAIA, LEED AP
703.746.4190 al.cox@alexandriava.govStaff Directory
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., except holidays
Plan Review Programs
Traditional Plan Review (One & Two Family Residential and Commercial Projects, including Multi-family dwellings)
Example Projects:
- Demolition (Entire or Partial Structure)
- New Building Construction
- Additions
- Existing Building Alterations & Renovations
- Change of Occupancy
- Retaining Walls, Pools, Spa, Whirlpools, etc.
One-Stop-Shop Plan Review
A scheduled one-hour, full-service building permit review session which includes Code Administration (Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical and Architectural), Planning & Zoning and Transportation & Environmental Services. A Registered Design Professional is required to attend. One of four, one-hour Wednesday mornings time slots (8:30AM, 9:30AM, 10:30AM & 11:30AM) are available and must be scheduled in advance by calling 703.746.4200.
Eligible Projects:
- Business (B) occupancy less than 20,000 ft2
- Mercantile (M) occupancy less than 7,500 ft2
- Storage (S) occupancies less than 15,000 ft2
- Factory (F1 or F2) occupancies less than 15,000 ft2
Walk-Thru Plan Review
Projects minor in scope-of-work or complexity which will allow for a full plan review within a 20-minute time period (Code Administration time-frame only, other departments have different limitations). Note: walk-thru plan reviews are at the discretion of the plan reviewers.
Example Projects:
- 1 & 2 Family Residential Kitchen & Bathroom Alterations/Renovations
- Finishing a Basement - 1 & 2 Family Dwellings
- Roof & Siding Replacements/Repairs
- Decks, Porches, Stoops, etc. - Construction/Renovations/Alteration
- Signs
- Trailers – Construction & Sales
Permit & Plan Submission Requirements
Note: this a general list of Code Administration requirements, each project’s scope-of-work may require additional information
General
- Submission Documentation Required for Plan Review
- Completed Construction Permit Application
- Provide either a completed Property Owner’s Affidavit or Contractor’s State License Number, City of Alexandria Business License Number and contact information.
- Five Copies of Construction Documents (plans and reports), six 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 location(s) within scope-of-work
- Soils Reports:
- Commercial - Required for all commercial construction which includes new, altered or reconstructed foundations
- Residential 1 & 2 Family Dwellings - Refer to the Code Administration Soils Policy
Include the following if within scope-of-work…
Commercial, Including Multi-family Residential Dwellings
Architectural (Building)
- Comprehensive code analysis
- Means-of-egress plan
- Architectural plans & sections, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Room/space designations & dimensions
- Horizontal & vertical fire-resistance-rated assemblies
- Architectural Schedule(s), General Notes & Specification
Accessibility
- Alteration Cost of Accessibility Certificate Form
- Multi-family dwelling unit accessible schedule (type A & B dwelling units)
- Vehicle accessible parking schedule
- Accessible route plans, details, sections and notes (restrooms, ramps, stairs, door hardware, signs, etc.)
Plumbing
- Completed plumbing application (Signed by a Master Tradesman)
- Plumbing fixture layout, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Plumbing sanitary, vent & water riser diagram
- Plumbing Schedule, General Notes & Specification
- Gas riser diagram (including all gas appliances’ BTUs, pipe sizes and lengths
- Gas Schedule, General Notes & Specification
Mechanical
- Completed mechanical application (Signed by a Master Tradesman)
- Mechanical HVAC layout, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Mechanical condensate riser diagram
- Mechanical Schedule, General Notes & Specification
- Outside/fresh-air calculations
- Shop drawings, kitchen hood & exhaust system, etc.
Electrical
- Completed electrical application (Signed by a Master Tradesman)
- Electrical layout plans, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Single-line electrical diagram
- Electrical Schedule, General Notes & Specification
- Electrical load calculations
Structural (Building)
- Structural plans, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Design loads
- Soils report, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original report)
- Structural calculations, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original set)
- Manufacturer’s specification information for all fabricated structural members
- Structural General Notes
Residential, One & Two Family Dwellings (3 stories or less)
Architectural (Building)
- Architectural plans & sections, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Room/space designations & dimensions
- Rated exterior fire-resistance-rated wall (walls within 5ft of the property-line)
- Emergency escape & rescue openings (all sleeping-rooms and basements)
- Architectural Schedule(s), General Notes & Specification
Plumbing
- Completed plumbing application (Signed by a Master Tradesman)
- Plumbing fixture layout
- Plumbing sanitary, vent & water riser diagram (required for 4 or more new fixtures)
- Plumbing Schedule, General Notes & Specification
- Gas riser diagram (including all gas appliances’ BTUs, pipe sizes and lengths
- Gas Schedule, General Notes & Specification
Mechanical
- Completed mechanical application (Signed by a Master Tradesman)
- Mechanical HVAC layout
- “Manual-J” calculations
- Building energy envelope load calculations
- Mechanical exhaust, kitchen, restroom, clothes dryer, etc.
- Mechanical Schedule, General Notes & Specification
Electrical
- Completed electrical application (Signed by a Master Tradesman)
- Electrical layout plans, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Single-line electrical diagram
- Electrical Schedule, General Notes & Specification
- Electrical load calculations
Structural (Building)
- Structural plans, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Design loads
- Soils report, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original report) Structural calculations, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original set)
- Manufacturer’s specification information for all fabricated structural members
- Structural General Notes
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