(A) There is hereby adopted by reference in the county, the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, which is effective September 1, 1973, the provisions of which shall control all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use location, occupancy and maintenance of all buildings, and all other functions which pertain to the installation of systems vital to all buildings and structures and their service equipment as defined by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, and shall apply to existing and proposed buildings or structures in the county.
(B) (1) There is hereby established a building inspection department whose responsibility it is to enforce the provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code as stated in Article 1, § 9 of the Uniform Statewide Building Code.
(2) The cost of enforcement shall be defrayed through the levying of fees by the locality as provided in VA Code § 36-105. The Department shall have a building official or inspector who shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors of the county.
(3) The building official or inspector in concurrence with the chief appointing authority shall be responsible for the organization and daily operation of the Department.
(C) (1) No permit to begin work for new construction or other building operation shall be issued until the fees prescribed in this section have been paid.
(2) No permit required by law shall be issued until all fees prescribed in this ordinance have been paid.
(3) The fees are established at the following rates.
(a) General fee schedule.
Building Permit Fees - New Construction | |
Residential - finished floor areas including mobile and modular homes: | $0.40 per square foot |
Residential - unfinished floor areas: | $0.32 per square foot |
Garages / carports on residential property: | $0.32 per square foot |
Accessory buildings on residential property including stables and barns: | $0.28 per square foot |
Minimum residential permit fee (unless otherwise noted): | $100 |
Non-residential - finished floor areas: | $0.56 per square foot |
Non-residential - unfinished floor areas, shell and warehouse buildings: | $0.40 per square foot |
Non-residential - manufactured / industrialized buildings - each: | $400 |
Minimum non-residential permit fee (unless otherwise noted): | $200 |
Building Permit Fees - Remodeling, Alterations And/or Finishing Shell Space | |
Residential remodeling: | $0.24 per square foot |
Non-residential remodeling: | $0.40 per square foot |
Minimum residential remodeling fee: | $60 |
Minimum non-residential remodeling fee: | $100 |
Additional Items to Be Added to Fees above | |
Chimneys - without fireplace or wood stove - each: | $80 |
Decks - 500 square feet or less - each: | $100 |
Elevators /escalators - each: | $200 |
Decks - more than 500 square feet - each: | $200 |
Fences over 6 feet | $80 |
Porches - 500 square feet or less - each: | $100 |
Porches - more than 500 square feet - each: | $200 |
(b) In accordance with the 2012 Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), Section 107.1.2, the Northampton County Building Department will refund 75% of permit fees when approved by the Building Official and when requested in writing by the permit holder in the event of revocation, abandonment or discontinuance of project.
Specific Items | |
Asbestos removal: | $120 |
Automotive lifts - each: | $80 |
Bleachers/grandstands - per site: | $120 |
Bulkheads - over 3 feet high - per 50 liner feet: | $100 |
Demolition (plus asbestos removal when applicable): | $100 |
Docks/piers - per 50 linear feet: | $120 |
Each small mechanical ride or inflatable amusement device covered by the permit: | $35 |
Each circular ride or flat-ride less than 20 feet in height covered by the permit: | $55 |
Each spectacular ride covered by the permit that cannot be inspected as a circular ride or flat-ride in the foregoing item due to complexity or height: | $75 |
Each coaster covered by the permit that exceeds 30 feet in height: | $200 |
Foundation only: | $160 |
Fuel pumps (NFPA 30) - each: | $120 |
Moved Buildings (plus foundation permit) - each: | $240 |
Ramp - on residential property - each: | $60 |
Ramp - on non-residential property - each:
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$90
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Reroofing - residential - per building:
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$75
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Reroofing - non-residential - per building:
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$90
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Residing - residential - per building:
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$60
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Residing - non-residential - per building:
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$90
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Safety glass replacement:
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$40
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Swimming pool - residential - above ground:
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$80
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Swimming pool - residential - in-ground:
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$200
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Swimming pool - non-residential
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$260
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Storage tank (NFPA 30) - removal - each:
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$100
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Storage tank (NFPA 30) - installation - each:
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$220
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Temporary Structures - excluding tents (per 180 days) - each:
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$80
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Tents - on residential property - each:
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$30
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Tents - on nonresidential property - each:
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$90
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Tents - multi-tent event - per location:
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$300
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Towers and like structures - less than 50 feet - each:
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$80
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Towers and like structures - more than 50 feet - each:
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$400
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Wood stoves - each:
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$80
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Work not specifically listed or unable to evaluate: | $20 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost, $75 minimum fee |
Gas Permit Fees | |
Residential base fee - per dwelling unit: | $60 |
Non-residential base fee - per location: | $100 |
Appliance / fixture / outlet - each: | $12 |
Fire Protection Permit Fees | |
Automatic sprinkler - residential (NFPA 13D /13R) - per system: | $120 |
Limited area sprinkler - per zone: | $120 |
Automatic sprinkler - non-residential - base fee - per system: | $120 |
Automatic sprinkler - non-residential - additional per head: | $2 |
Fire alarm - base fee - per system: | $120 |
Fire alarm - additional per device: | $2 |
Fire pump - per pump: | $160 |
Standpipe system - per riser: | $120 |
Underground fire line - per line: | $120 |
Foam, halogenated, chemical systems - base fee: | $120 |
Foam, halogenated, chemical systems - additional per outlet: | $2 |
Mechanical Permit Fees | |
Residential base fee - per dwelling unit: | $60 |
Non-residential base - per floor: | $100 |
Air conditioners, heat pumps, refrigeration - per unit - up to 5 tons: | $60 |
A/C, heat pumps, refrigeration - per additional 5 tons: | $20 |
Boilers, furnaces - per unit - up to 100,000 BTU: | $60 |
Boilers, furnaces - per additional 100,000 BTU: | $20 |
Commercial range hood - each: | $100 |
Crematoriums - each: | $160 |
Fire dampers - each: | $12 |
Incinerators - each: | $160 |
Work not specifically listed-or unable to evaluate - plus base fee: | $12 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost. |
Plumbing Permit Fees | |
Residential base fee - per dwelling unit: | $60 |
Non-residential base - per floor: | $100 |
Appliance, fixture, outlet - each: | $12 |
Cross connection / back flow protection device - each: | $20 |
Prefabricated / industrialized building, moved building - each: | $80 |
Underground water service (meter to building) - per lateral: | $40 |
Underground sewer line (building to town's line) - per lateral: | $40 |
Work not specifically listed or unable to evaluate - plus base fee: | $12 per $1,000 of estimated construction cost. |
Sign Permit Fees | |
Free standing - larger than 10 sq. feet - each: | $70 |
Building mounted, projecting, roof - larger than 4 sq. feet - each: | $50 |
Services and Surcharges | |
Refunds; base fees are non-refundable. Refunds beyond base fee permits for work beyond rough-in inspection are non-refundable. | 75% of permit fees when approved by the Building Official and when requested in writing by the permit holder in the event of revocation, abandonment or discontinuance of project. |
Fire services surcharge on all building permits - per permit: | 10% of permit fee before State Code Academy surcharge. |
State Code Academy surcharge (Code of Virginia): Ref: Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Pt. 1, § 107.2
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Statutory. Currently 2% of permit fee before Fire Services surcharge.
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Appeals to the Building Code Board of Appeals: | $250 |
Certificate of Occupancy insp. of existing building w/o building permits: | $210 (Includes initial inspection, inspection report and 1 follow-up insp.) |
Change of use inspection: | $210 |
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy- residential - per unit: | $120 |
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy - non-residential - per unit: | $300 |
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy - 30 day renewal |
$300
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Re-inspection fee (failure to correct previously cited violation)
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$120
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Pre-application plan review - residential - per dwelling unit:
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$120
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Pre-application plan review- non-residential - per unit:
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$400
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Inspection fee for work done without a permit (addition to permit fees):
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$300
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Re-inspection fee for work done without a permit (addition to permit fees): | $600 |
Lifting of a stop-work order fee: | $50 |
Not ready for inspection/No entry fee: | $50 |
2nd Plan Review fee:
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$100 |
(D) Building code appeals.
(1) Any person aggrieved by the local building department's application of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) or the refusal by to grant a modification to the provisions of the USBC may appeal to the Local Board of Building Code Appeals (LBBCA). The applicant shall submit a written request for appeal to the LBBCA within 30 calendar days of the receipt of the decision being appealed. The application shall contain the name and address of the owner of the building or structure and in addition, the name and address of the person appealing, when the applicant is not the owner. A copy of the building official's decision shall be submitted along with the application for appeal and maintained as part of the record. The application shall be marked by the LBBCA to indicate the date received. Failure to submit an application for appeal within the time frame established by this section shall constitute acceptance of a building official's decision.
(2) The LBBCA shall be appointed and function in conformance with Chapter One of the USBC section for Appeals.
(3) Compensation for members of the LBBCA shall be at the rate of $25 per day, plus mileage at the current rate per mile.
(E) Reserved.
(F) It shall be unlawful for any owner or any other person, firm or corporation, on or after the effective date of any code provisions, to violate any such provisions. Any such violation shall be deemed a misdemeanor and any owner or any other person, firm or corporation convicted of such a violation shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,500. In addition, each day the violation continues after conviction or the court-ordered abatement period has expired shall constitute a separate offense. If the violation remains uncorrected at the time of the conviction, the court shall order the violator to abate or remedy the violation in order to comply with the code. Except as otherwise provided by the court for good cause shown, any such violator shall abate or remedy the violation within six months of the date of conviction. Each day during which the violation continues after the court-ordered abatement period has ended shall constitute a separate offense. Any person convicted of a second offense committed within less than five years after a first offense under this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,500. Any person convicted of a second offense committed within a period of five to ten years of a first offense under this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $2,500. Any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense involving the same property committed within ten years of an offense under this chapter after having been at least twice previously convicted shall be punished by confinement in jail for not more than ten days and a fine of not less than $2,500 nor more than $5,000, either or both. No portion of the fine imposed for such third or subsequent offense committed within ten years of an offense under this chapter shall be suspended.
(Ord. passed - -; Am. Ord. passed 6-10-2002; Am. Ord. passed 6-14-2004; Am. Ord. passed 1- 11-2006; Am. Ord. passed 8-11-2009; Am. Ord. passed 6-14-2011; Am. Ord. passed 6-9-2015; Am. Ord. passed 7-12-2016; Am. Ord. passed 1-9-2018)