Bolthole Index

Alleghany County, Virginia

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Town of Clifton Forge, Virginia

A new home in the Town of Clifton Forge, Virginia requires a building permit under the statewide building code; the town directs building-permit applicants to Alleghany County’s building inspector.12 Clifton Forge administers its own zoning, while private septic systems and wells go through Virginia Department of Health environmental health staff.34

At a glance

Building permits
Required for a new home; Alleghany County’s building inspector is the town’s designated provider12
Zoning
Town zoning applies inside Clifton Forge limits53
Septic and wells
VDH Environmental Health reviews and permits private systems4
Residential lot size
Public water and sewer: 10,000 square feet in R-1; 7,500 in R-2 and R-36
Owner-builder
State contractor-license exemption has conditions; building-code requirements remain7
Occupancy
A zoning certificate of occupancy is required for new or changed uses8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Clifton Forge Building Permits & Inspections

Identifies Alleghany County as the building-permit and inspection provider inside town limits

Zoning

Town of Clifton Forge Planning & Community Development Department

Town zoning, subdivision, site-plan and land-use questions

547 Main Street, Clifton Forge, VA 24422

Building permits

Alleghany County Building Inspections Department

Building permits and inspections, including Clifton Forge as identified by the town’s building-permit page

(540) 863-6654

9212 Winterberry Avenue, Suite A, Covington, VA 24426

Septic permits

Alleghany & Covington Health Departments, Environmental Health

Private sewage disposal system and drinking-water well applications, reviews and permits

(540) 962-2173

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Clifton Forge means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in the Town of Clifton Forge, VA?

A new home in Clifton Forge requires a building permit before construction begins under Virginia’s statewide building code.1 The town directs applicants for building and renovation permits to Alleghany County’s building inspector, rather than its property-maintenance enforcement office.2 Clifton Forge’s code also requires payment of the applicable building-permit fees before issuance or amendment.9 Owner-builders may qualify for Virginia’s contractor-licensing exemption when building a primary residence they own for their own use, but that exemption does not remove building-code obligations.7

Who handles building permits and zoning in the Town of Clifton Forge?

For Clifton Forge building permits, contact Alleghany County Building Inspections at (540) 863-6654, at 9212 Winterberry Avenue, Suite A, Covington, VA 24426.210 For zoning and subdivision questions inside town limits, use Clifton Forge Planning & Community Development at 547 Main Street, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.3 Private septic and well applications remain with VDH Environmental Health; the Alleghany & Covington Health Departments contact is (540) 962-2173.4 For land outside town limits, consult the Alleghany County guide for the county’s building-permit and zoning requirements.1112

Does the Town of Clifton Forge have zoning and residential lot rules?

Clifton Forge requires land uses and building work to conform to the town’s zoning ordinance.5 For detached single-family homes served by public water and sewer, minimum lot area is 10,000 square feet in R-1 and 7,500 square feet in R-2 and R-3.6 For streets at least 40 feet wide, minimum building setbacks measured from the street right-of-way are 30 feet in R-1 and R-2 and 20 feet in R-3.13 On streets narrower than 40 feet, the minimum is 50 feet measured from the street centerline.13 Ask Town Planning to confirm the parcel’s district and applicable street measurement before designing a home.3

How do septic permits work inside the Town of Clifton Forge?

A private sewage system in Clifton Forge needs a written construction permit before construction, expansion or modification under Virginia’s statewide sewage rules.14 VDH Environmental Health reviews and permits private sewage-system and well applications designed by licensed soil evaluators or professional engineers.4 In Clifton Forge’s residential districts, the health official determines minimum lot area where an individual sewage disposal system is proposed.15 A lot meeting the public-water-and-sewer area requirement therefore does not establish that the same lot qualifies for septic; the health official’s lot-area determination still applies.615 Ask Town Planning about the proposed land use and Environmental Health about the onsite system.34

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Clifton Forge?

We could not confirm a Clifton Forge rule allowing residential RV occupancy, temporary camping on a private lot, or a specific tiny-home occupancy route; ask Town Planning to evaluate the proposed use under the town’s zoning ordinance.53 A new or changed use of a structure or land requires a zoning certificate of occupancy in Clifton Forge.8 The zoning administrator must inspect and find compliance before issuing that certificate.16 For manufactured homes placed or substantially improved in the town’s special floodplain, a permanent foundation and anchoring under the statewide building code are required.17 That floodplain provision does not establish permission for a manufactured home in every zoning district.517

Building a home in the Town of Clifton Forge: what are the steps?

Start with Town Planning: confirm the proposed use, zoning district, lot area and setbacks, then submit a complete zoning application with the applicable information and fee.318 If proposing private sewage disposal, obtain the required construction permit through VDH Environmental Health before installing the system.144 Submit the building-permit application to the building official serving Clifton Forge and obtain the building permit before covered construction begins.219 Pay Clifton Forge’s applicable building-permit fees before permit issuance.9 Before occupying a new or changed use, complete the work in conformity with town zoning and obtain the zoning certificate of occupancy after the zoning administrator’s inspection.168

Watch-outs

  • Building permits and town zoning are separate responsibilities in Clifton Forge: the county building inspector provides building permits, while Town Planning administers zoning.23
  • We could not confirm a mandatory public-water or sewer connection rule for Clifton Forge; ask Town Planning about the parcel’s service arrangements before relying on a private-system design.3
  • Clifton Forge’s special-floodplain manufactured-home foundation rule applies to that floodplain area, not as a general approval of manufactured homes throughout town.175

Sources

  1. 13VAC5-63-80. Section 108 Application for permit (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Clifton Forge Building Permits & Inspections (cliftonforgeva.gov)
  3. Town of Clifton Forge Planning & Community Development Department (cliftonforgeva.gov)
  4. Alleghany & Covington Health Departments, Environmental Health (vdh.virginia.gov)
  5. Clifton Forge Code, Appendix B, § 2-2 (Town of Clifton Forge), quoted and re-checked
  6. Clifton Forge Code, Appendix B, § 4-22 (Town of Clifton Forge), quoted and re-checked
  7. § 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Clifton Forge Code, Appendix B, Article 9 (Town of Clifton Forge), quoted and re-checked
  9. Clifton Forge Code, § 22-26 (Town of Clifton Forge), quoted and re-checked
  10. Alleghany County Building Inspections Department (co.alleghany.va.us)
  11. Requesting a Building Permit | Alleghany County, Virginia (2026 county census)
  12. Zoning and Planning (2026 county census)
  13. Clifton Forge Code, Appendix B, § 4-22 (Town of Clifton Forge), quoted and re-checked
  14. 12VAC5-610-240. Permits; general (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Clifton Forge Code, Appendix B, § 4-22 (Town of Clifton Forge), quoted and re-checked
  16. Clifton Forge Code, Appendix B, Article 9 (Town of Clifton Forge), quoted and re-checked
  17. Clifton Forge Code, Appendix B, § 5-43 (Town of Clifton Forge), quoted and re-checked
  18. Clifton Forge Code, Appendix B, Article 9 (Town of Clifton Forge), quoted and re-checked
  19. 13VAC5-63-80. Section 108 Application for permit (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Clifton Forge

Town of Clifton Forge’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building work inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • The cited section applies to permits required by the building code adopted in the article.
    • Fees must be paid before a permit is issued or amended.
    “No permit required by the building code adopted in this article to begin work for new construction or any other building operation shall be issued until the fees prescribed by this section have been paid nor shall an amendment to a permit be approved until the additional fee, if any, has been paid.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    New or altered uses requiring a zoning certificate of occupancy inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • The zoning administrator must inspect and find compliance before issuing the certificate of occupancy.
    “A certificate of occupancy shall be issued only upon completion of the work in conformity with the provisions of this appendix, after inspection by the zoning administrator indicates that the use and occupancy are in compliance with the application and the provisions of this appendix.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    A structure or land with a new, changed, converted, enlarged, or moved use inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • Application is simultaneous with the zoning-permit application.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued for no more than six months during alterations or partial occupancy, subject to safety conditions and safeguards.
    “It shall be unlawful to use or occupy any structure or land, individually or in combination, in whole or in part, in which or on which a new use is created or an existing use is changed, converted, enlarged, or moved, until a certificate of occupancy is issued.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • Uses, structures, and land must conform to Appendix B except where that appendix expressly provides otherwise.
    “Except as otherwise expressly provided in this appendix, no building, structure, or land, or part thereof, shall hereafter be used or occupied, or constructed, altered, moved, expanded, or converted to another use or structurally altered except in conformity with the regulations specified within this appendix.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • The cited table publishes dimensional regulations for residential R-1, R-2, and R-3 districts.
    “The dimensional regulations of the residential districts are as set forth in Table 4-22-1. Table 4-22-1. Dimensional Regulations for Residential Districts R-1 R-2 R-3”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Residential districts R-1, R-2, and R-3 inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • For an individual sewage disposal system, the minimum lot area is determined by the health official.

    minimum lot area with individual sewage disposal: APP (APP means the minimum lot area shall be as determined by the health official.)

    “"APP" means the minimum lot area shall be as determined by the health official.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning permits and related development applications inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • Applications require a complete submission, applicable information, and the required fee.
    • The reviewing officials, commissions, and boards review the submission and approve, conditionally approve, or deny it.
    “Generally, the procedures for all applications have three common elements: submittal of a complete application, including applicable information and payment of the required fee; review of the submittal by designated officials, commissions, and boards; and action to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the application.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Clifton Forge

Town of Clifton Forge does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential districts inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • The stated figures apply to detached single-family dwellings served by public water and sewer.
    • Individual sewage disposal lot area is determined by the health official.

    R-1 detached single-family lot area: 10000 square feet (public water and sewer) · R-2/R-3 detached single-family lot area: 7500 square feet (public water and sewer)

    “Minimum lot area per dwelling unit (square feet): Single-family dwelling, detached Public water and sewer 10,000 7,500 7,500 Individual sewage disposal system APP APP APP”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential districts inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • For streets at least 40 feet wide, the building setback is measured from street right-of-way; for narrower streets it is measured from centerline.

    R-1/R-2 building setback, street width 40 feet or more: 30 feet (measured from street right-of-way) · R-3 building setback, street width 40 feet or more: 20 feet (measured from street right-of-way) · building setback, street width less than 40 feet: 50 feet (measured from centerline)

    “Building setback line, minimum (feet) Street width of 40 or more feet, measured from street right-of-way 30 30 20 Street width of less than 40 feet, measured from centerline of street right-of-way 50 50 50”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential districts inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • The 35 percent limit applies to townhouse or multifamily use in R-3; the table states no requirement for other uses.

    R-3 townhouse or multifamily lot coverage: <= 35 percent

    “Lot coverage maximum Townhouse or multifamily X None 35% Other uses None None None”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes in the special floodplain inside Clifton Forge town limits.

    • Placement or substantial improvement in the special floodplain requires a permanent foundation and anchoring under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
    “All manufactured homes or mobile homes to be placed or substantially improved within the special floodplain area, as described in section 5-30(a)(2) [of this appendix], shall be placed on a permanent foundation and anchored in accordance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Clifton Forge or Alleghany County directly.

  • Building permit — Residential building construction inside Clifton Forge town limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Clifton Forge town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Clifton Forge town limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Clifton Forge town limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Clifton Forge town limits.
10 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Clifton Forge publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Alleghany County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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