Bolthole Index

Campbell County, Virginia

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Altavista, Virginia

The Town of Altavista, Virginia (Campbell County) runs its own zoning and requires a town zoning permit before construction1. Building permits for most projects inside town limits come from Campbell County's building inspections office in Rustburg, after the zoning permit2. Septic and well permits come from the health department where no town sewer or water exists3.

At a glance

Zoning
Town of Altavista zoning ordinance; zoning permit required first1
Building permit
Required for most work, issued by Campbell County in Rustburg2
Zoning permit fee
$20.004
Sheds under 250 sq. ft.
No county building permit, but a town zoning permit is still required56
Septic
Health department permits where no town sewer exists3
Campgrounds
Not allowed in residential districts7
Owner-builder
Exempts one owner-occupied home from contractor licensing, not from permits8

Who to call

Zoning

Town of Altavista Community Development

Zoning permits, rezonings, variances, special use permits and subdivision review inside Altavista town limits

(434) 369-5001

510 7th Street Altavista, VA 24517

Building permits

Campbell County Community Development (Building Permits & Inspections)

Building permits, plan review and inspections for projects inside Altavista and in the rest of Campbell County

(434) 332-9596

85 Carden Lane, Suite A, Rustburg, VA 24588

Septic permits

Campbell County Health Department

Septic and well construction permits under the Central Virginia Health District

434.592.9550

116 Kabler Lane, Rustburg, VA 24588

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Altavista, Virginia have zoning?

Yes. The Town of Altavista adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside town limits, and a town zoning permit is required before construction1. The town's Community Development staff enforce the zoning and subdivision ordinances9. Subdividing land inside Altavista is also regulated by the town10.

The town's rules cover sheds and carports too: a utility or storage shed or carport of any size needs a town zoning permit so setbacks can be checked6. District-by-district lot sizes, setbacks, RV rules, tiny-home rules and accessory dwelling rules sit in the town zoning code, and we could not confirm them here, so ask Town of Altavista Community Development before you buy9.

Do you need a building permit in Altavista, VA, and who issues it?

Most building projects inside Altavista need a building permit from Campbell County, and the town zoning permit must come first2. Building permits are issued by the county's building inspections office in Rustburg, not by the town2. Projects that need plan review go directly to the county building official, and master tradesmen must sign electrical, plumbing or mechanical applications2.

Ordinary repairs such as painting, roofing, siding, flooring, cabinets and detached utility sheds of 250 square feet or less need no county building permit5. The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code governs the work, and plans must be filed for certain projects11.

Who do you call about permits in Altavista?

Call Town of Altavista Community Development at (434) 369-5001 for zoning, setbacks and the zoning permit9. Call Campbell County Community Development at (434) 332-9596 for building permits and inspections12. The county does not write permits after 4:30 p.m.12

The town charges $20.00 for a zoning permit4. Campbell County adds a 2% state levy to its permit fees12. We could not confirm the county's building permit fee schedule for Altavista projects, so ask the county office for a quote.

How do septic permits work inside Altavista?

Where a lot has no town water and sewer outlets, the town code requires health department permits for a well and septic system before a manufactured home is placed3. Where outlets exist, connection permits are required instead13. We could not confirm a general septic rule for other new homes in town, so ask the Campbell County Health Department whether a lot is served by town sewer14.

Virginia law requires a written permit before anyone constructs, expands or modifies a sewage disposal system15. The Campbell County Health Department, part of the Central Virginia Health District, issues these permits at 434.592.955014. Town zoning does not change that: septic and wells stay with the health department.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Altavista?

We could not confirm a rule for long-term RV living or tiny homes on private lots in Altavista; the town's zoning use table is where the answer sits, so ask Town of Altavista Community Development9. The town code does bar new campsites and campgrounds from residential districts, and a campground needs permits from both the health department and the town council7.

For manufactured homes, the town will not allow delivery to a lot until connection permits are secured, or well and septic permits where no outlets exist16.

Building a home in Altavista: the steps, in order

  1. Call Town of Altavista Community Development to confirm the lot's zoning district, setbacks and any lot-size rule9.
  2. Ask the Campbell County Health Department whether the lot has town sewer, or needs a septic and well permit14.
  3. Get the town zoning permit, which costs $20.00 and must come before the building permit4.
  4. Apply to Campbell County for the building permit; plan-review projects go to the building official in Rustburg2.
  5. Pass the required inspections and obtain a certificate of occupancy before occupying the building17.

An owner who builds one primary residence for their own use is exempt from contractor licensing, but the work must still follow the building code8.

What stays with Campbell County, and what to check before you buy in Altavista

Land outside town limits follows Campbell County's rules, not the town's; see the Campbell County page for those. Septic and wells for every address, town or county, come from the health department14.

Check whether the lot is served by town water and sewer, the zoning district, and flood status before closing; we could not confirm the town's floodplain, driveway or short-term rental rules, so ask Town of Altavista Community Development. Campbell County's effective property tax rate is 0.5%18.

Watch-outs

  • A building permit for work inside Altavista comes from Campbell County in Rustburg, not from town hall, and the town zoning permit must be obtained first2.
  • Sheds and carports of any size need a town zoning permit even when no county building permit is needed6.
  • We could not confirm Altavista's minimum lot size, setbacks, accessory dwelling, RV or tiny home rules, so call Town of Altavista Community Development before you buy9.
  • An owner-builder exemption covers contractor licensing only and does not waive the building permit8.

Sources

  1. Town of Altavista - Community Development (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Altavista - Permits, Forms & Applications (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  3. Altavista Code of Ordinances, Chapter 42 Manufactured Homes and Trailers (Municode) (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  4. Town of Altavista - Permits, Forms & Applications (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  5. Town of Altavista - Permits, Forms & Applications (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  6. Town of Altavista - Permits, Forms & Applications (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  7. Altavista Code of Ordinances, Chapter 42 Manufactured Homes and Trailers (Municode) (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  8. Virginia Board for Contractors Regulations, quoted and re-checked
  9. Town of Altavista Community Development (altavistava.gov)
  10. Town of Altavista - Community Development (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Altavista - Permits, Forms & Applications (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  12. Campbell County Community Development (Building Permits & Inspections) (co.campbell.va.us)
  13. Altavista Code of Ordinances, Chapter 42 Manufactured Homes and Trailers (Municode) (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  14. Campbell County Health Department (vdh.virginia.gov)
  15. 12VAC5-610-240. Permits; general (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Altavista Code of Ordinances, Chapter 42 Manufactured Homes and Trailers (Municode) (Town of Altavista), quoted and re-checked
  17. 13VAC5-63-160. Section 116 Certificates of occupancy (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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 Altavista

Town of Altavista’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Utility/storage sheds and carports of any size inside Altavista town limits need a town zoning permit

    • Purpose is to confirm setbacks under the town zoning ordinance.
    • Zoning permit fee is $20.00 per the town permit page.

    zoning permit fee: 20 USD

    “all utility/ storage sheds and car ports (regardless of size) require a town of altavista zoning permit to ensure proper setbacks are maintained”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Altavista town limits: the town adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Code of Ordinances Chapter 86)

    • Zoning permits are required before construction under the town zoning ordinance, per the town permits page.
    • Zoning is administered by the town Community Development department, which also handles rezonings, variances, special use permits and zoning appeals.
    “current planning staff is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the zoning and subdivision ordinances.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Campsites and campgrounds (camp automobiles and trailers) offered inside Altavista town limits

    • Campgrounds may not be located in any residential district.
    • Operating a campground requires a permit from both the health department and the town council.
    “no campsite or campground established after the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived shall be located within any residential district of the town.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured home used as a full-time residence inside Altavista town limits

    • Home may not be delivered to or located on the lot until connection permits (or well and septic permits where no outlets exist) are secured.
    • A tax permit from the county treasurer is required before a home that has been used as a residence is moved out of town, and local property taxes must be paid.
    “until the necessary permits for connection to water and sewer outlets have been secured, or if there are no existing water and sewer outlets”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Manufactured home placed on a lot inside Altavista town limits: connection to town water and sewer outlets where they exist

    • Where no existing water and sewer outlets exist, well and septic permits from the health department are required instead.
    • Rule confirmed only for manufactured homes; a general connection mandate for new homes within the town (distance or availability rule) was not located.
    “until the necessary permits for connection to water and sewer outlets have been secured, or if there are no existing water and sewer outlets”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdividing land inside Altavista town limits

    • Town staff administer the subdivision ordinance, which covers plats and site plans.
    • Subdivision ordinance text itself was not opened.
    “current planning staff is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the zoning and subdivision ordinances.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Town zoning permit fee inside Altavista town limits; county building permit fees are not stated on the town page

    • Fee shown on the town permit page; schedule date not stated.
    • Building permit fees are set by Campbell County and were not retrieved.

    zoning permit fee: 20 USD

    “there is a $20.00 charge for zoning permits.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Altavista

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

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building plans and permits for work inside Altavista town limits under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC)

    • The town permit page states that USBC plan filing is required for certain projects; the town does not publish its own adopted building code on that page.
    “the uniform statewide building code (usbc) requires plans to be filed for certain projects.”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Septic system for a manufactured home placed on a lot inside Altavista town limits where no town water and sewer outlets exist

    • Applies where there are no existing water and sewer outlets; otherwise connection permits are required instead.
    • No general septic permit requirement for other new homes was located in the sources opened.
    “until permits for a well and septic system have been acquired from the health department.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Well and septic (off-grid) sanitation for a manufactured home inside Altavista town limits where no town water and sewer outlets exist

    • Requires health department well and septic permits.
    • Limited to the manufactured-home placement rule.
    “until permits for a well and septic system have been acquired from the health department.”
  • Well permitLimited

    Private well for a manufactured home inside Altavista town limits where no town water outlet exists

    • Permit comes from the health department before the home is placed.
    “until permits for a well and septic system have been acquired from the health department.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from licensed contractor or permit requirements inside Altavista town limits
  • Inspections — Building inspections for work inside Altavista town limits
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new buildings inside Altavista town limits
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size for a single-family home in the R-1 (low-density residential) district inside Altavista town limits
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot area in the R-1 (low-density residential) district inside Altavista town limits
11 more unanswered
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Altavista publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Campbell County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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