Bolthole Index

Surry County, Virginia

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Surry County, Virginia

63Index Score / 100
#70 of 133 in Virginia

Surry County, Virginia requires a building permit for a home, and the county Building Department reviews applications, issues permits and inspects construction under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code1. Surry County also has zoning, while septic and private-well permits are handled by the Virginia Department of Health through the Crater Health District23.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the Surry County Building Department1
Zoning
Yes; district and land-use rules apply2
Septic permit
Required through VDH's Crater Health District4
Private well permit
Required through VDH's Crater Health District5
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask county Planning before relying on either use2
Owner-builder permit exemption
No exemption from the residential building-permit requirement6
Driveway onto a VDOT road
A VDOT land-use permit is required7
Conventional septic soils
Only about 0.9% of soils lack severe limitations8

Who to call

Building permits

Surry County Building Inspections

Building permit applications, plan review, inspections and certificates of occupancy in Surry County

757-294-5211

[email protected]

45 School Street, Surry, VA 23883

Zoning

Surry County Planning & Community Development

Planning and zoning questions for Surry County

757-294-5210

P.O. Box 357, Surry, VA 23883

Septic permits

VDH Crater Health District — Surry Health Department

Local contact for VDH onsite sewage and private-well services in Surry County

(757) 294-3185

474 Colonial Trail West, Dendron, VA 23839

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on September 27, 2026.

Do you need a building permit in Surry County, Virginia?

Surry County, Virginia requires a building permit for residential construction, including when the owner plans to do the work16. The county uses the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, with the current edition identified as the 2021 code9. A qualifying farm building used primarily for farm purposes and not as a residence is exempt from the Building Code, but applicable flood-proofing or mudslide rules still cover qualifying farm structures in those hazard areas10. Permit fees follow a local schedule, and Virginia allows the schedule to use square footage, cubic footage, estimated construction cost or another appropriate measure11.

Who is the Surry County building department, and how do you reach it?

Surry County Building Inspections accepts applications, reviews them for compliance, issues permits and conducts construction inspections12. The office is at 45 School Street, Surry, VA 23883, and its main phone number is 757-294-521112. Inspection requests go to 877-224-7978 or [email protected]; include the permit number, inspection type and job address12. Surry County says site visits occur at stages of construction and cover structural, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work, with a certificate of occupancy issued after successful completion12. Starting covered work before the permit is issued is not the safe sequence: Virginia requires the application and permit before covered work begins, subject to limited emergency and authorized-start provisions13.

Does Surry County, Virginia have zoning?

Surry County has a zoning ordinance with district-specific and use-specific requirements2. County zoning applies in unincorporated territory, while incorporated municipalities control zoning within their own boundaries14. The Town of Surry and Town of Claremont have separate ordinances, so property inside either town needs a town-specific answer rather than a county-only answer15. Before designing a house or placing another residential structure, ask Surry County Planning & Community Development at 757-294-5210 to identify the parcel's district and confirm its allowed uses16. The available material does not confirm district-specific setbacks, minimum lot size, minimum dwelling size, lot coverage or height limits, so obtain those figures for the parcel before relying on a site plan2.

How do septic and well permits work in Surry County?

The Virginia Department of Health's Crater Health District handles site evaluation and permitting for septic systems and private wells in Surry County175. A written septic construction permit is required before constructing, expanding or modifying a sewage system, and the statutory application fee is $75, subject to the listed waiver and refund provisions18. The local contact is the Surry Health Department at 474 Colonial Trail West, Dendron, VA 23839, telephone (757) 294-318519. Soil feasibility deserves attention before purchase: only about 0.9% of Surry County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field8. VDH conducts site evaluations, reviews private-sector submissions for permit issuance and performs inspections, so do not assume a conventional system will fit an otherwise buildable parcel420.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Surry County?

We could not confirm a complete Surry County rule for long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping on private land or tiny-home occupancy. Because Surry County has district-specific zoning, ask Planning & Community Development whether the proposed unit is an allowed principal or temporary use in the parcel's district before buying or moving it onsite216. Virginia's rule allowing temporary camping of 14 days or less concerns operation of a permitted campground; it does not establish permission to live in an RV on a private parcel21. A tiny home intended as a residence still needs the county's zoning answer, applicable building approval, septic or sewer approval, and a certificate of occupancy before occupancy1224.

Building a home in Surry County: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Ask Surry County Planning & Community Development to confirm the zoning district, allowed residential use and parcel-specific dimensional standards216.
  2. Apply to VDH's Crater Health District for septic and private-well review where public utilities are unavailable45.
  3. If the driveway connects to a VDOT-maintained highway, obtain the required VDOT land-use permit for the entrance7.
  4. Submit the building application and required plans to Surry County Building Inspections before covered construction starts1213.
  5. Request the applicable construction inspections as each stage is ready23.
  6. After final approval, obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving into the home22.

What should you check before buying land in Surry County?

Start with septic feasibility because only about 0.9% of Surry County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional drain field8. Check the zoning district and whether the property lies inside the Town of Surry or Town of Claremont, where separate municipal rules apply15. If mapped in a special flood hazard area, even work otherwise exempt from the building-permit section may require a permit from the building official24. Confirm legal access and obtain a VDOT land-use permit before creating or modifying an entrance on a state-maintained road7. Surry County is sparsely settled at about 23.6 people per square mile, with roughly 63.8% wooded land and 94.1% of land at a slope of 15% or less, so inspect clearing needs and drainage on the actual homesite252627. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.6%, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $1,4742829.

Watch-outs

  • Only about 0.9% of Surry County soils are rated without severe limitations for a conventional septic drain field, so make VDH site evaluation an early contingency84.
  • The Town of Surry and Town of Claremont have their own zoning ordinances; confirm the parcel's jurisdiction before using county zoning guidance15.
  • Surry County's complete rules for private-land RV living and tiny-home occupancy remain unconfirmed; ask Planning & Community Development for a parcel-specific written answer216.

Sources

  1. Surry County, VA - Building Inspections (2026 county census)
  2. Chesapeake Bay Act Requirements (2026 county census)
  3. VDH Crater Health District - Environmental Health (2026 county census)
  4. Environmental Health - Crater Health District, quoted and re-checked
  5. Environmental Health - Crater Health District, quoted and re-checked
  6. Surry County, VA - Building Inspections (2026 county census)
  7. Land use permits (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Share of soils without severe limits for a conventional septic drain field (USDA SSURGO): Bolthole Index county data
  9. Building Inspections, quoted and re-checked
  10. Code of Virginia § 36-99. Provisions of Code; modifications (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. 13VAC5-63-70. Section 107 Fees (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Surry County Building Inspections (surrycountyva.gov)
  13. 13VAC5-63-80. Section 108 Application for permit (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. § 15.2-2280. Zoning ordinances generally (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chesapeake Bay Act Requirements, quoted and re-checked
  16. Surry County Planning & Community Development (surrycountyva.gov)
  17. Environmental Health - Crater Health District, quoted and re-checked
  18. 12VAC5-610-240. Permits; general (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. VDH Crater Health District — Surry Health Department (vdh.virginia.gov)
  20. Environmental Health - Crater Health District, quoted and re-checked
  21. 12VAC5-450 Rules and Regulations Governing Campgrounds (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. 13VAC5-63-160. Section 116 Certificates of occupancy (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. 13VAC5-63-130. Section 113 Inspections (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. 13VAC5-63-80. Section 108 Application for permit (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Wooded share of land: Bolthole Index county data
  27. Share of land at 15% slope or less: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  29. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written September 27, 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.

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County locator

Surry County in Virginia

63
County map
Surry County highlighted among the Virginia counties · colored by Index score

How Surry County scores

Seclusion39100% ev.
Self-Sufficiency64100% ev.
Admin Boringness38100% ev.
Durability73100% ev.
Property Autonomy66100% ev.
Carry Cost83100% ev.

Evidence strength: 100%. This reports direct-source completeness and fallback use; it is separate from the score and is not a confidence interval. How it works →

$288kTypical home
0.6%Property tax
$2,949Land / acre
49.3"Annual rain
0.2% of yrsSevere drought
5.7 / yr (+5.3)Mid-century 100°F days
12.6 daysMid-century dry spell
2.48" (+6.5%)Mid-century 1-day rain
1.39×Wildfire change factor
100%Forward climate coverage
$1,348Home insurance / yr
1.5% / yrInsurance growth
1.82%Nonrenewal rate
county median (2+ published ZIPs)Insurance basis
33,083People within 30 min
3,483,890People within 2 hr
54,565Radius comparison (15 mi)
23.6People / sq mi
0.3%Federal land
94.1%Land at 15% slope or less
0.9%Septic soil without severe limits
1,461 acWorkable land screen
63.8%Wooded land
47.8 tonsBiomass / forest ac
59.6°FAvg temp

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Answers from the rulebook for Surry County

What the ordinances and state agencies actually say — one answer per question, each quoted from the official source and independently re-checked.

Surry County rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings constructed in Surry County.

    • The county uses the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code; the page states that the current edition is 2021.

    current code edition: 2021

    “Surry County utilizes the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.”
  • County-wide zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Surry County zoning ordinance and county zoning administration.

    • The county zoning ordinance contains district-specific and land-use-specific requirements.
    • Town of Surry and Town of Claremont have separate zoning ordinances.
    “Surry County’s zoning ordinance, Section 3-1402 D defines the RMA as, “all remaining areas of the County which are located within the James River Watershed.””
  • Local zoningVaries (with conditions)

    Aggregate local zoning across Surry County, the Town of Surry, and the Town of Claremont.

    • The conclusion aggregates separate county and municipal zoning ordinances; the county does not administer each town ordinance.
    • Town officials should be contacted first for town-specific Bay Act compliance.
    “Surry County and the towns of Surry and Claremont are responsible for implementing their respective Bay Act programs.”
  • Who permits septicState (with conditions)

    Onsite sewage and private-well services for Surry County through the Crater Health District.

    • The Crater Health District is the relevant VDH environmental-health authority.
    • Services include site evaluation, permitting, inspections, and investigation of raw sewage or groundwater contamination.
    “EH conducts site evaluations for design and permitting of septic systems and private wells.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Septic systems in Surry County subject to VDH/Crater Health District permitting.

    • Site evaluation and permitting are part of the environmental-health process.
    • Permit issuance may involve review of private-sector submittals.
    “EH conducts site evaluations for design and permitting of septic systems and private wells. We also review private sector submittals for permit issuance.”
  • Septic inspectionLimited

    Environmental-health inspections of septic systems in Surry County.

    • The source confirms that staff perform inspections but does not state that every septic system receives a periodic inspection.
    “EH staff perform inspections and investigate reports of raw sewage or other ground water contamination.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Private wells in Surry County subject to Crater Health District environmental-health permitting.

    • The source describes permitting and site evaluation for private wells.
    “EH conducts site evaluations for design and permitting of septic systems and private wells.”
  • Building permitRequired

    Surry County's Building Department issues permits and inspects construction under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

    Surry County, VA - Building Inspections ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

  • Owner-builder exemptionNot available

    A building permit is required for residential construction regardless of who builds; Virginia's USBC has no exemption from permitting for owner-builders.

    Surry County, VA - Building Inspections ↗Scouted from the county site, not yet independently re-checked

Virginia rules that apply here

  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction or permits subject to the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, with inspections administered by the applicable local building official or approved inspection agency.

    • The building official must conduct the listed minimum inspections when applicable to the construction or permit.
    • The minimum inspections include footings, foundations, preparatory concrete work, structural members and fasteners before concealment, electrical/mechanical/plumbing systems before concealment, energy-conservation materials before concealment, and final inspection.
    • Where construction cost is less than $2,500, an inspection may be waived at the inspecting authority's discretion.
    • The permit holder must provide ladders, scaffolding, or test equipment necessary for a requested inspection and must notify the building official when an inspection stage is reached.
    • Approved third-party inspection reports may be accepted under the building official's written policy.
    • A final inspection is required upon completion of construction for which a permit was issued.

    construction cost threshold for discretionary inspection waiver: < 2500 USD (inspection may be waived at the discretion of the inspecting authority)

    “The following minimum inspections shall be conducted by the building official when applicable to the construction or permit:”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupancy or change of occupancy of buildings or structures regulated by the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

    • A certificate of occupancy must be obtained before occupancy or change of occupancy.
    • The building official issues it within five working days after approval of the final inspection and determination of compliance with the code and pertinent laws or ordinances.
    • A certificate of occupancy is not required for an IRC accessory structure.
    • A new certificate of occupancy is not required for an addition to an existing Group R-5 building that already has a certificate of occupancy.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued before completion if the portion can be occupied safely without endangering life or public safety.
    • For certain contractor-license exemptions, a certificate of occupancy must still be obtained before conveying the property to a third-party purchaser unless the purchaser acknowledges in writing that none was issued and consents to acquire without one.

    certificate issuance deadline after final inspection approval: 5 working days (when the building or structure is determined to comply with the code and pertinent laws or ordinances)

    “Prior to occupancy or change of occupancy of a building or structure, a certificate of occupancy shall be obtained in accordance with this section.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Placement and occupancy of manufactured homes in Virginia localities that adopt and enforce zoning ordinances.

    • In agricultural zoning districts, or similarly classified districts where agricultural, horticultural, or forest uses are dominant and site-built housing is allowed, placement of manufactured homes must be permitted.
    • In other zoning districts where site-built housing is allowed, the manufactured home must be converted to real property under § 46.2-653.1, have its certificate of occupancy issued within five years following the manufacture date on the data plate, and be placed on an individual lot.
    • Localities may adopt uniform standards applying to all residential structures in the zoning district, but those standards may not exclude manufactured housing compliant with the Virginia Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Law.
    • Restrictive covenants may continue to impose obligations.
    • Local zoning and land-use controls that do not affect construction or installation remain in force; site preparation, utility connections, skirting, and maintenance must meet the Uniform Statewide Building Code.

    certificate of occupancy deadline from manufacture date: <= 5 years (date listed on the home's data plate) · placement requirement: individual lots

    “the placement of manufactured homes shall be permitted for manufactured homes that are (i) converted to real property in accordance with § 46.2-653.1”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    Farm buildings and structures under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

    • A farm building or structure is not used for residential purposes, is located on property where farming operations take place, and is used primarily for a listed farm use.
    • The exemption does not apply to a building or portion of a building on a farm that is operated as a restaurant and licensed by the Board of Health under Chapter 2 (§ 35.1-11 et seq.) of Title 35.1.
    • Farm buildings and structures in a flood plain or mudslide-prone area remain subject to applicable flood-proofing or mudslide regulations.
    • A qualifying agritourism farm building or structure where the public is invited to enter and which is used for display, sampling, or sale described in § 36-99 must have portable fire extinguishers, a simple written emergency plan, and the required exemption sign.
    “Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, farm buildings and structures shall be exempt from the provisions of the Building Code, except for a building or a portion of a building located on a farm that is operated as a restaurant as defined in § 35.1-1 and licensed as such by the Board of Health pursuant to Chapter 2 (§ 35.1-11 et seq.) of Title 35.1.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land and its development in every Virginia locality.

    • The governing body of every locality must adopt the ordinance; the resulting subdivision controls are administered through the applicable locality's ordinance.
    “The governing body of every locality shall adopt an ordinance to assure the orderly subdivision of land and its development.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Construction or modification of entrances connecting to VDOT-maintained highways and activities in VDOT highway right-of-way.

    • The requirement applies to state-maintained highways and right-of-way under VDOT jurisdiction.
    • Entrance location and design must comply with VDOT access-management regulations and design standards.
    • Applications are typically obtained through the VDOT district or residency office serving the locality.
    • An existing entrance also requires a land-use permit when modified because of a change in land use, traffic volume, or type of traffic.
    “Anyone who plans to work or perform an activity on or crossing any right of way under the jurisdiction of the Department must first obtain a land use permit. These include activities such as installation of utilities, construction of private and commercial entrances, landscaping, the temporary use of the right-of-way, as well as numerous other types of activities.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Work otherwise exempt from a Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code permit when located in a special flood hazard area.

    • The building official may require a permit for items that are otherwise exempt under the permit-application section when they are located in a special flood hazard area.
    • The rule does not establish that every floodplain development project is exempt from other local floodplain, building, zoning, or federal requirements.
    “Application for a permit may be required by the building official for any items exempted in this section that are located in a special flood hazard area.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Residential dwelling use as a short-term rental in Virginia.

    • Existing local authority to regulate short-term rentals through general land-use and zoning authority is preserved.
    • A locality may adopt a registration ordinance, and a registration ordinance may impose a penalty up to $500 per violation for an operator required to register.
    • A locality may limit a lessee or sublessee to one short-term rental within the locality.
    • For a residential dwelling also legally occupied by the property owner as the primary residence, a local ordinance enacted after December 31, 2023, or a later amendment, may not require a special exception, special use, or conditional use permit for short-term rental use.
    • Private contracts, condominium instruments, common-interest-community declarations, cooperative instruments, and property-owners-association declarations are not superseded.

    registration penalty: <= 500 USD per violation (Only where a locality adopts a registry ordinance and the operator is required to register.) · owner-occupied primary residence special-use permit prohibition date: > 2023-12-31 (Applies to local ordinances enacted after this date or subsequent amendments.)

    “Except as provided in this section, nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit, limit, or otherwise supersede existing local authority to regulate the short-term rental of property through general land use and zoning authority.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code permit fees administered through local building departments statewide.

    • The local governing body establishes the fee schedule.
    • Unit rates may be based on square footage, cubic footage, estimated cost of construction, or other appropriate criteria.
    • A permit or amendment generally may not be issued until designated fees are paid, but the building official may authorize delayed payment.
    • A local building department collects a 2.0% code-academy levy on permit fees, subject to the stated statutory exception for localities with qualifying individual or regional training academies.

    code academy levy: 2 percent (Localities that maintain individual or regional training academies accredited by DHCD may retain the levy.)

    “The local governing body shall establish a fee schedule incorporating unit rates, which may be based on square footage, cubic footage, estimated cost of construction, or other appropriate criteria.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction, demolition, regulated installations, and related permit applications under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

    • A permit application must be made to the building official and a permit obtained before covered work begins.
    • Emergency construction, alterations, or equipment replacement applications are due by the end of the first working day after work begins.
    • The building official may authorize work to begin while an application or permit is pending.
    • Applications may be submitted by mail and processed by mail unless the jurisdiction offers online processing or the applicant voluntarily chooses otherwise; an applicant may not be required to appear in person.
    • The application form is supplied by the local building department and must include a general description and location of the proposed work and other information required by the building official.
    • An application is abandoned six months after filing unless pursued in good faith or a permit is issued; the building official may grant extensions for justifiable cause.
    “Application for a permit shall be made to the building official and a permit shall be obtained prior to the commencement of any of the following activities, except that applications for emergency construction, alterations, or equipment replacement shall be submitted by the end of the first working day that follows the day such work commences.”
  • Campground & park staysLimited

    Temporary camping in a Virginia campground regulated under 12VAC5-450.

    • Campground construction, renovation, or addition requires plan submission and written approval by the Health Commissioner before construction begins, except that temporary campground owners or operators submit the plans as part of the permit application and do not need separate written plan approval.
    • A valid campground permit is required before operation.
    • Local plumbing, building, electrical, and zoning ordinances also apply.
    • Temporary permits are limited to temporary camping of 14 days duration or less; a temporary permit may be valid for 60 days or less, but total operation may not exceed 14 days during any 60-day period.

    temporary camping permit duration: <= 14 days (temporary permit may be valid for 60 days or less, but total days of operation may not exceed 14 days during any 60-day period) · campsite minimum area: >= 1600 square feet · campsite minimum narrowest width: >= 25 feet

    “to allow temporary camping of 14 days duration or less.”
  • county zoning authorityGeneral

    Virginia counties adopting and administering zoning ordinances over unincorporated territory statewide.

    • The zoning power is exercised by county governing bodies through ordinance.
    • County zoning jurisdiction covers unincorporated territory; incorporated areas are under municipal jurisdiction.
    • The statute permits regulation of land uses, structures, dimensional standards, open spaces, and excavation or mining, including residential and flood-plain uses.
    “For the purpose of zoning, the governing body of a county shall have jurisdiction over all the unincorporated territory in the county, and the governing body of a municipality shall have jurisdiction over the incorporated area of the municipality.”
  • county building authorityGeneral

    Virginia counties administering and enforcing the Uniform Statewide Building Code and issuing building permits for construction, including residential construction, in county jurisdiction.

    • Virginia's building code is a Uniform Statewide Building Code adopted by the State Board; it supersedes county building codes and regulations.
    • The county's role is local administration and enforcement through a local building department, not independent adoption of a conflicting county building code.
    • A county without a building department or local board of Building Code appeals must enter an agreement with another county, municipality, agency, or approved state agency for enforcement and appeals.
    • A town with a population of less than 3,500 may elect to administer and enforce the Building Code; if it does not, the county administers and enforces the Code for that town.
    • Buildings may be inspected before completion and are not deemed compliant until approved by the inspecting authority; inspections under $2,500 construction cost may be waived at the inspecting authority's discretion.
    • Building permit and enforcement fees may be levied by the local governing body.
    • Farm buildings and structures are exempt from the Building Code except for a farm building or portion operated as a licensed restaurant; farm buildings in flood plains or mudslide-prone areas remain subject to applicable flood-proofing or mudslide regulations.

    small-town population threshold: < 3500 people (The town may elect to administer and enforce the Building Code; otherwise the county administers it for the town.) · inspection-waiver construction cost threshold: < 2500 USD (The inspecting authority may waive inspection at its discretion.)

    “Enforcement of the provisions of the Building Code for construction and rehabilitation shall be the responsibility of the local building department. [...] Whenever a county or a municipality does not have such a building department or board of Building Code appeals, the local governing body shall enter into an agreement with the local governing body of another county or municipality or with some other agency, or a state agency approved by the Department for such enforcement and appeals resulting therefrom.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission — ask the county directly.

  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling-size requirements in Surry County.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot-size requirements in Surry County.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks in Surry County.
  • Lot coverage — Lot-coverage requirements in Surry County.
  • Building height — Building-height requirements in Surry County.
6 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Mandatory utility hookup

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.

Water rights & wells in Surry County

Whether a new home can legally get its own water here — the sub-state groundwater regime, from Virginia’s water agency.

Over-appropriated / declining

The aquifer here is over-appropriated and declining. A domestic well is usually still permit-exempt, but long-term supply is a genuine risk.

Household wellExempt — no permit or water right

Household wells are exempt from the groundwater withdrawal permit even inside a Groundwater Management Area, but a private well in a GWMA must be registered with DEQ within 30 days (Va. Code 62.1-258); a permit is triggered only at 300,000 gal/month.

Limit: < 300,000 gal/month (no withdrawal permit)

Virginia DEQ — Ground Water Withdrawal Permitting ↗
  • Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Areapartial of county

    DEQ has imposed mandatory withdrawal reductions on large Coastal Plain permittees because permitted demand exceeds sustainable aquifer yield (declining heads, land subsidence, saltwater-intrusion risk). Household wells (<300,000 gal/mo) are exempt but must be registered. The I-95-west counties (Fairfax, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Caroline) are included only east of I-95.

    Virginia DEQ / 9VAC25-600-20 ↗

Regulated-riparian state (large uses permitted). Groundwater rules change and basin boundaries follow the aquifer, not the county line — confirm current well and appropriation rules with the Virginia state water agency before you buy or drill.Groundwater governance as of Jul 2026, cited to each administering agency.

Living off-grid in Surry County, Virginia

Is Surry County a good place to live off-grid or homestead?

Surry County scores 63/100 on the Bolthole Index, a solid county profile. Its strengths: manageable long-term carry cost and mixed durability signals. Watch-outs: more administrative friction around building and land use and about 33,083 people within a 30-minute drive.

Do you need a building permit in Surry County, Virginia?

Surry County generally requires a residential building permit, and it enforces county zoning. Onsite septic is permitted by Virginia Department of Health (VDH) - Crater Health District, Surry Health Department. These answers are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked. Rules change and cities within the county differ — always confirm with the county before you buy or build.

How much does land cost in Surry County, Virginia?

Land in Surry County runs about $2,949 per acre, based on the latest county data.

What is the water situation in Surry County?

Surry County gets about 49.3" of rain a year, with severe drought in roughly 0.2% of years. On water rights, Surry County lies in the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Area — DEQ has imposed mandatory withdrawal reductions on large Coastal Plain permittees because permitted demand exceeds sustainable aquifer yield (declining heads, land subsidence, saltwater-intrusion risk). Household wells (<300,000 gal/mo) are exempt but must be registered. The I-95-west counties (Fairfax, Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, Prince William, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Caroline) are included only east of I-95..

How remote is Surry County?

A representative private-land location has about 33,083 people within a 30-minute drive and 3,483,890 within two hours. The road-network catchments count population across county lines and clusters of smaller cities; straight-line radius values remain available as a comparison.

Off-grid gear

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

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How Surry compares in Virginia

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