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

Washington County requires a written building-permit application before constructing, enlarging, altering or changing the use of a structure¹. Building & Development Services reviews plans, inspects construction at applicable stages and enforces building, electrical and plumbing codes¹. Virginia exempts qualifying nonresidential farm buildings from the Building Code; the county agricultural electrical exemption excludes dwellings and restaurants and ends when the use changes^4,5. A new home needs a certificate of occupancy before move-in under Virginia law⁶. Certain owner-builders must also obtain a certificate before selling unless the purchaser acknowledges in writing that none was issued and agrees to buy without one⁷.

The Washington County Department of Building & Development Services issues building permits, reviews plans and conducts inspections for Washington County and the Towns of Damascus and Glade Spring¹. Call (276) 525-1340, email buildhelp@washcova.com or visit 1 Government Center Place, Abingdon, VA 24210¹. Submit a completed zoning and building application, construction and site plans, and applicable tax, utility, access, erosion-control and contractor documents¹. County building-permit fees use project valuation, including labor and materials at fair-market rates for owner-performed work; starting work before obtaining required building permits adds a review fee equal to the normal permit fee⁸. The published schedule adds a 2% levy and permits a $50 reinspection fee beginning with the third inspection of the same work, at the Building Official’s discretion⁸. The schedule is labeled effective in 2016, so ask the department for the current project total⁸.

Unincorporated Washington County has county zoning, and the county GIS supplies the official zoning map and parcel information^2,9. The county ordinance excludes Abingdon, Damascus, Glade Spring and the Washington County portion of Saltville; confirm the applicable zoning office before applying². Septic approval remains with VDH where public sewer is unavailable¹. Minimum lot area depends on district and utilities: A-1 requires 2 acres, reduced to 1 acre with public water¹⁰. A-2 requires 1 acre without public water or sewer, 30,000 square feet with public water, or 15,000 square feet with both¹¹. MHR requires 1 acre without public water or sewer, 30,000 square feet with public water only, or 20,000 square feet with both¹². Ask Building & Development Services to confirm setbacks and the intended residential use for the parcel¹.

The Virginia Department of Health’s Mount Rogers Health District oversees onsite sewage systems and private wells in Washington County; contact the Washington County Health Department at (276) 676-5604^13,14. New construction and additions need VDH septic approval where public sewer is unavailable, or proof of payment of the public-sewer connection fee where service exists¹. The county also requires a VDH well approval number or the public-water connection receipt, as applicable¹. About 24.1% of county soils are rated “not limited” for a conventional drain field; that countywide screening does not establish a particular lot’s suitability, so arrange a site evaluation before committing to a homesite¹⁵. VDH-approved alternative onsite sewage systems may serve properties where conventional systems are unsuitable¹⁶.

Washington County publishes an RV Application and a Tiny Home Permit, but we could not confirm the zoning districts, occupancy duration or approval conditions for living in either on private land; ask Building & Development Services about the parcel and intended use¹. County zoning excludes the named incorporated towns, so confirm jurisdiction before applying². Virginia’s campground rules do not establish a general right to live in an RV on private land¹⁷. A manufactured home requires a zoning permit before placement and may serve only as a residence, not storage or an accessory workshop¹. New construction and additions without public sewer need VDH septic approval before the county issues a building permit¹.

1. Identify whether the parcel falls under county zoning or a town exclusion, then obtain the applicable zoning approval².
2. Obtain VDH septic approval and private-well approval where public service is unavailable, or gather public-utility connection receipts¹.
3. For new construction served by a driveway connecting to a Virginia secondary highway, obtain a VDOT entrance permit; the county’s stated requirement excludes renovations and additions¹.
4. Submit the zoning and building application, plans, tax ticket for new construction and supporting documents; disturbance exceeding 10,000 square feet requires land-disturbance materials, with an agreement in lieu of an erosion plan acceptable for residential projects¹.
5. Provide the contractor license or applicable owner-builder affidavit¹.
6. Obtain the building permit, request construction-stage inspections and obtain the new home’s certificate of occupancy before move-in^1,6.

Check proposed lot divisions and access before buying Washington County land: dividing a tract into 3 or more parts is regulated, and some 2-lot divisions qualify when they extend public utilities or create or change roads, easements or rights-of-way². Family divisions also need review under state and county rules; contact Zoning Administration before proceeding². Check the official zoning map for FEMA-designated flood-hazard areas because county rules regulate construction and other activity there². About 63.8% of county land is wooded, and about 32.4% has a slope of 15% or less, making homesite and access selection consequential¹⁵. The effective property-tax rate is about 0.5%, and the median annual property-tax bill is about $1,038¹⁵.