Bolthole Index

Washington County, Virginia

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Town of Glade Spring, Virginia

The Town of Glade Spring, Virginia requires building permits for construction and regulated alterations, with Washington County issuing building permits and inspecting work inside town.12 Glade Spring has its own zoning ordinance, while septic construction approval comes from the Virginia Department of Health.34 Living or sleeping in an RV parked on a residential lot is prohibited.5

At a glance

Building permits
Required for construction and regulated alterations; Washington County handles building permits inside town.12
Zoning
Town zoning applies inside Glade Spring; county zoning does not.3
Septic
VDH construction approval required before building, expanding or modifying an onsite sewage system.4
RV living
Living, sleeping or housekeeping in recreational equipment parked on a residential lot is prohibited.5
Residential lot size
R-1 single-family detached homes: 11,500 square feet minimum; A permitted uses: 88,000 square feet minimum.67
Manufactured homes
R-3 standards include at least 960 square feet of floor space and a permanent foundation.8
Owner-builder
Conditional contractor-license exemption; building-code requirements still apply.9

Who to call

Zoning

Glade Spring Town Hall

Town contact for zoning district, land-use approval and floodplain zoning questions.

(276) 429-5134

113 East Glade Street/Post Office Box 98 Glade Spring, VA 24340

Building permits

Washington County Department of Building & Development Services

Building permits, plan review and construction inspections inside Glade Spring; town zoning approval is separate.

(276) 525-1340

[email protected]

1 Government Center Place, Suite A Abingdon VA, 24210

Online permits →

Septic permits

Washington County Health Department (Virginia Department of Health, Mount Rogers Health District)

Septic and private-well applications for Washington County through the Mount Rogers Health District

(276) 676-5604

15068 Lee Highway, Suite 1000, Bristol, VA 24202

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 Glade Spring 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 Glade Spring, VA?

Glade Spring requires a building permit before construction or regulated alterations begin, subject to the building code’s listed exemptions.1 The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code applies to new buildings, additions and other covered work inside town.10 Washington County Building & Development Services issues building permits and conducts construction inspections in Glade Spring.2

An owner building a primary residence for personal use may qualify for Virginia’s contractor-license exemption, but that exemption does not remove building-code obligations.9 Ask the County Building Official which building permit and inspection requirements apply to the proposed work before starting.2

Who handles building permits and zoning in the Town of Glade Spring?

For Glade Spring building permits and inspections, contact Washington County Building & Development Services at (276) 525-1340 or [email protected].2 For town zoning questions, contact Glade Spring Town Hall at (276) 429-5134.11 The county’s building page directs Glade Spring zoning applications to [email protected].2

Glade Spring’s own zoning ordinance applies inside town limits; Washington County’s zoning ordinance does not.3 Septic approval remains a separate VDH matter, with the Washington County Health Department serving as the local health contact.412 For land outside town limits, use the Washington County guide for county zoning jurisdiction.3

What do Town of Glade Spring zoning rules mean for lot size and homes?

In Glade Spring’s R-1, Medium Density Residential District, a single-family detached dwelling needs a lot of at least 11,500 square feet.6 All structures, including accessory structures, may cover no more than 35% of an R-1 lot.13 In the town’s A, Agricultural District, permitted uses require at least 88,000 square feet of lot area; subdivision and utility conditions may impose additional requirements.7

Glade Spring’s R-3 manufactured-home standards require at least 23 feet of width and 960 square feet of floor space, removal of wheels and tow assembly, and anchoring to a permanent foundation.8 That floor-area minimum applies to R-3 manufactured homes; it is not a townwide minimum for every dwelling type.14 Ask Town Hall for the parcel’s district and applicable setbacks before choosing a house footprint.11

How do septic permits work inside the Town of Glade Spring?

A septic system in Glade Spring requires a written VDH construction permit before construction, expansion or modification.4 The state rule also requires an operation permit for systems constructed after the regulation’s effective date.4 Contact the Washington County Health Department at (276) 676-5604 for the local health office.12

For new construction and additions, the building department requires VDH septic approval where public sewer is unavailable, or proof of payment of the sewer connection fee where public sewer is available.2 Washington County’s countywide soil data rates about 24.1% of soils not limited for conventional septic drain fields; that does not determine whether a particular Glade Spring lot can support septic, so plan for a site evaluation.15

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in the Town of Glade Spring?

Glade Spring prohibits living, sleeping or housekeeping in major recreational equipment parked or stored on a residential lot, or in another location not approved for that use.5 The restriction covers travel trailers, campers and motorized dwellings.5 Recreational equipment may be parked anywhere on residential premises for no more than 24 hours during loading or unloading; that exception does not authorize overnight residential use.16

We could not confirm a separate Glade Spring tiny-home occupancy rule or an affirmative accessory-dwelling allowance; ask Town Hall about the proposed dwelling’s zoning classification.11 Ask Washington County Building & Development Services about building-code approval for the proposed construction.2 A small manufactured home must satisfy the applicable manufactured-home standards rather than relying on its size alone.8

Building a home in the Town of Glade Spring: what comes first?

  1. Ask Glade Spring Town Hall to confirm the zoning district, proposed residential use, setbacks and floodplain status; development in a town floodplain district requires a zoning permit.1117
  2. Establish the water and sewage route: the building department lists VDH septic and well approval where public service is unavailable, or connection-payment receipts where public service is available, for new construction and additions.2
  3. Obtain town zoning approval and submit the completed zoning and building application, construction plans and site drawing to Washington County Building & Development Services before starting covered construction.21
  4. Notify the building official at required inspection stages and obtain the final inspection; a new home also needs its certificate of occupancy before occupancy.1819

What should you check before buying in the Town of Glade Spring?

Glade Spring floodplain development requires a zoning permit, and applicable new residential construction or substantial improvement must place the lowest floor, including the basement, at least 1 foot above base-flood elevation.17 Ask Town Hall how those requirements affect the parcel before committing to a building location.11

An entrance connecting to a VDOT-maintained highway, or work in VDOT right-of-way, falls under the state land-use permit rules; confirm the road’s maintenance authority before planning access.20 We could not confirm current town zoning fees or a complete town-specific private-well process; request zoning costs from Town Hall and water-approval guidance from the health department and building office.11122

Watch-outs

  • Town zoning and county building approval are separate in Glade Spring; obtaining a building permit does not substitute for town zoning approval.32
  • The recreational-equipment loading exception is limited to 24 hours and does not allow RV living on a residential lot.16
  • We could not confirm a town-specific tiny-home allowance or current zoning fee schedule; ask Glade Spring Town Hall before committing to either.11

Sources

  1. 13VAC5-63-80. Section 108 Application for permit (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  2. Washington County Department of Building & Development Services (washcova.com)
  3. Zoning - Washington County Virginia, quoted and re-checked
  4. 12VAC5-610-240. Permits; general (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  5. Sec. 62-505. - Parking, storage or use of major recreational equipment (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  6. library.municode.com (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  7. library.municode.com (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  8. Sec. 62-179. - Manufactured homes regulations (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  11. Glade Spring Town Hall (gladespringva.org)
  12. Washington County Health Department (Virginia Department of Health, Mount Rogers Health District) (vdh.virginia.gov)
  13. library.municode.com (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  14. Sec. 62-179. - Manufactured homes regulations (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  15. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  16. Sec. 62-505. - Parking, storage or use of major recreational equipment (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  17. Sec. 30-71. - Permit and application requirements (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  18. 13VAC5-63-130. Section 113 Inspections (Town of Glade Spring), quoted and re-checked
  19. 13VAC5-63-160. Section 116 Certificates of occupancy (Virginia statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Land use permits (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 Glade Spring

Town of Glade Spring’s own rules

  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Manufactured homes in the R-3, Medium Density Mixed Residential District.

    • The minimum is specific to manufactured homes in R-3, not a townwide minimum for every dwelling type.
    • The home must also meet the remaining R-3 manufactured-home standards.

    minimum floor space: >= 960 square feet (Manufactured homes in R-3.)

    “The manufactured home shall have a minimum of 960 square feet floor space.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Permitted uses in the A, Agricultural District.

    • The cited provision states the minimum for permitted uses generally.
    • Subdivision standards can increase minimum lot size where public water or sewer is unavailable.

    minimum required lot area: >= 88000 square feet (Permitted uses in A.)

    “Within the A district, the minimum required lot area for permitted uses shall be 88,000 square feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Single-family detached dwellings in the R-1, Medium Density Residential District.
      “Within the R-1 district, the minimum required lot area for single-family detached dwellings shall be 11,500 square feet.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific

    Buildings and structures in the A, Agricultural District.

    • The cited code states there is no maximum lot coverage requirement in A.
    “Within the A district, there is no maximum lot coverage requirement.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — All structures, including accessory structures, in the R-1 district.
      “Within the R-1 district, the maximum lot coverage for all structures, including accessory structures, shall not exceed 35 percent of the total lot area.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Front walls and other portions of buildings or structures in A.

    • The limitation does not apply to belfries, spires, flagpoles, or antenna.

    maximum height: <= 35 feet above curb level (Belfries, spires, flagpoles, and antenna.)

    “The maximum height of a front wall or other portion of a building or other structure shall be 35 feet above the curb level. However, this limitation shall not apply to: belfries, spires, flagpoles, or antenna.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Front walls and other portions of buildings or structures in R-1.
      “The maximum height of a front wall or other portion of a building or other structure shall be 35 feet above the curb level. However, this limitation shall not apply to belfries, spires, flagpoles, or antenna.”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Living, sleeping, or housekeeping in major recreational equipment parked or stored on a residential lot inside Glade Spring town.

    • Major recreational equipment includes boats and trailers, travel trailers, tent trailers, pick-up campers or coaches, motorized dwellings, and similar equipment.
    • The equipment may be parked anywhere on residential premises for no more than 24 hours during loading or unloading.
    • It may not be parked or stored in a front yard of a residential lot.
    “No such equipment shall be for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on a residential lot, or in any location not approved for such use.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Use of major recreational equipment for living, sleeping, or housekeeping on residential lots inside Glade Spring town.

    • Equipment may be present anywhere on residential premises for no more than 24 hours during loading or unloading.
    • The code provision addresses residential lots and locations not approved for such use; it does not establish a general campground licensing rule in the cited section.
    “However, such equipment may park anywhere on residential premises for not to exceed 24 hours during loading or unloading. No such equipment shall be for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes when parked or stored on a residential lot, or in any location not approved for such use.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured-home occupancy inside Glade Spring town.

    • In R-3, the manufactured home must meet the same lot requirements as a site-built single-family or two-family dwelling in the same district.
    • Only post-July 1, 1976 HUD-compliant homes are permitted in R-3.
    • The home must have wheels and tow assembly removed, be anchored to a permanent foundation, be at least 23 feet wide and 960 square feet, use specified exterior and roof materials, and be taxed as real estate.
    • No mobile home may be located in town unless in an approved and duly licensed mobile home park.
    • In the floodway district, placement of manufactured homes is prohibited except in an existing manufactured-home park or subdivision.

    minimum width: >= 23 feet · minimum floor space: >= 960 square feet · construction date: > July 1, 1976 (Only homes constructed after this date are permitted in R-3.)

    “Only manufactured homes constructed after July 1, 1976, and in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act shall be permitted in the R-3 district. [...] The manufactured home shall have a minimum width of 23 feet. [...] The manufactured home shall have a minimum of 960 square feet floor space.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Uses, activities, development, and manufactured-home placement in any floodplain district inside Glade Spring town.

    • A zoning permit is required before floodplain development.
    • Applications must include base-flood elevation, lowest-floor elevation, floodproofing elevation for nonresidential structures, and topographic information.
    • New residential construction or substantial improvement must have the lowest floor, including basement, at least one foot of freeboard above base-flood elevation where base-flood elevations are provided.
    • Floodway encroachments are prohibited unless qualified hydrologic and hydraulic analyses demonstrate no increase in base-flood levels and other stated FEMA and town-endorsed conditions are satisfied.
    • Manufactured-home placement in the floodway is prohibited except in an existing manufactured-home park or subdivision, subject to replacement-home standards.

    freeboard above base flood elevation: >= 1 foot (Residential construction or substantial improvement in applicable special flood hazard areas.)

    “All uses, activities, and development occurring within any floodplain district, including placement of manufactured homes, shall be undertaken only upon the issuance of a zoning permit.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Glade Spring

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

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction and regulated alterations inside Glade Spring town.

    • A permit is required before construction or specified alterations begin.
    • Emergency construction, alterations, or equipment replacement applications may be submitted by the end of the first working day after work commences.
    • Section 108.2 contains permit and inspection exemptions, including certain one-story detached structures not exceeding 256 square feet.
    • Other applicable local zoning, floodplain, subdivision, and utility requirements still apply.
    “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.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction, additions, maintenance, repair, renovation, and changes of use inside Glade Spring town under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

    • The Board of Housing and Community Development adopts and amends the USBC.
    • Enforcement is performed by the local government's building inspections department; for a town under 3,500 that does not elect to enforce, the county administers the code for the town.
    “The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) contains the building regulations that must be complied with when constructing a new building, structure, or an addition to an existing building.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Glade Spring town.

    • The permit holder must notify the building official when an inspection stage is reached.
    • A final inspection is required upon completion of construction for which a permit was issued.
    • The building official may accept approved third-party inspection reports under the stated conditions.
    • In the discretion of the inspecting authority, inspection may be waived where construction cost is less than $2,500.
    “When construction reaches a stage of completion that requires an inspection, the permit holder shall notify the building official.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Construction, expansion, or modification of an on-site sewage disposal system inside Glade Spring town.

    • A written construction permit from the commissioner is required before construction, expansion, or modification.
    • A written operation permit is required for operation of a sewage disposal system constructed after the effective date of the chapter.
    • Permit conditions may be imposed and the system may not be constructed, modified, or operated in violation of those conditions.
    “No person or owner shall cause or allow the construction, expansion or modification of a sewage disposal system without the written construction permit from the commissioner which authorizes the construction or modifications.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Glade Spring town.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling occupancy inside Glade Spring town.
  • Septic inspection — Inspection of on-site sewage systems inside Glade Spring town.
  • Well permit — Private well construction or use inside Glade Spring town.
  • Driveway access — Driveway or entrance access for development inside Glade Spring town.
2 more unanswered
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Glade Spring publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Washington County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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