All building plans submitted on or after this date must include finished floor elevations, as required by Section 8.1–12, Subsection D of the Roanoke County Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance.Finished Floor Elevation Requirement page for more details.
New Elevation Survey Requirement
As part of this requirement:
Roanoke County staff will conduct a survey of the bottom-of-footing elevation to verify it generally conforms to the approved plans before the building footing inspection.
This elevation survey must be requested prior to the footing inspection.
Better Buildings, Safer Communities
The Office of Building Safety enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code within Roanoke County. This includes plan review, permit issuance, and inspection of buildings and structures during the construction phase.
Our office establishes and enforces minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety, and general welfare through adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, means of egress, property protection, stability, sanitation, structural strength, and systems efficiency.
Important Changes to Permit System
The Office of Building Safety has an online permitting system, Cityworks. This system allows online as well as in-person submittals and requests. If interested, please refer to our ONLINE SERVICES page or our PUBLIC ACCESS PORTAL page. If you have any questions, please feel free to call 540-772-2065 Ext 1.
The Office of Building Safety has a SelecTxt Inspection process that will work in conjunction with our Cityworks Permitting System. This can easily be accessed from any cell phone that can send a text. The system will allow scheduling, re-scheduling, canceling and seeing results of inspections.
Application for a permit shall be made to the building official and a permit shall be obtained prior to commencing any of the following activities:
Construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion or demolition of a building or structure, including the installation or altering of any equipment regulated by the USBC.
Change of Occupancy of an existing structure when a new certificate is required by the USBC
Movement of a lot line that increases the hazard to or decreases the level of safety of an existing building or structure.
Removing or disturbing any asbestos containing materials during demolition, alteration, renovation of or additions to buildings or structures.
A permit is not required for: Ordinary repairs which do not involve any violations of the building code. These include painting, roofing, most glass, most doors, floor covering and porch flooring, repairs to plaster or interior tile and other wall covering, residential cabinets, and wiring and equipment operating under 50 volts. Detached accessory structures less than 256 sq. ft. NOTE: must be structurally sound and anchored. Zoning permit is still required. Tents or air supported structure less than 900 sq. ft. and less than 50 persons. Fences and privacy walls (does not include retaining walls) that do not exceed six feet above finished grade. Swimming pools meeting all three of the following conditions: less than 200 sq. ft., less than 5,000 gallons capacity and less than 24" deep. Pools that fail to meet any one of these conditions require a permit. Re-roofing of 1 and 2 family dwellings (roof covering only). Most wiring and equipment that operates at less than 50 volts. (exceptions) Replacement of plumbing and electrical fixtures, fittings, appliances, including electric water heaters, fans, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, air cleaners, and similar mechanical equipment, doors and windows with that of similar capacity in the same location in most residential uses.
Permits may be applied for by the owner or lessee of the building or the agent of either, or by the licensed professional engineer, architect, contractor or subcontractor (or their prospective agents) employed in connection with the prospective work. Engineers, architects, contractors or subcontractors must provide evidence that they are licensed to practice in Virginia or are exempt from the requirements.