Building Permit – Commercial
OnlineTo amend or cancel a commercial building permit submitted or issued prior to August 30, 2021, see the instructions for Henrico’s former permitting and inspections system, now referred to as the Legacy Permitting System, on this page below.
Build Henrico Permitting Instructions
- Register for and login to your customer account on the Build Henrico website.
- Select “Permits” on the Build Henrico home page.
- Select “Building Permit.
- Select “Commercial” from the dropdown menu next to “Select the option that best describes the application:” and complete your permit submittal by filling out the online application.
- Go to these links to review the document submission standards for the construction of commercial buildings:
- Upload the following applicable documents to be included with your permit application:
- Site Plans
- Architectural Plans (Key Plans, Floor Plans, Elevations, Life Safety, Egress, Door & Window Schedules, Wall, Floor and Roof Sections, Fire-Resistant Rated Assemblies, etc.)
- Structural Plans (Footings & Foundations, Structural Framing, Retaining Walls, Engineering Details, etc.)
- Plumbing Plans (Water & Sewer sitework; Water distribution piping; Drainage, Waste & Vent piping; Stormwater piping; Plumbing Fixtures; Grease Traps & Interceptors; Gas Piping Systems (Natural, LPG & Medical);
- Mechanical Plans (Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventilation Equipment & Systems; Ductwork; Kitchen & Hazardous Exhaust Systems; Refrigeration Systems; Gas Piping Systems (Natural, LPG & Medical); Boilers & Water Heaters; Fireplaces & Mechanical Appliances, Fuel Storage Tanks, etc.)
- Electrical Plans (Power Distribution; Lighting; Panelboards; Overcurrent Protection; Electrical Fixtures & Equipment, etc.)
- Owner’s Affidavit – Statement that applicant is either the owner or owner’s agent, i.e., exempt from being a licensed contractor
Legacy Permitting Instructions
Please mail or hand deliver the following documents along with required fees to the Department of Building Construction and Inspections:
New Construction
2 copies of Commercial Building Permit Application
2 copies of Owner’s Affidavit if owner/tenant is acting as contractor
1 copy of Statement of Special Inspections
2 copies of construction plans (structural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical drawings)
2 copies of POD or site plan
1 geotechnical report
1 project specifications
If requesting a Footing and Foundation or Structural Framing Permit, then a letter requesting the permit and 1 set of structural plans are needed.
More detailed information can be found at: https://henrico.us/bldg/commercial-building/requirements-for-new-construction/
Additions
2 copies of Commercial Building Permit Application
2 copies of Owner’s Affidavit if owner/tenant is acting as contractor
2 copies of Affidavit for Alterations to Existing Buildings
1 copy of Statement of Special Inspections
2 copies of construction plans (structural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical drawings)
2 copies of site plan or key plan
1 geotechnical report
More detailed information can be found at: https://henrico.us/bldg/commercial-building/requirements-for-additions/
Tenant Upfit / Renovations
2 copies of Commercial Building Permit Application
2 copies of Owner’s Affidavit if owner/tenant is acting as contractor
2 copies of Affidavit for Alterations to Existing Buildings
2 copies of construction plans (structural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical drawings)
2 copies of site plan or key plan
More detailed information can be found at: https://henrico.us/bldg/commercial-building/requirements-for-tenant-spaces-and-renovations/
Tents
2 copies of Commercial Building Permit Application
2 copies of Owner’s Affidavit if owner/tenant is acting as contractor
2 copies of site plan showing where the tent is to be located on the property
2 copies of flame certificates
More detailed information can be found at: https://henrico.us/bldg/commercial-building/requirements-for-tents/
Trailers
2 copies of Commercial Building Permit Application
2 copies of Owner’s Affidavit if owner/tenant is acting as contractor
2 copies of site plan showing where the trailer is located on the property
2 copies of anchor / tie down information
More detailed information can be found at: https://henrico.us/bldg/commercial-building/requirements-for-trailers/
Demolition
2 copies of Commercial Building Permit Application
2 copies of Owner’s Affidavit if owner/tenant is acting as contractor
2 copies of Affidavit for Alterations to Existing Buildings
2 copies of Demolition Certification
2 copies of site plan showing the structure to be removed
More detailed information can be found at: https://henrico.us/bldg/commercial-building/requirements-for-demolitions/
Response to Building Inspections Plan Review Comments
2 copies of Response to Plan Review Comments
2 copies of corrected sheets
Note: A fee for this service is assessed for the third and subsequent review at a rate of $25.00 + .50 (state levy) = $25.50 per review.
Permit Resubmittal (submit changes to your original permit application)
2 copies of Commercial Resubmittal Form
2 copies of revised sheets of construction plans
Note: There is a fee for this service if there is an increase to the original estimated cost.
Permit Cancelation
1 copy of Request for Permit Cancelation
Note: You must enter a reason for the cancelation. If a refund is requested, you must add the request to the reason for cancelation. The refund rate is 100% if the permit has not been issued or 75% of the permit fee only if the permit has been issued.
Legacy Documents
Commercial Building Permit Application
Owner’s Statement of Responsibility
Affidavit for Alterations to Existing Buildings
Statement of Special Inspections
Demolition Certification
Response to Plan Review Comments
Commercial Resubmittal Form
Request for Permit Cancelation
Request for Permit Extension
Fees
The fee for a commercial building permit is based on the estimated cost of the building construction only. The current fee is calculated as follows: $100 for the first $5000 of estimated cost + $7 per additional $1000 or fraction thereof. In addition to the permit fee, there is a 2% state levy. The total fee owed at time of application is the permit fee plus the state levy (permit fee times .02). A permit fee calculator is available at https://henrico.us/bldg/fees/fee-calculator-commercial/.
When is a commercial building permit needed?*
Construction or demolition of:
- A building or structure
- Installations or alterations involving the removal of any wall, partition or portion thereof
- Any structural component
- Repair or replacement of any required component of a fire or smoke rated assembly
- Alteration of any required means of egress system
- Tool and storage sheds 256 square feet or larger
- Tents or air-supported structures over 900 square feet
- Fences required for pedestrian safety or a swimming pool
- Concrete or masonry walls exceeding 6 feet
- Retaining walls supporting 3 feet of unbalanced fill
- Swimming pools with a surface area of greater than 150 square feet, exceed 5,000 gallons and are 24 or more inches deep
- Flagpoles more than 30 feet in height
- Reroof except in Groups R-3, R-4 or R-5
*This is not a comprehensive list. Please call the Department of Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 with any questions.
