Often, yes. In Virginia, replacing a gas water heater, adding an electrical circuit (for an EV charger, say) and building a deck usually need a permit. Swapping a light fixture like for like usually doesn't, and an ordinary fence needs no building permit, though zoning limits its height. One statewide code sets the rules, but your county or city issues the permits.
This guide covers the common projects county by county, as of September 2026, and where to check yours.
| Project | Permit usually needed? | Notes | Service page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace a gas water heater | Yes | Even like for like | water heater repair and installation |
| Replace an electric water heater, same size and place | It varies | Fairfax: yes. Prince William: no. Alexandria condos: no city building permit. Elsewhere: check with your county or city | water heater repair and installation |
| Swap a switch, dimmer, standard outlet, light fixture or ceiling fan like for like, in a house or townhouse | No | Standard means a 15 or 20 amp outlet | light fixture installation |
| Add a circuit, outlet or light fixture, or a ceiling fan that needs new wiring or a new box | Yes | New electrical work | light fixture installation |
| Install an EV charger on a new circuit | Yes | An electrical permit. None if the charger plugs into an existing outlet | EV charger installation |
| Build a fence | No building permit | Except a swimming-pool barrier. Zoning caps the height, for example 4 ft in a Fairfax front yard | fence and deck repair |
| Build a deck | Yes, generally | The state code has no deck exemption | fence and deck repair |
| Painting, flooring | Check with your county | Ask first if the job involves wiring or plumbing | — |
Sources: Virginia's building code (13VAC5-63-80) and the county and city pages linked below, as of September 2026.
Virginia has one building code for the whole state, the Uniform Statewide Building Code. It says which work needs a permit and which is exempt. Each county or city enforces it through its own building department, and their answers for some jobs differ. That's why the same job can need a permit in Fairfax County and not in Prince William.
These are the offices for Northern Virginia, as of September 2026:
| County or city | Office | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Fairfax County | Land Development Services | When a permit is required |
| Arlington County | Permit Arlington | Residential permits |
| Prince William County | Building Development Division | Do I need a permit? |
| Loudoun County | Department of Building and Development, 703-777-0220 | Permitting |
| City of Alexandria | Department of Code Administration, Permit Center, 703-746-4200 | Permit requirements |
Yes. The current code took effect on January 18, 2024, and the next update cycle is under way (Virginia DHCD). Its exemptions may change, so check the date on anything you read about permits, this guide included.
It depends on the fuel.
Whatever the permit rules, installing a water heater for pay is plumbing work, plus gas or electrical work. It needs a tradesman license from DPOR (Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation), or a license holder's supervision (Va. Code § 54.1-1129).
Not for a like-for-like swap in a house or townhouse. The state code exempts replacing switches, dimmers, standard 15 or 20 amp outlets, light fixtures and ceiling fans (13VAC5-63-80, item 14.3).
A new circuit, outlet or fixture, or a ceiling fan that needs new wiring or a new electrical box, needs an electrical permit. Prince William says installing "a new electrical circuit, fixture, or receptacle" always does.
No permit doesn't mean no license. Electrical work done for pay generally needs a DPOR tradesman license, with only a narrow exception for very small jobs.
Yes, if it goes on a new circuit. Fairfax County requires an electrical permit for new circuits and outlets, and none for a stand-alone charger plugged into an existing outlet (Fairfax County). Prince William requires a permit for any new circuit.
Not a building permit. Virginia's code exempts fences of any height, except one that serves as a swimming-pool barrier (check with your county for those). Zoning still caps the height, and that is set locally. As of September 2026:
Generally, yes. The state code has no exemption for decks. Locally, as of September 2026:
Repairing a deck rather than building one? Ask your county whether the repair needs a permit.
Yes. Contact Virginia 811 at least three working days before any digging, even by hand with a manual post-hole digger. Homeowners aren't exempt (Va. Code § 56-265.17, VA811 FAQ). It's free: call 811 or submit a ticket at va811.com. As of September 2026:
Usually the licensed contractor doing the work, as DPOR advises. You can pull the permit yourself for work on your own home, which is also exempt from contractor licensing (Va. Code § 54.1-1101). But DPOR's consumer booklet warns that the permit holder "becomes the general contractor and assumes responsibility for the overall job–which may include taxes, workers' compensation, and other legal liabilities" (DPOR). Fairfax agrees: "it is strongly recommended a properly licensed contractor pull the permits" (Fairfax County).
So before you hire:
Whoever you hire, settle the permit question with them before work starts, and look up their license for free on DPOR's License Lookup.
Once you know whether your project needs a permit, and who will pull it, compare independent local Pros for water heater repair and installation, EV charger installation, light fixture installation or fence and deck repair.
This is general information, not legal advice. Permit rules differ by county and city and change with the code, so confirm with your local building department before work starts.
Last updated September 2026.
Yes, in an emergency. Virginia's building code lets an emergency replacement start before the permit is issued, as long as the application is filed by the end of the next working day (13VAC5-63-80, as of September 2026). Agree with whoever does the work on who will file it.
Usually not for a small one. The state building code exempts one-story sheds, playhouses and similar buildings of 256 square feet or less (13VAC5-63-80, as of September 2026). The City of Alexandria's permit page still lists sheds over 200 square feet as needing a permit, so check with the city there.
Not for the mount itself. Low-voltage wiring under 50 volts is exempt from permits under Virginia's building code, so a TV mounted with no new outlet needs none. Adding an outlet behind the TV is new electrical work, and that does need a permit (as of September 2026).
Yes, even for a like-for-like swap. The state code exempts some equipment replacements, but not equipment fueled by gas or oil, and both Fairfax County and Prince William County require a permit (as of September 2026). Gas work done for pay also needs a DPOR license.