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- Residential: Interior Alterations / Finishing A Basement
Residential: Interior Alterations / Finishing A Basement
Select a link below to learn more about the permits, documents, and inspections required when you make interior alterations to your home or finish a basement or attic space.
- Do I Need A Permit?
- Who Should Apply?
- Documents
- Resources
- Process
- Payment and Fees
- Typical Inspections
Do I Need A Permit?
If you are doing any of the following you will need a Residential Building Permit…
(This is not an all-inclusive list. If you have a question as to whether you need a permit please call 540-772-2065)
- Unfinished Basement or Attic has rough framing and you are completing with walls, electrical and/or plumbing
- Altering an Unfinished Basement or Attic to any finished living space
- Moving, removing or adding any walls or partitions in the home
- Repairing, altering, enlarging or modifying any structural element of the house to include load-bearing stud walls, column piers, footings, foundations, floor joists, rafters, beams or girders
- Enlarging or adding a door opening or window opening
Who Applies for the Permit?
- Applying for a permit as a homeowner is an important decision because the permit holder(s) bears the ultimate responsibility that the work will comply with the code.
- The homeowner is highly encouraged to have a licensed contractor apply for the permits, however, the homeowner may do so.
Documents
- Residential Application
- Owner Affidavit - Complete if you are an owner, doing work to your primary residence. This must be notarized or signed in front of a Permit Tech in the Building Department.
- Sub-Contractor List - Complete if adding electrical, plumbing or mechanical work.
- Plan Documents - A floor plan drawing of before and after. Label each room’s use, show all windows and doors (if there is a bedroom include window sizes), smoke and CO2 detectors, GFI outlets if necessary, bath fan if necessary (will need if there is no window), electrical panel, furnace, water heater, and other appliances. Plans may be hand-drawn.
Resources
Basement Finishing Details - A guide for finishing a basement
Process
- Fill out the documents and provide necessary plans.
- Email documents to permit@roanokecountyva.gov or bring to the Roanoke County Administration Building, 2nd floor. (Approximate turnaround time is 8 working hours when emailed.)
- A Permit Tech will verify all paperwork for completeness.
- Approval on the plan documents will be done same day unless it will require a more intensive review. If a more intensive review is required the plan will be submitted for a review period of 7 working days.
- A Permit Tech will work up the permit while you are waiting if the plan is approved or call you when it is ready for payment.
- Permit, Receipt, and the Inspection Card to post, will be returned to the applicant.
- Post the Inspection Card at the site. This should be visible for the inspector and available for inspectors’ approval or denial signatures. Approved plans should be on site.
- Call for Inspections.
- Verify Permit Inspections are complete and Permit is closed.
Payment and Fees
Accepted payment methods:
- Cash
- Check (made out to the County of Roanoke)
- Credit card (MasterCard, Visa)
For an estimate on your Permit cost use our FEE ESTIMATOR for New Residential Structures or Alterations to Existing Structures.
All Building Permits are also subject to a State Levy Fee of 2% and a Technology Fee of 5% also shown on the last field on the FEE ESTIMATOR.
Typical Inspections
Call 540-772-2065 when ready for inspections.
Information needed to request for an Inspection…
- Application Number (Found on the Issued Permit)
- Address of the job
Typical Inspections for Basement or Alteration Permits…
Building
- Framing – All Trade Rough-In Inspections must be Approved before calling for this inspection.
- Insulation
- Building Final - All Trade Final Inspections must be Approved before calling for this inspection.
Electrical
- Rough-In Electrical – Must be approved before calling for a Framing Inspection.
- Final Electrical
Mechanical
- Gas line
- Rough-In Mechanical - Must be approved before calling for a Framing Inspection.
- Final Mechanical
Plumbing
- Plumbing groundwork
- Rough-In Plumbing - Must be approved before calling for a Framing Inspection.
- Final Plumbing
**Inspections may vary due to the type of project.
**Always call before covering work