New Commercial Building
- Do I Need A Permit?
- Who Should Apply?
- Documents
- Resources
- Process
- Payment and Fees
- Typical Inspections
If you are doing any of the following you will need a Commercial 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)
• New Construction of a Commercial Use Building,
• Any Addition of New Square Footage to an Existing Commercial Use Building.
**Note – Site work for Commercial Buildings will be submitted to the Development Review Division. One review of site plans will need to be executed and comments sent to the applicant before submitting building plans.
• The owner is highly encouraged to have a licensed contractor apply for the permits, however, the owner may do so if the building is for his/her personal use.
• If the Commercial Building is to be leased or a rental building and not for the owner's use, a Licensed Contractor or the Design Professional must apply.
• Owner Affidavit - Complete if you are an owner, building your own building, for your own use. This must be notarized or signed in front of a Permit Tech in the Building Department.
• Building plans –two (2) paper sets of building plans, stamped by a design professional submitted with one electronic copy. If the plans are not all-inclusive of the electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fire safety each will have to go through the plan approval process. Plans should state applicable code editions.
• Well and/or Septic Construction Permit from the Health Department New Buildings Only (see application under Resources section).
• Water and/or Sewer Availability Letter from Western Virginia Water Authority New Buildings Only (see link under Resources section).
Fire Protection Forms
• Owners Declaration of Hazardous Storage Exemption
• Owners Statement of Intended Use for General Storage
• Owners Statement of Intended Use for High Piled/Rack Storage
Special Inspection Forms
• Contractor Statement of Responsibility
• Fabricators Certificate of Compliance
• Interim Report of Special Inspections
• Final Report of Special Inspections
• Record of Special Inspections
• Statement of Special Inspections
• New Structures and Additions Commercial CHECKLIST
• Fire Alarm Submittal CHECKLIST
• Fire Sprinkler Submittal CHECKLIST
• Fire Suppression Submittal CHECKLIST
• Common ADA Errors and Omissions for New Construction and Alterations
• Professional Seal Requirements
• Health Department Well & Septic Application
• Western Virginia Water Authority Link (Availability Letter)
1. Fill out the documents in the document list above
2. Email documents to permit@roanokecountyva.gov, send by mail or bring completed documents to the Roanoke County Administration Building, 2nd floor.
3. A Permit Tech will verify all paperwork is complete. All required documents must be submitted at one time. (Subs –Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fire Safety can submit their plans separately)
4. A Permit Tech will work up the permit in the computer while you wait or call by phone and take a deposit before the review starts. The deposit is $200.00. If emailed or mailed, a Permit Tech will call for a Visa/MC for your deposit or you may include a check made out to Roanoke County.
5. Review period for Commercial structures is 12 working days. Three and sometimes four departments will review. That includes Building, Zoning, Engineering, and sometimes Flood.
6. Notification of Approvals or Denials from the review will be by email or phone call to the applicant.
7. If plans are denied a re-submittal will be required. Once re-submitted, review time will be an additional 12 working days.
8. If plans are approved a Permit Tech will notify you of remaining fees, paperwork, and any review comments.
9. Fees and any remaining paperwork are collected.
10. Permit, Receipt, Approved Stamped Plans, and the Permit Card to post, will be returned to the applicant
*** If there are any changes to an approved plan during building an Amendment Application will need to be submitted. These are reviewed with the same process as the initial plan. ***
11. Post the Permit Card at the site. This should be visible and available for inspectors along with stamped approved plans.
12. Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fire Safety Subs are now able to apply now that the main building permit is now active.
13. Call for Inspections.
14. Verify Permit Inspections are complete and request for a Certificate of Occupancy (see the Certificate of Occupancy process in the Typical Inspections section below).
Accepted payment methods
• Cash
• Check (made out to the County of Roanoke)
• Credit card (MasterCard, Visa)
For an estimate on your Permit cost please call the Department of Building Safety at 540-772-2065,
All Building Permits are also subject to a State Levy Fee of 2% and a Technology Fee of 5%.
Call 540-772-2065 when ready for Inspections or use our Select Text System by texting 833-886-2087.
Information needed to request for an Inspection …
• Application Number (Found on the Issued Permit)
• Address of the job
• If the building is divided into partial inspection areas, be prepared to give the area the inspection is needed in
**Inspections may vary due to type of project.**
**Always call before covering work.**
TYPICAL PARTIAL & COMPLETE INSPECTIONS FOR COMMERCIAL PERMITS...
Building
• Footing
• Pier Footings
• Slab (This is preparation before pouring)
• Foundation or Draintile
• Framing (All Rough-In Inspections of electrical, mechanical, and plumbing must pass before requesting)
• Insulation
• Final Building (All Final Inspections of electrical, mechanical, and plumbing must pass before requesting)
Electrical
• Temporary Pole (must have AEP work order number before calling)
• Underground Electrical
• Current Only (must have AEP work order number before calling) (Roof must be in place)
• Rough-In Electrical
• Final Electrical
Plumbing
• Groundwork Plumbing
• New Sewer line or Waterline
• Rough-In Plumbing
• Final Plumbing
Mechanical
• Gasline
• Rough-In Mechanical
• Final Mechanical
Fire Safety
• Underground Fire Service
• Rough-In Fire Alarm
• Rough-In Fire Sprinkler
• Rough-In Hood
• Hydro test
• Fire Suppression
• Final Fire Alarm
• Final Fire Sprinkler
• Final Hood
**Inspections may vary due to type of project.**
**Always call before covering work.**
PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY PROCESS
Before Occupancy of the Building, a Certificate of Occupancy must be issued.
Needed for CO Issuance …
• Final Building, Final Electrical, Final Plumbing, Final Mechanical, and any Fire Alarm and/or Fire Sprinkler Inspections must have passing inspections before applying.
• Well and Septic approval from Health Department (Operational Permit) if the property is on well and/or septic.
• Final Report of Special Inspections – see in the Special Inspections Section.
• Request for Certificate of Occupancy
• Temporary or Final Occupancy Certificate Fee of $50.00 plus a 3% Technology fee will be due ($51.50).
Once all Building Inspections are completed and the Request for CO is received, the following Departments will be notified. Based on the project some Departments may not be involved.
• Engineering
• Flood Engineer (if needed)
• Fire Marshall
• Zoning
• Health Department (Restaurant use only)
• Western Va. Water Authority
These Departments have up to 5 working days to respond to the CO Request.