Building New One- & Two-Family Dwellings, Additions, and Accessory Structures, and Altering/Renovating Existing Structures
This summary is intended to educate and inform building permit holders about:
- General requirements and policies.
- How to request inspections.
- The types of residential building inspections.
- Expectations and specific requirements for each type of inspection.
NOTE: This summary is not intended to be a replacement for code, nor is it intended to be inclusive of all building code requirements.
General Requirements & Policies
The building permit and address (or lot & block for new subdivisions) shall be posted in front of the site or house and be visible from the main road or entrance.
All building inspections will be performed using the County-approved construction plans from the Build Henrico portal. It’s recommended that the approved plans be printed and kept on site for construction purposes to ensure that all notes and markups are visible to the builders. If any changes or deviations (e.g. adding a deck, changing a beam or joist size, changing location on property, etc.) are made from the approved permit plans, the plans must be amended (how to submit an amendment) and uploaded for review by our plans review staff before the appropriate inspection is requested. The desired changes must be clearly designated. If engineering details are required to abate a code violation, these details shall also be submitted for review.
How to Request Inspections
Inspections must be requested in the Build Henrico portal or via the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System at 804-501-7770. Work to be inspected must be complete and ready for inspection prior to requesting the inspection. For assistance, please refer to our website at Help Using Build Henrico.
Inspections may be requested at any time prior to 7:00 A.M. on the day you desire the inspection to be made. Inspections requested after 7:00 A.M. will automatically be scheduled for the following day.
In addition to building permit inspections, plumbing, mechanical and electrical inspections can also be scheduled through this system.
Types of Residential Building Inspections
Although there are many types of inspections, very few projects require all these inspections. If you have questions about what inspections are required, refer to the Residential Building Inspections Matrix (link below) and Detailed Explanations of Required Building Inspections for clarification on when the inspection in question would be required. See Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Inspection Matrices below for information on trade inspections.
Required Residential Building Inspections
The required inspections matrix lists those inspections that must be performed to verify that your work complies with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Please note that Virginia’s Building Code prohibits the use of the listed structures, or portions thereof, prior to approval of all required inspections. We hope this list is beneficial to you throughout the course of your project. Please call the Building Inspections Department at 804-501-4360 if you have any questions about what is required for each inspection or if you need help scheduling an inspection. Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Protection work each require additional permits and inspections. Separate matrices are available to explain the inspections required for each type of permit.
Residential Building Inspections Matrix
Footing Inspections:
Footing Inspection Approved Agencies
Footing Inspection Policy
Footing Inspection Policy FAQs
Inspections Required by Trade
Required Mechanical Inspections
The Required Inspections matrix lists those inspections that must be performed to verify that your work complies with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Please note that Virginia’s Building Code prohibits the use of any mechanical equipment prior to approval of all required inspections. We hope this matrix is beneficial to you throughout the course of your project. Please log on to Build Henrico to schedule your inspections online or call our Building Inspections Department at 804-501-4360 if you have any questions about what is required for each inspection or if you need help scheduling an inspection. Building, Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Protection work each require additional permits and inspections. Separate matrices are available to explain the inspections required for each type of permit.
Mechanical Inspection Matrix
Required Electrical Inspections
The required inspections matrix lists those inspections that must be performed to verify that your work complies with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Please note that Virginia’s building code prohibits the use of any electrical equipment or appliances prior to approval of all required inspections. We hope this matrix is beneficial to you throughout the course of your project. Please log on to Build Henrico to schedule your inspections online or call our Building Inspections Department, at 804-501-4360, if you have any questions about what is required for each inspection or if you need help scheduling an inspection. Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Fire Protection work each require additional permits and inspections. Separate matrices are available to explain the inspections required for each type of permit.
Electrical Inspection Matrix
Required Plumbing Inspections
The Required Inspections matrix lists those inspections that must be performed to verify that your work complies with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Please note that Virginia’s Building Code prohibits the use of any plumbing fixtures or equipment prior to approval of all required inspections. We hope this matrix is beneficial to you throughout the course of your project. Please log on to Build Henrico to schedule your inspections online or call our Building Inspections Department, at 804-501-4360, if you have any questions about what is required for each inspection or if you need help scheduling an inspection. Building, Electrical, Mechanical and Fire Protection work each require additional permits and inspections. Separate matrices are available to explain the inspections required for each type of permit.
Plumbing Inspection Matrix