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ADU Construction · Henrico County, Virginia
In Virginia, a ADU Construction requires a building permit.
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) always requires a building permit because it adds a habitable dwelling, including electrical, plumbing, mechanical permits and egress/zoning review. Plans are reviewed under the Statewide code (IRC 2021); apply through Henrico County Building Inspection before work begins.
Source: Statewide, IRC 2021 · Verified 2026 by StateDataIndex
Building an Accessory Dwelling Unit requires complex zoning, structural, and utility permits.
With a population of around 335,744 residents, Henrico County generally runs a more streamlined permitting process than major urban hubs.
Work on your ADU Construction in Henrico County will be inspected to ensure full compliance with the current Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
For Henrico County residents, we recommend reviewing your neighborhood HOA covenants before paying any municipal fees. Homeowners associations often maintain stricter rules regarding materials and dimensions for your ADU Construction than the county itself.
Virginia follows the "Dillon Rule," meaning local governments only have the zoning powers explicitly granted to them by the state legislature. Fortunately, Virginia maintains relatively builder-friendly regulations, keeping base permit fees competitive.
Permit fees vary by jurisdiction and by your project's valuation, so there is no single fixed figure for Henrico County. We only publish fees confirmed by real homeowners — none have been reported here yet.
Confirm the current fee directly with Henrico County Building Inspection ((804) 501-4360). If you have paid for a permit here, you can add it here to help others.
Office: Henrico County Building Inspection
Address: 4301 E Parham Rd, Richmond, VA 23228, USA
Phone: (804) 501-4360
Source: official Henrico County government records. Hours and procedures can change — call ahead to confirm.
In Henrico County, you or your contractor typically submit blueprints and a property survey to the local building department. Call ahead to confirm hours and accepted payment methods.
When applying for a ADU Construction permit, you or your contractor will generally need to submit the following documentation for the city's review:
Key code points for a ADU Construction in Henrico County: ADUs typically have maximum square footage limits (often 800-1200 sq ft), height restrictions, and usually require dedicated off-street parking depending on local zoning.
Typical processing time: a few days to several weeks, depending on current workload and the season. Contact Henrico County Building Inspection for a current estimate.
Building without authorization is considered a code violation. The local government can issue a Stop Work Order, forcing you to halt construction immediately. You may be subject to retroactive permit fees (often double the original cost), daily fines, or even a mandate to tear down the unpermitted work at your own expense.
Yes. Virginia generally allows property owners to act as their own general contractor under an Owner-Builder exemption. If you take this route, you assume full legal and financial liability and must ensure all work complies with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
Permit fees vary by jurisdiction and by your project's valuation, so Henrico County does not publish a single fixed figure. Confirm the exact fee with the local building department before applying.
Processing time in Henrico County varies by season and current application volume at the building department; contact Henrico County Building Inspection for a current estimate.
You can apply through the Henrico County Building Inspection. For questions, call (804) 501-4360.
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