Fairfax County vs Chesterfield County Building Permit Fees (2026)
Side-by-side comparison using official fee data from both Virginia counties. For an identical $15,000 deck: Fairfax County charges $688.50 all-in (verified FY2025). Chesterfield County charges $166.28 flat (verified FY2025-2026). Fairfax's percentage formula with mandatory plan review makes it structurally more expensive than Chesterfield's flat-fee approach for nearly every residential project type.
For a $15,000 deck, Fairfax County charges $688.50 (3% permit + 50% plan review + 2% levy). Chesterfield County charges $166.28 (flat $114 + 2% levy + $50 environmental fee). Chesterfield is less expensive by $522.22. That gap widens sharply with project value: a $30,000 addition costs $1,377.00 in Fairfax vs $456.98 in Chesterfield. At $75,000, Fairfax reaches $3,442.50 while Chesterfield stays at the same flat $456.98. Unlike some jurisdictional comparisons, there is no crossover point - Chesterfield is less expensive than Fairfax for every common residential project type at every construction value.
- Fairfax County charges 3% of construction value as the building permit fee, then adds a mandatory 50% plan review fee on top. Virginia's 2% state levy applies to the combined total. The effective all-in rate is approximately 4.59% of project value with no cap.
- Chesterfield County uses flat fees by project category: $114 for a deck, $399 for a general addition, $684 for a new single-family home. The fee does not change with construction value. A 2% USBC levy applies to the building permit only, plus a $50 Environmental Engineering fee for footprint-changing projects.
- For a $15,000 deck, Chesterfield is $522.22 less expensive than Fairfax. For a $30,000 addition, Chesterfield saves $920.02. For a $75,000 addition, Chesterfield saves $2,985.52.
- The plan review fee is the key differentiator. Fairfax Land Development Services requires a plan review on every residential building permit at 50% of the permit fee. Chesterfield does not list a separate plan review fee - the cost appears bundled in the flat rate.
- For in-ground pools, Fairfax charges a flat $270 building permit (plus $135 plan review + $8.10 levy = $413.10 all-in). Chesterfield charges $57 flat (plus $50 env fee + $1.14 levy = $108.14 all-in). Chesterfield saves $304.96.
- Both counties collect Virginia's mandatory 2% USBC state levy (Code of VA §36-139), but they apply it differently: Fairfax on the combined permit + plan review total, Chesterfield on the building inspection fee only.
- Fairfax data reflects the FY2025 Appendix Q fee schedule (effective July 1, 2024, verified March 2026). FY2026 rates may differ - verify with Fairfax Land Development Services before filing. Chesterfield data is from the current FY2025-2026 official PDF (effective through June 30, 2026).
What Is Verified in This Comparison
Both counties' data on this page are verified from official sources. No estimates are used. The Fairfax schedule carries a source-age caveat - it reflects FY2025 data verified in March 2026.
| Data Point | Fairfax County | Chesterfield County |
|---|---|---|
| Fee schedule source |
Verified Appendix Q, LDS Fee Schedule, FY2025 (effective July 1, 2024) |
Verified Official PDF, FY2025-2026 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026) |
| Fee calculation method |
Verified 3% of construction value + 50% plan review + 2% levy |
Verified Flat fee by project category + 2% levy + $50 env fee |
| Plan review fee |
Verified: 50% of permit Mandatory on all building permits per Appendix Q |
N/A Not listed separately - appears bundled in flat rate |
| USBC state levy (2%) |
Verified Applied to (permit fee + plan review) combined |
Verified Applied to building inspection fee only |
| Environmental Engineering fee |
N/A No equivalent disclosed in Appendix Q for residential |
Verified: $50 Applies to footprint-changing projects (decks, additions, pools) |
| $15,000 deck total | Verified: $688.50 | Verified: $166.28 |
Note on Fairfax schedule currency: The Appendix Q data on this page is from the FY2025 fee schedule (effective July 1, 2024), verified against the published PDF in March 2026. Fairfax County Land Development Services may have issued an FY2026 schedule effective July 1, 2025. Verify current rates with LDS at 703-222-0801 or via the Fairfax County permit portal before budgeting or filing.
Fee Structure Comparison
Head-to-head comparison of the fee structure each county applies to residential building permits. Fairfax's percentage formula with mandatory plan review produces systematically higher totals than Chesterfield's flat-fee approach.
| Fee Component | Fairfax County | Chesterfield County |
|---|---|---|
| Fee calculation method | 3% of construction value + 50% plan review (no cap) | Flat fee by project category (no formula) |
| Deck / carport / gazebo permit | 3% × value + 50% plan review (e.g., $675 at $15k) | $114 flat (any value) |
| General room addition permit | 3% × value + 50% plan review (e.g., $1,350 at $30k) | $399 flat (any value) |
| New single-family home permit | Per sq ft rate × 1.5 × 1.02 (varies by construction type) | $684 flat |
| In-ground pool permit | $270 flat + $135 plan review + $8.10 levy = $413.10 | $57 flat + $50 env fee + $1.14 levy = $108.14 |
| Maximum residential building permit fee | No cap - formula grows with project value | $684 (new SFD) - additions always $399 |
| Minimum all-in fee | $110.16 ($72 permit + $36 plan review + $2.16 levy) | $58.14 ($57 + $1.14 levy - no env fee for interior work) |
| USBC state levy (2%) | Applied to (permit + plan review) combined | Applied to building inspection fee only |
| Plan review fee | Mandatory - 50% of building permit fee | Not listed separately - bundled in flat rate |
| Environmental Engineering fee | None disclosed in Appendix Q for residential | $50 for footprint-changing projects |
| Shed - small exemption | No published exemption threshold in LDS fee schedule | No permit required for 256 sq ft and under |
| Fee schedule source | Appendix Q, FY2025 (verified March 2026 - see note above) | Official PDF, FY2025-2026 (current through June 30, 2026) |
| $15,000 deck - all-in total | $688.50 Verified | $166.28 Verified |
Three Projects, Two Counties: Line-by-Line Calculations
Unlike the Chesterfield vs Henrico comparison, there is no crossover point in this comparison - Chesterfield is less expensive than Fairfax for every project type at every construction value. The gap widens dramatically as project value increases, because Fairfax's formula has no cap.
Example 1: $15,000 Deck Addition
$15,000 × 3% =
$450.00
$450 × 50% =
$225.00
($450 + $225) × 2% =
$13.50
$450 + $225 + $13.50 =
$688.50
Schedule rate =
$114.00
$114 × 2% =
$2.28
Deck changes footprint =
$50.00
$114 + $2.28 + $50 =
$166.28
Chesterfield saves $522.22 on a $15,000 deck (76% less than Fairfax). Note: Fairfax total includes the mandatory plan review fee which accounts for $225 of the $688.50.
Example 2: $30,000 Room Addition
$30,000 × 3% =
$900.00
$900 × 50% =
$450.00
($900 + $450) × 2% =
$27.00
$900 + $450 + $27 =
$1,377.00
Schedule rate =
$399.00
$399 × 2% =
$7.98
Addition changes footprint =
$50.00
$399 + $7.98 + $50 =
$456.98
Chesterfield saves $920.02 on a $30,000 addition (67% less than Fairfax). Fairfax's total grows proportionally with project value; Chesterfield's stays at the flat category rate.
Example 3: $75,000 Addition (Chesterfield advantage is largest at high values)
$75,000 × 3% =
$2,250.00
$2,250 × 50% =
$1,125.00
($2,250 + $1,125) × 2% =
$67.50
$2,250 + $1,125 + $67.50 =
$3,442.50
Schedule rate =
$399.00
$399 × 2% =
$7.98
$50.00
$456.98
| Project | Fairfax County | Chesterfield County | Lower Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 deck | $688.50 | $166.28 | Chesterfield (saves $522.22) |
| $30,000 addition | $1,377.00 | $456.98 | Chesterfield (saves $920.02) |
| $75,000 addition | $3,442.50 | $456.98 | Chesterfield (saves $2,985.52) |
| In-ground pool | $413.10 | $108.14 | Chesterfield (saves $304.96) |
| New single-family home | Per sq ft rate (varies by construction type) | $747.68 ($684 + $13.68 levy + $50 env fee) | Comparison requires sq ft data for Fairfax |
All totals reflect building permit fee + plan review (Fairfax only) + USBC state levy. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are separate in both counties. Chesterfield totals for footprint-changing projects include the $50 Environmental Engineering fee. There is no crossover point - Chesterfield is less expensive than Fairfax for every residential addition and deck project at every construction value. New home comparison requires the Fairfax per-square-foot rate input; see the Fairfax County page for construction-type breakdowns. Source: official fee schedules for both counties, verified April 2026.
Why Fairfax and Chesterfield Have Different Fee Structures
Both counties operate under Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC). The USBC mandates the 2% state levy (Code of VA §36-139) but leaves base permit fee methodology to each jurisdiction. Fairfax and Chesterfield have taken structurally opposite approaches - one tied to project value, the other to project category.
How Fairfax County Sets Fees
Fairfax County Land Development Services (LDS) uses a percentage-based formula: the building permit fee is 3% of stated construction value with a $72 minimum. But the fee structure does not stop there. LDS also collects a mandatory plan review fee equal to 50% of the building permit fee on every residential building permit application. Combined, these two components total 4.5% of construction value before the state levy is applied. With Virginia's 2% USBC levy on the combined total, the effective all-in rate works out to approximately 4.59% of project value - with no upper cap for addition and renovation work.
The plan review fee is the single biggest cost driver separating Fairfax from most other Virginia jurisdictions. It is not a contingency - it is collected at application on every permit. For a $15,000 deck, $225 of the $688.50 all-in total is plan review alone. For a $75,000 addition, plan review accounts for $1,125 of the $3,442.50 total.
Fairfax does use flat fees for a few specific permit types. In-ground pools carry a flat $270 building permit (not 3%), to which the 50% plan review ($135) and 2% levy still apply. Solar building permits are $0 per Virginia state policy.
How Chesterfield County Sets Fees
Chesterfield County Building Inspection uses a flat-fee schedule organized by project category. A deck is always $114, a general addition is always $399, and a new single-family home is always $684 - regardless of what the project costs to build. There is no separate plan review line item; that cost appears to be bundled into the category rate.
For projects that change the building footprint - including decks, additions, garages, and pools - Chesterfield adds a $50 Environmental Engineering site inspection fee. This fee does not carry the USBC levy. For interior-only renovations that do not change the footprint, the $50 fee does not apply.
The practical effect of Chesterfield's flat-fee structure is that residential permit costs are highly predictable and capped at relatively low levels. A homeowner adding a $200,000 addition pays the same $399 building permit fee as one doing a $15,000 addition. Fairfax's formula for the same $200,000 addition would produce a building permit of $6,000, plus $3,000 plan review, plus $180 levy - totaling $9,180.
The Plan Review Fee as the Primary Driver
Most Virginia jurisdictions collect a building permit fee only, with the plan review process absorbed into that fee or covered by a separate, lower rate. Fairfax's requirement of a separate 50% plan review on every permit is unusual in its scale. It means Fairfax's effective rate is 4.5% of construction value rather than 3%. For any project above approximately $2,400 in construction value, the plan review fee alone exceeds Chesterfield's entire deck flat fee.
Homeowners moving from Fairfax County to Chesterfield County - or comparing renovation costs across the two jurisdictions - should factor in this structural difference. The permit cost for the same scope of work can differ by a factor of two to seven depending on project value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fairfax County or Chesterfield County cheaper for building permits?
Chesterfield County is less expensive for every common residential permit type at every construction value. The difference ranges from roughly 3x to 7.5x depending on the project. For a $15,000 deck, Chesterfield saves $522.22. For a $30,000 addition, Chesterfield saves $920.02. For a $75,000 addition, Chesterfield saves $2,985.52. Unlike comparisons between flat-fee counties (such as Chesterfield vs Henrico), there is no construction value at which Fairfax becomes less expensive than Chesterfield for additions or decks.
Why does Fairfax charge a separate plan review fee?
Fairfax County Land Development Services collects a plan review fee equal to 50% of the building permit fee on every residential building permit. This is a separate administrative cost for reviewing construction documents before a permit is issued. It is mandatory - there is no option to waive or defer it. Most Virginia jurisdictions either bundle plan review into the building permit fee or charge a smaller flat rate. Fairfax's 50% plan review is one of the most significant structural cost differences between Fairfax and other Virginia jurisdictions covered on this site.
How much more expensive is Fairfax County compared to Chesterfield County?
It depends on project value. For a $15,000 deck, Fairfax is approximately 4.1x more expensive ($688.50 vs $166.28). For a $30,000 addition, Fairfax is approximately 3.0x more expensive ($1,377.00 vs $456.98). For a $75,000 addition, Fairfax is approximately 7.5x more expensive ($3,442.50 vs $456.98). The ratio increases with project value because Fairfax's formula grows proportionally while Chesterfield's flat fee stays constant.
Does the 50% plan review apply to all Fairfax County residential permits?
Per Appendix Q, Chapter 61, the plan review fee is mandatory on building permits. This applies to decks, additions, new construction, pools, and other residential building permits. The fee is calculated as 50% of the building permit fee and is collected at application. The $270 flat pool permit also carries the 50% plan review ($135). Solar building permits are $0 for the building permit per Virginia state policy - but even there, the electrical permit (~$378) is a separate, non-waived cost.
Does Chesterfield County have any equivalent to Fairfax's plan review fee?
No. Chesterfield's official fee schedule does not list a separate plan review fee for residential building permits. The flat category fees appear to include all departmental review costs. This is one reason Chesterfield's permit costs are substantially lower than Fairfax's - not just the percentage formula, but the absence of a separate review charge that adds 50% to the base permit cost.
Do both counties require permits for sheds?
Chesterfield County exempts sheds 256 square feet and under from the building permit requirement - this is explicitly stated in its published fee schedule (no permit listed for that tier). Fairfax County Land Development Services does not publish a comparable exemption threshold in Appendix Q. Homeowners planning a small shed in Fairfax County should contact LDS at 703-222-0801 or apply through the Fairfax County permit portal to confirm whether a permit is required before beginning work.
How do I get an official fee quote from each county?
For Fairfax County: contact Land Development Services at 703-222-0801, or use the Fairfax County permit application portal at plus.fairfaxcounty.gov. The LDS fee schedule is published as Appendix Q - verify you are reviewing the current fiscal year document before calculating. For Chesterfield County: contact Building Inspection at 804-751-4990, email BIPermitsAndFees@chesterfield.gov, or apply through the ELM portal at aca-prod.accela.com/CHESTERFIELD. Only the building department can provide an official determination for your specific project.
Full Data Pages and Tools
Go deeper on either county or use the calculator for your project cost.
Official Sources
-
Fairfax County Land Development Services - Appendix Q Fee Schedule (FY2025)
fairfaxcounty.gov/landdevelopment - Appendix Q PDF
Basis for all Fairfax County building permit fees on this page. Effective July 1, 2024 (FY2025). Verified March 15, 2026. Note: FY2026 schedule may differ - verify with LDS before filing. -
Chesterfield County Department of Building Inspection - Residential Fee Schedule Summary (PDF)
chesterfield.gov/DocumentCenter/View/424/
Basis for all Chesterfield County building permit fees on this page. Effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Accessed and verified April 16, 2026. -
Code of Virginia §36-139 - USBC State Levy (2%)
law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title36/chapter6/section36-139/
Statewide mandate for 2% USBC levy collected by all Virginia jurisdictions on building permits.