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Henrico County vs Richmond City Building Permit Fees (2026)

Side-by-side comparison of two adjacent jurisdictions in the Richmond metropolitan area, using official fee schedule data verified from henrico.gov (residential permits page last updated December 2025) and rva.gov (City of Richmond Fee Schedule, Revision 06-14-2022). Both cities use value-based residential formulas, but the parameters differ. Henrico charges $100 base plus $6 per $1,000 of declared value above $5,000, capped at $680 for residential additions, decks, sheds, garages, pools, demolitions, and alterations. Richmond charges $63 base plus $6.07 per $1,000 of declared value above $2,000, with no cap. Both apply the same Virginia 2% state levy. Richmond is cheaper for most residential projects under approximately $103,648 declared value; Henrico becomes dramatically cheaper above that point because the $680 cap holds the all-in fee at $693.60 while Richmond's uncapped formula keeps climbing.

Calculate Your Project Henrico Fees Richmond Fees

Evidence and Source Confidence

Both jurisdictions have official fee data verified by PermitPrice from primary .gov sources. The math below uses verified inputs from each city's published fee schedule. The Richmond schedule is older than the Henrico permits page; that source-age difference is disclosed below and on every Richmond worked example.

Henrico County

Verified

Source: Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections - Permit Fees: Current. Verified from henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/ (page last updated 2025-12-17) and the residential permits page (last updated 2026-03-16). Verified April 16, 2026.

Currency note: Henrico's published page does not state an explicit fiscal year start date, but the page was last updated December 2025 and the residential permits supplement was last updated March 2026 - more recent than any other verified VA jurisdiction except Virginia Beach. The Building Construction and Inspections office is at (804) 501-4360.

Richmond City

Verified

Source: City of Richmond Fee Schedule, Revision 06-14-2022. Extracted via pdfplumber from rva.gov and verified April 24, 2026.

Source-age caveat: The Richmond fee schedule PDF is footer-labeled EFFECTIVE 11/18/2013, Revision 06-14-2022. No newer revision has been posted on rva.gov as of April 24, 2026. Verify current rates with the Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 or PDRPermitsAndInspections@rva.gov before relying on this comparison for filing.

Fee Structure Side-by-Side

Both jurisdictions apply a single value-based residential formula across most project categories. The key structural differences: Henrico starts the per-$1,000 climb at $5,000 declared value (Richmond starts at $2,000), Henrico's marginal rate is $6.00 per $1,000 (Richmond is $6.07), and Henrico caps its building permit fee at $680 while Richmond has no cap. Henrico also charges a flat $680 building permit for new 1-2 family dwellings - Richmond applies its uncapped value formula to new construction, which produces a much larger fee at typical new-build values. Neither city itemizes plan review separately; both bundle plan review work into the base permit fee. Both collect the same Virginia 2% state levy on the building permit fee.

Project Type Henrico County Richmond City
Residential alterations / repairs $100 + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000
Capped at $680		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000
No cap
Room addition $100 + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000
Capped at $680		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000
No cap
Uncovered deck $100 + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000
Same formula as alteration		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000
Same formula as alteration
Detached shed or accessory structure $100 + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000
Capped at $680		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000
No cap
Detached garage $100 + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000
Capped at $680		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000
No cap
In-ground swimming pool $100 + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000
Capped at $680		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000
No cap
New 1-2 family dwelling $680 flat
Trade permits $100 each separately		 $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000
No cap; same value formula as alterations
Residential demolition $100 + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000
Same formula as alteration; $680 cap		 $184 flat
Separate from value formula
Plan review Not itemized
Bundled into base permit fee		 Not itemized
Bundled into base permit fee
Technology fee Not assessed Not assessed
Virginia 2% state levy Applied to building permit fee only Applied to building permit fee only
Re-inspection fee Not separately listed $32.00 (residential)
Certificate of occupancy Not separately listed $263.00 (separate)
Permit validity Per VUSBC default Per VUSBC default

Sources: Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections - Permit Fees: Current (henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/, page updated December 2025) and City of Richmond Fee Schedule Revision 06-14-2022. Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) are itemized on separate fee sheets and are not modeled in this comparison. Henrico's residential 1-2 family scope explicitly covers decks, porches, sheds, garages, swimming pools, demolitions, and additions under one formula; Richmond uses one value-based formula for the same project types except residential demolition which is a flat $184. Verify current rates with each city's office before relying on this comparison for filing.

Three Worked Examples - Same Project, Both Cities

Each example uses identical project assumptions and walks through the building permit math from each city's official schedule. Both cities price residential decks, alterations, and additions by declared construction value, so the inputs are directly comparable. All arithmetic matches the worked examples published on each city's individual jurisdiction page.

Example 1: $15,000 residential deck

A homeowner builds a 320 sq ft attached deck with composite decking and railings for a declared construction value of $15,000. Both cities apply their value-based residential formula on the $15,000 input. Both bundle plan review into the base permit fee.

Henrico County

  • Base fee: $100.00
  • $6 x 10 ($1,000 increments above $5,000): $60.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $160.00: $3.20

Total: $163.20

Richmond City

  • Base fee: $63.00
  • $6.07 x 13 ($1,000 increments above $2,000): $78.91
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $141.91: $2.84

Total: $144.75

Richmond is cheaper by $18.45. Richmond starts the per-$1,000 climb at a lower threshold ($2,000 vs Henrico's $5,000) and uses a slightly higher marginal rate ($6.07 vs $6.00), but the lower base fee ($63 vs $100) and lower threshold combine to put Richmond ahead at this project size. The gap holds steady across deck sizes from a few thousand dollars up through roughly $103,648 declared value, where Henrico's $680 cap kicks in. See the dedicated Virginia deck permit guide for jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction deck math across the state.

Example 2: $30,000 residential alteration (kitchen remodel)

A homeowner gut-renovates a 200 sq ft kitchen with new circuits, plumbing relocation, and new cabinetry for a declared construction value of $30,000. Both cities use their value-based residential formula on the $30,000 input.

Henrico County

  • Base fee: $100.00
  • $6 x 25 ($1,000 increments above $5,000): $150.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $250.00: $5.00

Total: $255.00

Richmond City

  • Base fee: $63.00
  • $6.07 x 28 ($1,000 increments above $2,000): $169.96
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $232.96: $4.66

Total: $237.62

Richmond is cheaper by $17.38. The gap is smaller than the deck example because Richmond's slightly higher marginal rate ($6.07/$1,000 vs $6.00/$1,000) chips away at the lead as project value rises. The math is straightforward: Richmond is paying for 28 increments above its $2,000 threshold ($169.96) while Henrico is paying for 25 increments above its $5,000 threshold ($150.00). The Richmond base fee is also $37 lower than Henrico's base, and that base difference is the structural reason Richmond stays cheaper across this project range. The same dynamic applies to in-ground swimming pools where both cities use the same value-based formula.

Example 3: $80,000 room addition

A homeowner adds a 400 sq ft heated family room addition to an existing single-family dwelling for a declared construction value of $80,000. Both cities apply their value-based residential formula on the $80,000 input. Henrico's $680 cap has not yet been reached at this value.

Henrico County

  • Base fee: $100.00
  • $6 x 75 ($1,000 increments above $5,000): $450.00
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $550.00: $11.00

Total: $561.00

Richmond City

  • Base fee: $63.00
  • $6.07 x 78 ($1,000 increments above $2,000): $473.46
  • 2% Virginia state levy on $536.46: $10.73

Total: $547.19

Richmond is cheaper by $13.81. The gap continues to narrow as project value rises. Richmond's lower base fee ($63 vs $100) gives it a $37 head start that Henrico's slightly lower marginal rate cannot fully erase below the cap. Once declared value reaches roughly $103,648, Henrico's $680 building permit cap activates and the all-in fee freezes at $693.60 (cap plus 2% levy), while Richmond's uncapped formula keeps climbing. Above that crossover Henrico becomes structurally cheaper by an amount that grows with project value. New residential construction is a special case: Henrico charges a flat $680 building permit (plus 2% levy = $693.60) for any new 1-2 family dwelling regardless of declared value, while Richmond applies its uncapped formula. A typical 2,000 sq ft, $400,000 single-family home would cost roughly $2,528.44 in Richmond versus $693.60 in Henrico - a $1,834.84 difference in Henrico's favor, before trade permits.

When Each City Is Cheaper

The decision rule for residential alterations, additions, decks, sheds, garages, and pools is simple: Richmond is cheaper below the crossover, Henrico is cheaper above. The crossover point is the declared construction value where Henrico's $680 building permit cap activates - approximately $103,648 declared value. Below the crossover, Richmond is cheaper by $13 to $19 across normal residential project sizes. Above the crossover, Henrico is dramatically cheaper because its all-in fee is frozen at $693.60 while Richmond's uncapped formula keeps adding $6.07 per $1,000 of additional value. New residential construction follows a different rule entirely: Henrico charges a flat $680 building permit and is structurally cheaper at every typical new-build value.

Project Type Cheaper City Why
Small residential alteration (under ~$103,648 value) Richmond Richmond's $63 base fee is $37 lower than Henrico's $100 base. The slightly higher Richmond marginal rate ($6.07 vs $6.00 per $1,000) does not erode the base advantage until the cap activates.
Large residential alteration (above ~$103,648 value) Henrico Henrico's $680 building permit cap freezes the all-in fee at $693.60 (cap plus 2% levy). Richmond has no cap; the formula keeps adding $6.07 per $1,000 of additional value indefinitely.
Uncovered deck (any residential size) Richmond Same value-based formula, so Richmond's lower base wins until the cap kicks in. Most decks are well under $103,648 declared value, so Richmond stays cheaper across the typical residential range.
Room addition under ~$103,648 value Richmond Same dynamic as alterations: $63 base vs $100 base. The crossover at ~$103,648 only matters for larger high-end additions.
Room addition above ~$103,648 value Henrico Cap activates. At $200,000 declared value, Richmond charges roughly $1,290.16 ($63 + 198 x $6.07 + 2% levy) versus Henrico's capped $693.60 - Henrico saves about $596.56.
New 1-2 family dwelling (any size) Henrico Henrico charges a flat $680 building permit ($693.60 with levy) for any new 1-2 family dwelling. Richmond applies its uncapped value formula. A 2,000 sq ft, $400,000 home is roughly $2,528.44 in Richmond - Henrico saves roughly $1,834.84 before trade permits.
In-ground swimming pool ($30,000) Richmond Pool falls under both cities' residential value formula. At $30k, Henrico charges $255.00 vs Richmond $237.62 - Richmond saves $17.38. Below the cap, Richmond stays cheaper.
Detached shed under $5,000 value Richmond Henrico charges $100 + 2% levy = $102.00 (no climb because value is below the $5,000 threshold). Richmond charges $63 + ($3,000 / $1,000) x $6.07 + 2% levy = $63 + $18.21 + $1.62 = $82.83 at a $5,000 declared value. Richmond cheaper by ~$19 at most accessory-structure values.
Residential demolition Henrico (small) / Richmond (large) Richmond charges a flat $184 + 2% levy = $187.68 regardless of value. Henrico applies its value formula: at $5,000 demolition value Henrico is $102.00 (cheaper), at $30,000 demolition value Henrico is $255.00 (Richmond wins). The crossover is at ~$19,000 declared demolition value.

Caveat: this comparison covers building permit fees only. Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) are filed separately in both cities under their own schedules. Henrico charges $100 per trade permit for new 1-2 family construction (each filed separately on top of the flat $680 building permit). Richmond's trade permits are governed by the same value-based formula structure as the building permit. Zoning approvals, stormwater fees, certificate of occupancy ($263 in Richmond, billed separately at project completion), and other site-specific permits are not modeled here. Both cities also charge a 2% Virginia state levy on the building permit fee. Richmond's published fee schedule is older than Henrico's permits page; rates may have been adjusted internally without a published update - verify before relying on this comparison for filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Neither is universally cheaper - the answer depends on the declared construction value and project category. For most residential projects (decks, alterations, additions, pools, sheds) below approximately $103,648 declared value, Richmond is cheaper by $13 to $19 because its base fee is $37 lower than Henrico's. Above approximately $103,648 declared value, Henrico becomes cheaper because its $680 building permit cap freezes the fee at $693.60 all-in while Richmond's uncapped formula keeps climbing. New residential construction follows a different rule: Henrico charges a flat $680 building permit ($693.60 with state levy) for any new 1-2 family dwelling, while Richmond applies its uncapped value formula. For a typical 2,000 sq ft, $400,000 single-family home, Henrico is roughly $1,835 cheaper than Richmond on the building permit alone. Both cities charge separate trade permits and certificate-of-occupancy fees that are not modeled in these totals.
Approximately $103,648 declared construction value for residential alterations, additions, decks, pools, and similar value-based categories. The math: Henrico's $680 building permit cap activates when ($100 + ($V - $5,000) / $1,000 x $6) reaches $680, which is at V = $101,667 declared value. Henrico's all-in fee at the cap is $680 + 2% levy = $693.60. Richmond reaches the same $693.60 all-in fee at value V where ($63 + ($V - $2,000) / $1,000 x $6.07) x 1.02 = $693.60, which solves to V = $103,648. Below $103,648 Richmond is cheaper; above $103,648 Henrico is cheaper. Below the cap, the gap is roughly constant at $13 to $19 because Richmond's slightly higher per-$1,000 marginal rate ($6.07 vs $6.00) almost exactly offsets the lower base fee growth differential. Above the crossover, Henrico's frozen $693.60 quickly diverges from Richmond's still-climbing fee.
Different fee structure for new construction. Henrico charges a flat $680 building permit fee for any new 1-2 family dwelling, regardless of declared construction value. With the 2% Virginia state levy that becomes $693.60 all-in. Richmond does not break out new construction as a separate category - the same $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000 formula applies to new construction as to alterations, additions, and decks. For a 2,000 sq ft, $400,000 single-family home: Richmond charges $63 + (398 x $6.07) = $63 + $2,415.86 = $2,478.86, plus 2% levy of $49.58, for a total of $2,528.44. Henrico charges $693.60. Henrico saves $1,834.84 on the building permit alone. Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) are filed separately in both cities; Henrico charges $100 per trade permit for new 1-2 family work, so the total Henrico permit stack for a new home is roughly $993.60 (building $693.60 + three trade permits at $100 each = $300, plus levy on the trade fees). Richmond's trade permits use the same value formula structure as the building permit and add several hundred to several thousand dollars on top of the $2,528.44 base. The structural difference makes Henrico dramatically cheaper for new builds at any typical declared value.
The City of Richmond Fee Schedule (Revision 06-14-2022) does not enumerate a residential cap. The base permit formula of $63 + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000 continues without a maximum. Henrico's residential page explicitly lists a $680 cap on the value-based formula for residential 1-2 family work (the cap covers decks, additions, pools, sheds, garages, demolitions, and alterations). Whether Richmond applies an internal soft cap administratively is not stated on the published schedule - PermitPrice can only model what is published. Verify with the Richmond Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 if your project carries a high declared value where the absence of a cap is load-bearing for your budget. Richmond's value-based formula makes Richmond the more expensive city for high-value alterations and any new residential construction.
The 2% state levy is a Virginia statewide surcharge authorized under Code of Virginia Section 36-139 (USBC Section 107.2). Both Henrico County and Richmond City collect it on the building permit fee component and remit it to the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The levy funds the Virginia State Building Code Technical Review Board and statewide construction code enforcement. Neither city itemizes plan review separately, so the levy base equals the building permit fee in both cases. For a $30,000 alteration: Henrico's levy is $5.00 (on $250 building permit), Richmond's levy is $4.66 (on $232.96 building permit). Both cities are mandatory collectors; you cannot opt out.
The Richmond fee schedule PDF is footer-labeled EFFECTIVE 11/18/2013, Revision 06-14-2022. PermitPrice has not located a more recent revision posted on rva.gov as of April 24, 2026. The Henrico permits page at henrico.gov/bldg/permit-fees/ was last updated December 2025 and the residential permits supplement was last updated March 2026 - more recent than Richmond's schedule. The age difference matters because Richmond may have adjusted internal rates without updating the published PDF. Verify current Richmond rates with the Bureau of Permits and Inspections at (804) 646-4169 or PDRPermitsAndInspections@rva.gov before relying on the Richmond side of this comparison for filing. Verify current Henrico rates with the Department of Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 or via the Build Henrico portal.
For a $30,000 in-ground residential pool, the math mirrors the $30,000 alteration example because both cities apply the same value-based formula across project categories. Henrico charges $100 base + (25 x $6.00) + 2% levy = $100 + $150 + $5.00 = $255.00 all-in. Richmond charges $63 base + (28 x $6.07) + 2% levy = $63 + $169.96 + $4.66 = $237.62 all-in. Richmond is cheaper by $17.38. Both totals cover the building permit only. Pool-specific add-ons (electrical permits for pool grounding and bonding, plumbing permits for pool fill lines, separate pool barrier permits, county or city-specific pool inspections) are filed and priced separately in both jurisdictions. The dedicated Virginia pool permit guide walks through the trade-permit math for both cities.
Just the city or county building permit fee. The $255.00 Henrico alteration permit and $237.62 Richmond alteration permit cover the building permit application, plan review, and inspections for that one permit. They do not cover trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing - these are separate applications under their own schedules in both jurisdictions), contractor labor, materials, zoning approvals, stormwater fees, certificate of occupancy ($263 in Richmond and not separately enumerated in the Henrico residential schedule, both billed at project completion), or any other site-specific permits. PermitPrice tracks the city or county building permit fee component only. Your contractor's quote is the source of truth for total project cost. Both cities also have administrative add-ons - re-inspection fees, after-hours inspection fees, permit extension fees, working-without-permit investigation fees - that apply only when triggered.

Calculate Your Specific Project

The PermitPrice fee calculator covers Henrico County, Richmond City, and five other Virginia jurisdictions. Pick the jurisdiction and project type, enter your construction value, and the calculator returns the all-in permit cost broken down by component. The calculator math matches the worked examples on this page.

Open the Permit Fee Calculator All Henrico Permit Fees All Richmond Permit Fees Virginia Deck Permit Guide

Sources

Official .gov Sources - Verified April 2026
  • Henrico County Permit Fees - Department of Building Construction and Inspections Page last updated December 2025 - Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections - Source for the Henrico side of every comparison: $100 base + $6 per $1,000 over $5,000 (residential 1-2 family), capped at $680, $680 flat for new 1-2 family dwellings, 2% state levy on building permit fee - Verified April 16, 2026 Verified
  • City of Richmond Fee Schedule - Bureau of Permits and Inspections Effective 11/18/2013, Revision 06-14-2022 - City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review - Source for the Richmond side of every comparison: $63 base + $6.07 per $1,000 over $2,000 (residential 1-2 family), $184 flat residential demolition, no separate plan review line, 2% state levy on building permit fee - Verified April 24, 2026 Verified
  • Code of Virginia Section 36-139 - USBC State Levy Authority Current - Virginia General Assembly - Authorizing statute for the statewide 2% building permit surcharge applied in both Henrico County and Richmond City
Next Step

Get the full fee schedule for either jurisdiction, run your specific project through the calculator, or check more Virginia comparisons.

Verify current fees with both jurisdictions before relying on this comparison for filing. Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections: (804) 501-4360 / Permit Center (804) 501-7280. Richmond City Bureau of Permits and Inspections: (804) 646-4169 / PDRPermitsAndInspections@rva.gov. The Richmond fee schedule on rva.gov is footer-labeled Revision 06-14-2022 and is older than Henrico's permits page (last updated December 2025). PermitPrice has not located a more recent Richmond revision; rates may have been adjusted internally without a published update. Always confirm current rates and project classification before submitting an application in either jurisdiction.
Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by Henrico County Department of Building Construction and Inspections or Richmond City Bureau of Permits and Inspections at the time of application. Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing), zoning approvals, stormwater fees, certificate of occupancy, and other site-specific permits are separate from the building permit and are not modeled in this comparison. Henrico's fee structure for new 1-2 family dwellings is a flat $680 building permit plus separate $100 trade permits per discipline; Richmond uses its uncapped value formula for new construction. Richmond's fee schedule may have undergone changes not reflected in the most recent published PDF.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.