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Department of Code Administration Offers FREE Fall Training Event for Industry October 22

Did you ever want to know if you could either remodel an existing building or change the use of an existing building without completely making the interior conform to current building codes? If so, then join the City of Alexandria on October 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for free virtual training on the 2018 Virginia Existing Building Code. This virtual training event will allow you to explore your options.

The event will include opening remarks by Gregg Fields, Director, Department of Code Administration. John Gibson, MCP, CBO, ICC Instructor will provide the complimentary training session. Virtual seating is limited to the first 50 registrants. Those who complete training will earn 6 hours of continuing education credits.

Registration is required to attend the training. RSVP to penny.guasman@alexandriava.gov to receive the meeting link. Deadline for registration is October 15.

The City offers free training twice per year to further develop participants’ understanding of the building codes and what it takes to build and sustain safe, resilient structures.

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact Pete.Mensinger@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4210, Virginia Relay 711.

Training Event Flyer

Operational Updates Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Some services may be modified or suspended due to the pandemic.  Please see below for service impacts by division, we will continue to monitor and update this information daily.

Permit Center

• Open to the public for in-person service Monday through Friday by appointment from 8:00am until 4:15pm.
• The City of Alexandria Permit Center is now located on the first floor of the City Hall at 301 King Street, Room 1900.
• Currently, we are asking for customers to only submit applications electronically through APEX.
• The Alexandria Permitting and Land Use System (APEX) is available 24 hours a day from your computer or mobile device.
• Customer assistance is still available by email Permit.Center@alexandriava.gov or by calling 703.746.4200. A support team able to respond to inquiries within 24 hours or one business day.
  

• The City of Alexandria Permit Center will be conducting online workshops for the recently upgraded Alexandria Permitting and Land Use Management (APEX) system through December 27, 2021. Sessions will be held every other Monday beginning September 13, 2021 from 1:00pm - 2:00pm using a Microsoft Teams platform. These workshops will help you to navigate Alexandria’s 24-hour permitting system. 

  After the workshop you will be able to use APEX to:

  We will also spotlight the Document Library for a wealth of resources to help you navigate the APEX Customer Self Service (CSS) portal. Tutorial material is available to read or watch on short videos.

  To attend a workshop please RSVP to the Permit Center at 703.746.4200 or via email at permit.center@alexandriava.gov. 

  • Set up an account
  • View permit information and records.             
  • Apply for permits.
  • View permit application status and reviews.
  • Schedule, cancel and view inspection results.
  • Pay invoices.
  • Submit, view, print permits, plans & documents.

Plan Review Services

• We are continuing to perform plan reviews as scheduled
• Team Plan Reviews are no longer performed in-person, but are now performed fully electronically

New Construction Inspections

• In-person residential inspections for occupied dwellings (single-family and multi-family) are suspended, however these are still being performed virtually by video call.  See our residential virtual inspections memorandum below for more information.
• All other inspections are still taking place as scheduled with inspectors maintaining social distancing. Inspectors are instructed to leave the area if they do not feel the area is safe. Those inspections will be rescheduled when the area is safe to enter.

Property Maintenance Inspections

• Residential rental inspections and interior, complaint-based investigations in occupied dwellings have been suspended, however some complaint inspections can still be performed by video call
• Proactive Exterior inspections will be performed to ensure sanitary trash disposal, timely trash service and rodent control surveys will continue
• Staff will continue to service overgrown grass and weeds complaints over 12” on private properties, with extended compliance periods for abatement.
• Unsafe/unfit investigations of occupied structures will continue with some interior inspection access modifications. Video and photo submissions of unsafe conditions are encouraged.
  
  Residential Virtual Building Inspections
  
  Team Plan Review Process

Registration instructions for the new Alexandria Permit and Land Use Management Portal

For more information about the City’s permitting process, using the new APEX system, or Permit Center hours of operation, visit alexandriava.gov/Permits.

Alexandria Permit and Land Use Management Portal (APEX). 

APEX allows you, our customers, to apply for permits and development plan reviews, to attach supporting documents and to submit payment from computers or mobile devices, eliminating the need to make trips to City Hall. 

Additional features of APEX include:

• Electronic application, plan submission and review for permits and land use applications.

• Improved communication between staff and customers.

• Real-time status tracking for permit and land use applications.

• Advanced search capabilities.

• Online inspection scheduling, tracking and updates.

• Online payments.

All customers should register on the portal. We are encouraging all customers to utilize the portal, not only to apply for permits, but also as a tool to process permit related payments. When visiting the Permit Center, customers will simply login to their Alexandria Permit and Land Use Management Portal account via kiosk to complete their payment transaction. The payment will post immediately and the receipt will be sent via email to the customer.

About the Department

Welcome to the Alexandria Department of Code Administration, where we work in concert with other City agencies and our customers (residents, tenants, business owners, building owners, architects, engineers, builders, tradesmen, contractors, and developers) as part of the safe building team. Our objective is to assist customers with compliance related to Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building and Maintenance Codes (USBC), and the City Code nuisance and development provisions. This is accomplished through permit processing, plan review; timely and consistent inspections, and education regarding the requirements of the referenced codes.  The department contains the five divisions of Permit Center, Property Maintenance Inspections, New Construction Inspections, Plan Review Services, and Administrative Services.