Building plan reviews are required for all* new or existing renovated and altered commercial and residential buildings within the City of Alexandria. Code Administration’s Plan Review Unit is comprised of Structural, Architectural, Mechanical, Plumbing & Electrical disciplines. * Building construction exempt from permits, please refer to the Virginia Construction Code, Section 108.1 and .2.
Small Business & Residential Project Facilitation Office - Hours of Operation:
- Walk-thru Plan Review Services and Consultations, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. except holidays
- All Other Services, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., except holidays
- Check the status of a permit (application and inspections) - Please have either the project address or permit number available to view an permit plan review status or an issued permit's inspection history.
- Design Criteria
Fire Protection Systems Permit & Plan Submission Requirements
Have questions or concerns regarding a plan review? Contact Plan Review Division Chief Adrian Mirt at Have questions or concerns regarding a plan review? Contact Plan Review Division Chief Adrian Mirt at Adrian.Mirt@alexandriava.gov
Residential & Commercial Design Criteria
Plan Review Programs
Intake Plan Review (One & Two Family Residential and Commercial Projects, including Multi-family dwellings)
Example Projects:
- Demolition (Entire or Partial Structure)
- New Building Construction
- Additions
- Existing Building Alterations & Renovations
- Change of Occupancy
- Retaining Walls, Pools, Spa, Whirlpools, etc.
- Have questions or concerns regarding a plan review? Contact Plan Review Division Chief Adrian Mirt at Have questions or concerns regarding a plan review? Contact Plan Review Division Chief Adrian Mirt at Adrian.Mirt@alexandriava.gov
A scheduled one-hour, full-service building permit review session which includes Code Administration (Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical and Architectural), Planning & Zoning and Transportation & Environmental Services. A Registered Design Professional is required to attend. One of four, one-hour Wednesday mornings time slots (8:30AM, 9:30AM, 10:30AM & 11:30AM) and Tuesday afternoon time slots (1:30pm & 2:30pm) are available and must be scheduled in advance by calling 703.746.4200.
Eligible Projects:
- Business (B) occupancy less than 20,000 ft2
- Mercantile (M) occupancy less than 7,500 ft2
- Storage (S) occupancies less than 15,000 ft2
- Factory (F1 or F2) occupancies less than 15,000 ft2
Note: Projects which include exterior or structural alterations are ineligible
Walk-Thru Plan Review
Projects minor in scope-of-work or complexity which will allow for a full plan review within a 20-minute time period (Code Administration time-frame only, other departments have different limitations). Note: walk-thru plan reviews are at the discretion of the plan reviewers.
Example Projects:
- 1 & 2 Family Residential Kitchen & Bathroom Alterations/Renovations
- Finishing a Basement - 1 & 2 Family Dwellings
- Roof & Siding Replacements/Repairs
- Decks, Porches, Stoops, etc. - Construction/Renovations/Alteration
- Signs
- Trailers – Construction & Sales
Permit & Plan Submission Requirements
Note: This a general list of Code Administration requirements, each project’s scope-of-work may require additional information
General
The following is a general list of Code Administration (CA) requirements, each project’s scope-of-work may require additional information. Minor projects may only require a permit application if no plans and additional agency reviews are not required.
- Approved permit(s) and plans must be issued prior to commencing work
- Submission Documentation Required for Plan Review
- Completed Applicable Permit Applications
- Complete a Commercial Project Data Form
- Provide Contractor’s information (as applicable - state license number, City of Alexandria business license number and contact information).
- If a contractor is not responsible for the job, an owner may perform work or act as their own general Contractor on their own property. With these applications, provide a notarized Property Owner’s Affidavit
- Provide 5 copies of construction documents (plans and reports), including all proposed trade work and 6 copies if the project requires Health Department review and approval.
- Maximum Plan Size is 24”x36” (unless waived by the Director) and minimum dimensions for plans are 1/8” = 1’-0” for plan view sheets and ¼” = 1’-0” for section details
- Soils reports (all new or altered commercial buildings subject to the International Building Code requirements when foundations are involved) and any other documents supporting the plan design
- Residential 1 & 2 Family Dwellings - Refer to the Code Administration Soils Policy
- Residential permits subject to the requirements of the Virginia Residential Code (1 &2 Family Dwellings) shall provide complete building and trade drawings.
- 1 & 2 Family Residential Dwellings – Trade Review Document Submission Checklist
- 1 & 2 Family Residential Dwellings – Trade Review Document Submission Checklist
- Plans must be signed and sealed by a registered design professional (RDP) licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set) if they are responsible for the construction documents (regardless of if Virginia law requires the plans to be prepared by an RDP) or if it is required by the Code of Virginia Section 54.1-400 administered by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
- Plans not prepared by an RDP, and not required to be by the Code of Virginia, shall contain:
- The name of the person who prepared the plans
- Occupation
- Contact information
- Released Site or Grading Plan indicating building(s) existing and/or proposed within scope-of-work
- 35% Deposit is required for plan review – based on estimated permit fee (Refer to 2017 New Fee Schedule). The deposit is non-refundable and is deducted from the total permit fee when the permit is issued.
Include the following if within scope-of-work…
Commercial and Multi-family Residential Dwellings (3 or more dwelling units)
- All projects covered by the International Building Code (Virginia Construction Code) and Virginia Rehabilitation Building Code
- Plan Review Time Frame - 20 Business Days
- Plans may be routed to Health Department (HD) for review and approval if the project involves food service, food preparation, hotels or motels, swimming pools or other Health Department regulated activity. Click here for a list of projects requiring Health Department review and approval . Please note: The Health Department requires a completed application and payment of fees before reviewing and approving construction documents. Permit applicants are advised to take plans, required applications, and fees directly to the Alexandria Health Department (703-746-4996), located at 4480 King Street to expedite their review.
Architectural (Building)
- Comprehensive code analysis to include:
- Commercial Project Data Form
- Method of compliance for new buildings in accordance with the Virginia Construction Code or charge of use, alteration or renovation in accordance with Virginia Rehabilitation Building Code
- Means-of-egress plan
- Room/space designations & dimensions
- Horizontal & vertical fire-resistance-rated assemblies and penetrations details
- Stair, guard and handrail details
- Building energy envelope load calculations
- Architectural Schedule(s), General Notes & Specification
- Documentation of compliance with the Virginia Energy Conservation Code
- Accessibility
- Alteration Cost of Accessibility Certificate Form
- Multi-family dwelling unit accessible schedule (type A & B dwelling units)
- Vehicle accessible parking schedule
- Accessible route plans, details, sections and notes (restrooms, ramps, stairs, door hardware, signs, etc.)
Plumbing
- Completed plumbing application
- Plumbing fixture layout, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Plumbing sanitary, vent & water riser diagram
- Plumbing Schedule, General Notes & Specification
- Gas riser diagram (including all gas appliances’ BTUs, pipe sizes and lengths
- Gas Schedule, General Notes & Specification
Mechanical
- Gas equipment and piping designed to meet the Virginia Fuel Gas Code
- Completed mechanical application
- Mechanical HVAC layout, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Mechanical condensate riser diagram
- Mechanical Schedule, General Notes & Specification
- Outside/fresh-air calculations
- Shop drawings, kitchen hood & exhaust system, etc.
Electrical
- Design to meet the National Electrical Code, 2011 Edition.
- Completed electrical application
- Electrical layout plans, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set)
- Single-line electrical diagram
- Electrical Schedule, General Notes & Specification
- Electrical load calculations
Structural (Building)
- Design loads
- Soils report, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original report)
- Structural calculations, signed and sealed by licensed design professional in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original set)
- Manufacturer’s specification information for all fabricated structural members
- Structural General Notes
Fire Protection Systems
Residential, One & Two Family Dwellings - Townhomes, Detached Homes and Duplexes (3 stories or less with separate means of egress)
- Projects subject to the Virginia Residential Code for building and all trade design
- Plan Review Time Frame - 10 Business Days unless the project qualifies for walk through service in the Permit Center
Architectural (Building)
- Room/space designations & dimensions
- Rated exterior fire-resistance-rated wall (walls within 5ft of the property-line)
- Emergency escape & rescue openings (all sleeping-rooms and basements)
- Building energy envelope load calculations
- Architectural Schedule(s), General Notes & Specification
Plumbing
- Completed plumbing application
- Plumbing fixture layout
- Plumbing sanitary, vent & water riser diagram (required for 4 or more new fixtures)
- Plumbing Schedule, General Notes & Specification
- Gas riser diagram (including all gas appliances’ BTUs, pipe sizes and lengths
- Gas Schedule, General Notes & Specification
Mechanical
- Completed mechanical application
- Mechanical HVAC layout
- “Manual-J” calculations
- Mechanical exhaust, kitchen, restroom, clothes dryer, etc.
- Mechanical Schedule, General Notes & Specification
Electrical
- Completed electrical application
- Electrical layout plans
- Single-line electrical diagram
- Electrical Schedule, General Notes & Specification
- Electrical load calculations
Structural (Building)
- Structural plans
- May be required to be signed and sealed by a registered design professional (RDP) licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia (1 original plan set) if they are responsible for the construction documents (regardless of if Virginia law requires the plans to be prepared by an RDP) or if it is required by the Code of Virginia Section 54.1-400 administered by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation if not designed within the prescriptive requirements of the Virginia Residential Code.
- Design loads
- Soils report prepared by a Virginia Registered Design Professional in accordance with the Department of Code Administration
Soils Policy
- To include the foundation design when indicated
- Manufacturer’s specification information for all fabricated structural members
- Structural General Notes
Other Important Links
- Transportation and Environmental Services permits
- Health Department permits and required reviews
- Historic Preservation (Board of Architectural Review)
- Planning and Zoning Applications and Forms
- Planning and Zoning Design Guidelines
- Office of Environmental Quality requirements
- Business License
- Contractor License Search and Tradesmen Certificate Search provided by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
- Contractors performing work are required to be licensed by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR).