Richmond, VA
Richmond Electrical Permit Cost
Richmond prices electrical work on the same ladder as the building permit:
the schedule's opening paragraph lists the electrical permit among those 'calculated as follows' — $63.00 for the first $2,000 of the value of work plus $6.07 per $1,000 or fraction thereof for residential (1 & 2 family), $131.00 plus $8.50 per $1,000 or fraction for commercial, with the 2% state surcharge on the final fee.
How this fee is calculated
These are the components the schedule defines for this permit, as they applied on 2026-09-28. A component only applies to your project if its conditions match — read that column before assuming a figure. Want a figure for your own project? Estimate this fee with the permit fee calculator.
| Component | Formula | Applies when | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial electrical permit ($131.00 + $8.50 per $1,000, or fraction)Permit fee | $131.00 + $8.50 per $1,000 of project valuation above $2,000, or fraction thereof | Occupancy is commercial | — |
| Residential electrical permit ($63.00 + $6.07 per $1,000, or fraction)Permit fee | $63.00 + $6.07 per $1,000 of project valuation above $2,000, or fraction thereof | Occupancy is residential | — |
| Virginia 2% state surcharge on the final calculated feeState surcharge | 2% of fees charged | Every permit of this type | — |
A real permit fee is these components added together. The department’s final calculation is the one that applies — this is the schedule it will be based on.
A worked example
Follow the arithmetic by hand. Every line is produced by the engine from the rules above, so the total cannot drift away from the schedule behind it.
Worked example
A licensed electrician pulls a residential trade permit for a heat-pump circuit and panel work valued at $3,500.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Project valuation | $3,500 |
| Occupancy class | Residential |
Example total
$76.64
An estimate, not an official fee. It is calculated from the published fee schedule as it applied on 2026-09-28. The permit office’s own calculation is the one that applies, and your project may fall under rules this schedule does not describe.
Fee schedule as of 2026-09-28Rules applied 2Rules considered 3
| Component | How it is calculated | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Residential electrical permit ($63.00 + $6.07 per $1,000, or fraction)Permit feeThe schedule's opening paragraph lists electrical permits among those 'calculated as follows' by the same residential formula on the value of work.Show the working
| $63.00 + $6.07 per $1,000 of project valuation above $2,000, or fraction thereof, in $1,000 steps | $75.14 |
Virginia 2% state surcharge on the final calculated feeState surchargeFee schedule NOTE: 'For all permits, a 2.0% state surcharge is added to the final calculated fee.'Show the working
| 2% of fees charged | $1.50 |
| Total | $76.64 |
Fees that do not apply here
Listed so you can see what was considered and left out, rather than wondering whether something is missing. A rule can also be left out because it is not published for this permit at all, and that is stated where it matters.
- Commercial electrical permit ($131.00 + $8.50 per $1,000, or fraction) — This fee does not apply to the inputs provided.
Assumptions
- Calculated from 2 fee rules in effect on 2026-09-28.
- Amounts are rounded to the nearest cent, once, at the end of each component.
Above the first $2,000 there is $1,500 of value, which rounds up to two whole $1,000 steps: 2 × $6.07 = $12.14, plus the $63.00 base = $75.14. The 2% state surcharge adds $1.50. Total: $75.14 + $1.50 = $76.64.
What is different in Richmond
Electrical work files under its own trade permit, reviewed for code compliance when submitted under the 2021 VUSBC and the NEC (NFPA 70, 2020). The trade permit reads the same value of work — the higher of the contractor estimate or RS Means — so a small panel service or circuit extension prices at the $63.00 base, and larger fit-outs climb the ladder. Zoning review may be required for exterior parking-area lighting and additional meters in main or accessory buildings.
What this figure does not include
Impact fees, utility connections and other departments’ permits are the usual omissions, and in some jurisdictions they are larger than the permit fee itself.
Not included in these figures
Dominion Energy meter and service charges, electrical certification for change in use ($60/hour inspection and report), after-hours inspections ($90/hour for electrical), and re-inspection charges are outside the trade permit fee.
What you need before applying
- Virginia Electrical Contractor LicenseRequired
Electrical trade permits are issued to contractors licensed under Virginia's tradesman program; the City's page notes the separate trade permit is reviewed for code compliance when submitted.
Common questions
What does an electrical permit cost in Richmond?
The same value-of-work ladder as the building permit: $63.00 for the first $2,000 plus $6.07 per $1,000 or fraction thereof for residential, $131.00 plus $8.50 for commercial, plus the 2% state surcharge.
City of Richmond Fee Schedule
Does electrical work need its own permit if I have a building permit?
Yes. The City states that any electrical, mechanical and plumbing work for a project is done under a separate trade permit, reviewed for code compliance when that permit is submitted.
Richmond Permits and Inspections page
When does an electrical permit trigger zoning review in Richmond?
Zoning Division staff may review electrical permit applications for exterior parking-area lighting and additional meters in main or accessory buildings.
Richmond Permits and Inspections FAQ
What code governs electrical inspections in Richmond?
The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code with the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70 (2020 edition), as adopted by the City.
Richmond Building Codes for Richmond, Virginia
Source and verification
The documents behind every figure on this page, with the dates that make them checkable.
- Fee schedule (PDF)CityPrimary source
City of Richmond Fee Schedule (effective 07/01/2024)
Residential 1 & 2 family: $63.00 for the first $2,000 plus $6.07 per $1,000 or fraction thereof. Commercial: $131.00 plus $8.50 per $1,000 or fraction. A 2.0% state surcharge is added to the final calculated fee of every permit. Value of work equals the higher of the contractor estimate or RS Means price.
- City websiteCityPrimary source
Permits and Inspections — Department of Planning & Development Review
Confirms the trade-permit split: a building permit covers only the building and structural portion; electrical, mechanical and plumbing work files under separate trade permits reviewed when submitted.
Verification
Last verified against the official source in Sep 2026.