Richmond, VA
Richmond Plumbing Permit Cost
A Richmond plumbing trade permit reads the same value-of-work ladder:
$63.00 for the first $2,000 plus $6.07 per $1,000 or fraction thereof for residential, $131.00 plus $8.50 per $1,000 or fraction for commercial — the schedule lists the plumbing permit among those 'calculated as follows' — with the 2% state surcharge added to 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 plumbing 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 plumbing 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 commercial tenant fit-out adds a break-room sink and water heater, with plumbing work valued at $6,800.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Project valuation | $6,800 |
| Occupancy class | Commercial |
Example total
$176.97
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 |
|---|---|---|
Commercial plumbing permit ($131.00 + $8.50 per $1,000, or fraction)Permit feeThe schedule's opening paragraph lists plumbing permits among those 'calculated as follows' by the same commercial formula on the value of work.Show the working
| $131.00 + $8.50 per $1,000 of project valuation above $2,000, or fraction thereof, in $1,000 steps | $173.50 |
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 | $3.47 |
| Total | $176.97 |
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.
- Residential plumbing permit ($63.00 + $6.07 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 $4,800 of value, which rounds up to five whole $1,000 steps: 5 × $8.50 = $42.50, plus the $131.00 base = $173.50. The 2% state surcharge adds $3.47. Total: $173.50 + $3.47 = $176.97.
What is different in Richmond
Plumbing work files under its own trade permit under the 2021 Virginia Plumbing Code, reviewed when submitted. Adding plumbing fixtures in main or accessory buildings that might create additional kitchen or bathing facilities can trigger zoning review as well. Gas-piping work files under its own named permit on the same schedule. The City's plan-review checklists set the minimum standards designs must meet before a plumbing permit is issued.
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
Department of Public Utilities water and sewer connection charges, grease-trap sizing review for food service, re-inspections ($32 residential / $63 commercial), and after-hours inspections are outside the trade permit fee.
What you need before applying
- Virginia Plumbing Contractor LicenseRequired
Plumbing trade permits are issued to licensed plumbing contractors; adding fixtures that create new kitchen or bathing facilities may also trigger zoning review.
Common questions
What does a plumbing permit cost in Richmond?
The value-of-work ladder applies: $63.00 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, plus the 2% state surcharge.
City of Richmond Fee Schedule
Does adding fixtures ever trigger zoning review?
Yes. Plumbing permit applications for adding fixtures in main or accessory buildings that might create additional kitchen or bathing facilities may be reviewed by Zoning Division staff.
Richmond Permits and Inspections FAQ
Is gas piping covered by the plumbing permit?
No. The schedule names gas-piping permits separately from plumbing permits; both are priced by the same value-of-work formulas, but they file as their own permits.
City of Richmond Fee Schedule
How much is a plumbing re-inspection in Richmond?
$32.00 residential and $63.00 commercial for a re-inspection or failure to appear for an on-site inspection other than a required one.
City of Richmond Fee Schedule
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.