Virginia Beach, VA
Virginia Beach Plumbing Permit Cost
A Virginia Beach plumbing permit is $50.00 plus $6.00 per fixture or drain
with the 2% state levy and the $10.00 technology fee on top. Water or sewer line conversions and replacements are a flat $50.00, on-site collector or distribution lines are $80.00 for one building ($50.00 plus $50.00 per additional building), and demolition caps are $50.00 each.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbing permit ($50.00 + $6.00 per fixture/drain)Permit fee | $50.00 plus $6.00 per fixture | Each fixture on the permit | — |
| Virginia 2% state levy on permit feesState surcharge | 2% of fees charged | Every permit of this type | — |
| Technology fee ($10.00 per permit)Technology fee | $10.00 flat fee | 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 bathroom remodel adding two fixtures and one drain to a Virginia Beach home.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Project valuation | $8,000 |
| Fixtures | 3 |
Example total
$79.36
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 3Rules considered 3
| Component | How it is calculated | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Plumbing permit ($50.00 + $6.00 per fixture/drain)Permit feeTrades Permits page: 'Plumbing permit: $50 plus $6 per fixture/drain.' Line conversions/replacements are $50.00 flat; on-site collector or distribution lines are $80.00 for one building or $50.00 plus $50.00 per additional building.Show the working
| $50.00 plus $6.00 per fixture | $68.00 |
Virginia 2% state levy on permit feesState surchargeBoth Virginia Beach fee sheets state: 'A 2% State Levy will be assessed on the permit fees listed above.'Show the working
| 2% of fees charged | $1.36 |
Technology fee ($10.00 per permit)Technology feeBoth Virginia Beach fee sheets state: 'A $10.00 Technology Fee is assessed on all permits.'Show the working
| $10.00 flat fee | $10.00 |
| Total | $79.36 |
Assumptions
- Calculated from 3 fee rules in effect on 2026-09-28.
- Amounts are rounded to the nearest cent, once, at the end of each component.
The permit is $50.00 + $6.00 × 3 fixtures/drains = $50.00 + $18.00 = $68.00. The 2% state levy adds $1.36, and the technology fee $10.00. Total: $68.00 + $1.36 + $10.00 = $79.36.
What is different in Virginia Beach
Plumbing permits file through the Accela portal with the contractor's state registration, master tradesman signature and contract value; all Public Utilities fees must be paid with the receipt provided before issuance, and grease traps or on-site lines require a plumbing inspector's review. Gas inspections on residential new construction run with the plumbing inspection at rough-in and final. Failed re-inspections are $75 and the work-without-permit administrative fee is $250.
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
Public Utilities water/sewer tap and DFU fees, grease-trap FOG review beyond the inspector's check, irrigation backflow testing, and after-hours inspections are separate from the permit fee.
What you need before applying
- Master Tradesman Signature and Public Utilities ReceiptRequired
Plumbing applications carry the contractor's state registration and master tradesman signature; all Public Utilities fees must be paid with a receipt provided before issuance, and grease traps or on-site lines require a plumbing inspector's review.
Common questions
What does a plumbing permit cost in Virginia Beach?
$50.00 plus $6.00 per fixture/drain, plus the 2% state levy and the $10.00 technology fee. A three-fixture job totals $79.36 with the riders.
Virginia Beach Trades Permits page
How is a water or sewer line replacement priced?
Water line and sewer line conversions or replacements are a flat $50.00 each; on-site collector or distribution lines are $80.00 for one building and $50.00 plus $50.00 for each additional building served.
Virginia Beach Trades Permits page
Do I need a receipt before my plumbing permit is issued?
Yes. All Public Utilities fees must be paid and the receipt provided to permitting staff before the permit is issued — the City will not release a plumbing permit with unpaid water/sewer charges.
Virginia Beach Trades Permits page
When are plumbing inspections required?
New construction and additions require rough-in and final inspections. On residential jobs the gas pressure test and final are conducted at the same time as the plumbing inspection.
Virginia Beach Trades Permits page
Source and verification
The documents behind every figure on this page, with the dates that make them checkable.
- City websiteCityPrimary source
Trades Permits — Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (City web page)
Electrical: new service single phase $50.00 + $20.00 per 50 amps; change of service half the new-service fee; additions/repairs $50.00 + $5.00 per circuit; $50.00 each for named scopes; 2% state levy + $10.00 technology fee. Plumbing: $50.00 + $6.00 per fixture/drain.
Verification
Last verified against the official source in Sep 2026.