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Addition or Garage
To build an addition or garage, you will need construction plans. The plans should have a plan view looking down, a cross section, and elevations. If you are using trusses, indicate so on your plans. If rafters and ceiling joists are used, provide a roof framing plan with the size and spacing of framing members. Steps 1-3 may be completed at the Development Services Building, 5 County Complex Court, Prince William, VA, 22192. Step 4 may be completed by telephone or online.
- STEP 1: Zoning Approval
You will need to obtain zoning approval before submitting your plans to Building Development. The Zoning Division Counter is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Bring your plans and a copy of the survey plat of your land marked with the proposed location of the addition or garage.
- See Zoning Approval for Residential Additions for more information.
- STEP 2: Plan Approval
The Building Plan Intake Counter is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
All building plans are required to be submitted via Prince William County’s ePortal system. Consult the Customer Electronic Plan Review (ePlans) Guide for information on how to prepare and submit documents for electronic plan review and the electronic plan review guide for building ePlan submission guidelines.
- Provide Zoning Approval (from step 1), with the location of the addition or garage highlighted.
- Provide building plans with the following: plan view (view from above) for foundation, each floor, and roof; elevation (view from each side); and elevation section (cross section from side view that shows the typical footing, wall, floor, and roof) per Customer Electronic Plan Review (ePlans) Guide.
- You may obtain and complete the required permit applications at the Development Services Building.
- If your addition includes pre-manufactured trusses, you may obtain plan approval without the truss shop drawings. However, prior to the concealment inspection, you must bring two original sets of truss plans supplied by the manufacturer to Building Plan Review for approval. Refer to Framing Plans for Wood Trusses Metal Plate Connected (Policy 3.1.4) for more information regarding trusses.
- Plan Review for residential additions and garages is not eligible to be processed as a walk-through. Walk-through reviews are limited to open decks. Review time for residential additions may take two weeks or longer depending on the volume of plans in review.
- STEP 3: Permit Issuance
The Building Permitting Services Counter is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
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If the homeowner is the permit applicant, and will be responsible for the work, the homeowner must complete the Statement of Exemption.
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If the contractor is the permit applicant, and will be responsible for the work, the contractor must provide a copy of his or her Virginia State Contractor's License and Prince William County Business License.
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Pay for your Building Permit based on the approved Building Development Fee Schedule. Trade permits are charged by fixture count. You will be given a list of inspections to call for when ready.
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- STEP 4: Construction Inspections
In order for staff to conduct an inspection, you must call for the appropriate inspection, the permit must be affixed to the front window of the residence (or a location that can be viewed from the road outside the residence), and the approved plans must be available for the inspector to review at the time of inspection.
Building inspections are conducted between 8 A.M. and 3 P.M., Monday through Friday. Visit www.pwcgov.org/ePortal or call 1-866-457-5280 to schedule an inspection through the automated system. The systems will prompt for the permit number or 6 digit IVR Pin Number, and inspection type code, which were provided at the time of permit issuance. The inspection process will vary depending on the extent of the work. The most common inspection types and codes are 103 - building footing, 107 - garage slab, 198 - residential combination concealment, 199 - residential combination final, 202 - electrical service, and 401 - plumbing ground work.