Frequently Asked Questions

Permits are required before starting work that is not exempt from the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC). Work including, but not limited to the following items requires a building permit:

• Changing the designed use of a building, installation
• Construction or demolition of a building or structure
• Installations or alterations that involve any wall or structural component
• Removal or disturbing any materials containing asbestos during construction, additions, or demolition (exemptions exist for Single Family Dwellings)
• Replacement of any system or component within a building or structure not exempted by the USBC

Examples

A permit is required for the following work:

• Building additions to existing structures
• Constructing/replacing a deck
• Construction of new buildings/structures
• Construction of retaining walls supporting 36 inches or more of unbalanced fill
• Finishing a basement
• Installation of new fuel tanks
• Installation of swimming pools (above and in-ground) Swimming Pools that have a surface area greater than 150 square feet, over 5,000 gallons and are more than 24 inches deep.
• Installing new systems (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, gas)
• Replacement of gas or oil equipment (gas or oil furnaces, gas water heaters, etc)
• Storage/Utility buildings (with or without electrical) that exceed 256 square feet

Common exemptions that do not require a permit are as follows:

• Detached accessory structures (under 256 square feet) used for storage/utility purposes, not classified as group F1 or H occupancy. (However, an electrical permit is required if electrical wiring is installed)
• Electrical equipment that operates at less than 50 volts (except for smoke/fire systems)
• Fences and privacy walls that are not part of a building, structure, or swimming pool barrier. Exempt walls must be under six feet in height.
• Replacement of existing above ground LP - Gas containers of the same capacity in the same location and associated regulators when installed by the servicing gas supplier.
• Retaining walls supporting less than three feet of unbalanced fill (soil)
• Swimming Pools that have a surface area less than 150 square feet, under 5,000 gallons and are less than 24 inches deep.
• Tents under 900 square feet with occupant loads under 50 people
• When ordinary repairs are made such as:
  • Installation or replacement of floor finishings, cabinetry, paint, or wall paper
  • Replacement of electrical switches, dimmers, 15 or 20 amp 125 volt receptacles, lighting outlets, and ceiling (paddle) fans in Single Family Dwellings
  • Replacement of mechanical appliances that are not fueled by gas or oil
  • Replacement of plumbing fixtures without alterations or relocation
  • Replacement of roof coverings or siding in Single Family Dwellings
  • Replacement of windows and doors (same size) in Single Family Dwellings

Contact

If you require clarification if concerning work requiring a building permit, please contact the Franklin County Building Inspections Department between 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday at 540-483-3047.

If it is determined that work requiring a permit is being made without valid permits, the permit fee will be doubled up to an amount of $2,500 per Section 5-27 (u) of the Franklin County Code. Additionally, engineering may be required to verify work made prior/without inspections complies with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VAUSBC).

The three main classifications of permits are Residential, Non- Residential, and Miscellaneous Permits. Permit applications are available for each of the listed categories. These applications have either a cover page or other comments on the application to assist the applicant with permit requirements.

Requirements for permits will vary based upon the intended scope of work (i.e. a Construction Permit from the Health Department is required when a dwelling is to be constructed or when bedrooms are added, but not required for additions such as a sunroom or alterations such as finishing a basement). View the following requirements:

• A completed Building permit application corresponding to the type of work will be required in addition to approvals/permits from other related departments (Health Department, Planning and Zoning Department, etc.)
• Proof of Land Ownership or a signed and dated letter from the land owner authorizing the permit is required for all permits
• Residential and Non Residential plans are required to be quarter inch/foot scaled plans, including a Foundation Plan, Wall Bracing Plan, Through Section (Footing to Roof) Plan, and Elevation Plans are required to accompany the permit application. A Braced Wall and Floor Plan are required for every level of the building. Foundation details are required to include:
  • Basement and crawlspace foundations may also require a rebar schedule (include dimensions and cut sections)
  • Footing dimensions
  • Foundation wall types
  • Heights
  • Thicknesses
• Where additions or new buildings are to be constructed, Zoning approvals must be received from the Franklin County Planning and Zoning Department, the Town of Rocky Mount, or the Town of Boones Mill. Note: The Franklin County Planning and Zoning Department requires a Land Use permit for new buildings, structures, or additions on parcels located in the County, but outside of Town limits.

Residential & Non-Residential

Residential & Non-Residential Building Permits require plans to be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the Building Department prior to the issuance of the permit. The Residential review typically requires 5 business days. The Non-Residential review process may require additional time up to four weeks. Some Non-Residential permits may require sealed plans by a Virginia licensed Registered Design Professional (Architect/Engineer).

According to the Codes which are adopted by the State of Virginia in the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), here are some of the requirements for Franklin County:

• Frost Line - The frost line for Franklin County is 18 inches deep
• Radon - Franklin County is located in the intermediate zone for radon. Radon mitigation methods are not required
• Seismic Zone - Franklin County is located in a seismic zone “B”
• Snow Load - The ground snow load for Franklin County is 25 pounds per square foot
• Soil Policy - Franklin County does not have extensive amounts of “shrink/swell” soil. However, if expansive/collapsing soils are encountered, then a soil evaluation is required
• Wind Load - Franklin County is located in a 90 miles per hour wind zone

Landowners, contractors, or agents may apply for the Building Permit. If someone other than the landowner applies for a “Demolitions or New Structure” permit (other than accessory/secondary buildings), a notarized affidavit (included with the permit applications) must be completed by the landowner(s) to authorize the work. The notary public is not required to be registered in Virginia for landowners who live out of the state.

The Building Inspections Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm excluding State Holidays and other times approved by the Board of Supervisors. Application submissions are received and permits are issued between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm.

Cash, Checks, Visa, Mastercard and Discover are acceptable means of payment. Checks should be made payable to “Franklin County Treasurer.”

Inspection requests received up until 3:30 pm (on the IVR system) are normally scheduled for the next working day if so requested. Requests made after 3:30 are scheduled for the next working day. Future enhancements within the software's inspection request system may require the cut-off time for inspections to be modified.

Inspections Completed Before Work Begins

Inspections may not completed on the day requested if the inspection volume is excessive. Rescheduled inspections are prioritized by inspectors on the following work day. In the event that the inspector does not complete an inspection on the requested day, that does not authorize the owner or contractor to proceed without receiving department approval. Individuals who violate this policy are subject to Notices of Violation, referral to the Virginia Board for Contractors, and other legal action as determined necessary by the Building Inspections Department. Also engineering may be required at the owner's/contractor's expense to certify that work not inspected by the Franklin County Building Inspection's Department is acceptable to the requirements of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC).

Inspection Times

Inspectors are unable to provide specific times for inspections due to variables such as:

• Distance between inspections
• Documentation (correction lists or notices)
• Limited Cellular Phone Service
• Number of inspections per location
• Types of inspections

Inspection Location Available

Please make inspection locations available throughout the day. If additional security is desired please provide key location information with the inspection request. Locked/inaccessible locations are subject to a $45 reinspection fee. This fee is to be paid before a reinspection or another type of inspection is scheduled. Please have unattended pets contained so that animals will not interfere with the inspection.

View the fee schedule and descriptions currently listed on the Building Inspections website page. Briefly, new construction and additions are based on a flat fee per square foot, while alterations are based on the estimated cost of the work.

Alterations Permits

For alterations permits only. When providing the estimated value/cost you may deduct the cost of the following items from the alterations total (Some residential buildings may be eligible for additional exclusions for roofing, siding, or device/equipment replacement. Inquiries are suggested):

• Application of paint or wallpaper
• Installation of repair cabinetry or trim
• Installation or replacement of Floor Finishes
• Replacement of many ceiling and wall finishes in non-fire rated locations
• Replacement of Plumbing Fixtures

No, the structure needs to be accessible for the inspection only. If there are minors present in the home (and the inspector is required to enter the home), an adult is required to be present for the inspector to complete the inspection. All incomplete inspections and following re-inspections are the responsibility of the contractor and/or the Landowner.

Inspector's office hours are in the afternoon between the hours of 3 pm until 4:30 pm. Before this time they are in the field and unable to take calls. Please leave a detailed message or call the following business day during the time specified above.

You will need the building permit number which is located on the placard or receipt provided at the time of permit issuance. For temporary or permanent electrical power inspections, the nine digit AEP work order number will be required in addition to the permit number before the inspection can be scheduled.

When the building permit is issued a list of common inspections associated with your permit type may be located on the customer copy of the building permit. As a rule of thumb, inspections must be made prior to the Placement of Concrete, Concealment, or Occupancy.

The Franklin County Library has the 2012 International Residential Code Book available in their reference section to provide code access to citizens. Our department does not have code books available for sale. Code books can be purchased from the International Code Council at 1-888-ICC-SAFE.

On September 4, 2018 Virginia adopted the following codes in addition to State amendments located in the 2015 edition of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code:

• 2014 National Electrical Code
• 2015 Fuel Gas Code
• 2015 International Building Code
• 2015 International Energy Conservation Code
• 2015 International Mechanical Code
• 2015 International Plumbing Code
• 2015 International Residential Code

Virginia Amendments

For the 2015 series, Virginia Amendments have been incorporated into International codes creating ICC publications tailored specifically to the State of Virginia (does not include the National Electric Code). These editions of the code are recommended over International versions because they include Virginia specific amendments. Examples are:

• 2015 Virginia Building Code  
• 2015 Virginia Fuel Gas Code
• 2015 Virginia Mechanical Code
• 2015 Virginia Plumbing Code
• 2015 Virginia Residential Code

Manufactured Homes are commonly referred to as mobile homes. They are often constructed as a single, double, or triple wide. Manufactured Homes are not constructed to the requirements of the Building Code, instead they are constructed in accordance with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations.

HUD Requirements

The HUD Code is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, using independent third party inspection agencies for enforcement. Every HUD Code manufactured home is built in the factory. It has a label affixed to the exterior of the home which indicated that the home has been designed, constructed, tested, and inspected to comply with federal standards.

Systems Included During Construction

These systems may require additional work during the set-up process, but systems included during the construction of the Manufactured Home include:

• Air Conditioning
• Electrical
• Framing
• Heating
• Plumbing
• Ventilation

Manufacturer's Installation

All work made on site not covered by the Manufacturer’s Installation Manual must comply with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. Manufactured Homes are designed to be set up as specified in the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Any deviations from the requirements established in the Installation Manual require accompanying engineering from a Virginia licensed Registered Design Professional (RDP). Foundations/supports for Manufactured Homes normally consist of interior piers that receive the weight of the home above via steel I-beams that run the length of the home. The presence of the metal frame does not always constitute a Manufactured Home; On-Frame Modulars (which are constructed to the requirements of the State’s Building Code) can also be designed to be supported on a metal chassis.

Additions

Any decks, additions, or other attachments to any home on a metal chassis must be self supporting.

The following steps are involved in obtaining a permit:

1. Approvals from the appropriate Planning and Zoning Departments must be received prior to the issuance of the Building Permit. This will be a Land Use Permit for parcels located in the County that are outside of the Towns of Rocky Mount or Boones Mill. For the Towns of Rocky Mount or Boones Mill, approvals from the respective Zoning Departments is required.
2. If the Manufactured Home is placed over a basement, signed and sealed plans from a Virginia licensed architect or engineer are required prior to the issuance of the permit.
3. Complete the applicable portions of a “Residential Permit Application”

The Franklin County Building Inspections Department recommends that:

1. All work should be made by contractors licensed in the State of Virginia. The specification on the license must match the work that is being contracted. (i.e. A Building Contractor, BLD is not licensed to do Electrical Contracting; An ELE specification would be required.)
2. The contractor’s license should be verified through DPOR’s contractor data base.
3. Job references should be required of contractors and inquiries to those references should be made, prior to hiring a contractor.
4. Plans should be provided, reviewed, and distributed among the owners, contractors, sub-contractors, and other workers so that the project is constructed as designed.
5. All change orders should be signed, dated, and documented in accordance with Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation requirements. Find the Board for Contractors Regulations that can be downloaded.