Contractor requirements

Necessary requirements for doing work in the City of Lynchburg:

1.  General Contractor:

  • City Business License
  • Registration with the State Board of Contractors (if the job exceeds $10,000)
  • A Virginia State Class A License for a single project over $120,000; Class B for a single project $10,000-120,000; Class C for a single project $1,000-10,000

2.  Electrical, Plumbing, Gas and Mechanical Contractors:

  • A Master Certification Card
  • A City Business License
  • Any job that exceeds $1,000 requires a Virginia Contractor's License

3.   A homeowner doing the work himself can be issued the permit.

4.   Any individual doing work on someone else's property is considered a contractor and is required to have the above items listed in 1 and 2.

CAUTION: If a contractor requests that you get the permit, PLEASE DON'T. If this happens, the contractor may not be bonded, licensed, or qualified and does not want to be responsible for his work. If you have any doubt as to a contractor's qualifications, please do not hesitate to call 434-455-3910.

Permits for construction of one and two family dwellings:

The contractor or property owner should bring one (1) set of drawings to the Inspections Division at 900 Church Street and fill out a permit application. Information needed for completing the application includes the cost, specific work being done, owner's name, address location, state license number, and current planning/zoning requirements.

Permits for construction of multi-family and commercial structures:

One (1) set of construction drawings, specifications and plot plan for the proposed structures(s) should be submitted to the Inspections Division. A digital copy of the plan is also required.  You may submit this by a CD or flash drive.  If the structure is intended as a place of assembly, institutional, educational or hazardous use, the drawing must be prepared by a state licensed architect/engineer and bear their seals and signatures. The plans should show pertinent architectural, structural, plumbing, mechanical, fire protection, elevator, and foundation details in accordance with the Ordinance adopted by the City and VA USBC.

The plans will be reviewed by staff on a "first come, first serve" basis.  Please allow fifteen (15) working days for commercial plan review and ten (10) working days for residential plan review. You will be notified by the Inspections Division when the plans are satisfactory or if they need to be corrected.

Building permits cannot be issued by the Inspections Division until all City requirements are met and signed off by the Technical Review Committee. The department must receive clearance from Engineering and Zoning before a permit is issued.

If your plans meet the Engineering Division, Current Planning/Zoning Ordinance, Business License and Building Codes, then you will be required to pay a permit fee based on the total cost of construction and materials. (MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO "CITY OF LYNCHBURG"). A Building Permit will then be issued.

City Building Inspectors will make both routine and check inspections during construction of the building. When the completed structure meets the required ordinances and codes, the structure will be accepted. Work must not proceed until the required inspections have been made and approved.