County Permits

First I want to commend the HOA on their promptness in responding to our application to build a deck.

However for anyone else considering any home improvement items requiring a county permit, be prepared to pay the price of living in the fastest growing county in the Nation. While we have the HOA approval in hand, there is currently a backlog of 6-8 weeks in processing permits at the County!

 

Which is why we recommend getting your approval way before getting your permits, as the Modifications Subcommitee may require some changes, which may also require permit changes.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Do I need HOA and County permits to finish my basement ??

 

Only county permits, so they can raise your property taxes appropriately. [xx(]

M.

 

You would need an HOA review if what you are going to do changes the exterior of the house.

You'll need county permitting for sure .. and not so they have info to raise your taxes. Depending on what you are going to do, you may need to have structural, electrical and plumbing inspections. Also note, that there is a new Virginia rule in effect October 1st, that requires an emergency exit from any finished basement. So, if you don't have a walkout or exterior basement stair, you will have to put one in.

This is why you need to get the county permits, otherwise when you go to sell your home, if the prospective buyer has a house inspector, and he finds something that violates the building code, it will cost you more to have it fixed then, then to have it done right and inspected now.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

You don't necessarily need a door with a stair. You basically need to provide a means of egress, like you currently are required to in all bedrooms. (Per code, in bedrooms, at least one window must have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet). So basically a window that meets the code requirement for egress would suffice in the basement, although, depending on grade, you may also need an areawell with a ladder.