Bolthole Index county-legal census · checked 2026-10-10
122 of Virginia's 133 counties — 92% — let an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor. That is the 3rd-largest count of any state. The strongest of them on the Bolthole Index is Prince Edward County (83/100). Every entry below cites the county’s own official source.
Rules change, and cities inside these counties set their own — treat this as a verified starting point, not legal advice. All 2952 counties nationwide → Virginia: no zoning → Virginia: rv living → Virginia: tiny homes → Virginia: no minimum home size → Full Virginia profile →
122 of 133 Virginia counties · sorted by Index score
Statewide rule. Owner-builders performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement work in Prince Edward County under Virginia contractor-licensing law. The …
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Virginia allows an owner to build their own home without a general contractor license (owner-builder exemption) under Va. Code § 54.1-1111 and USBC Section 108.4, subject to fil…
Virginia USBC 13VAC5-63-80 (Section 108 Application for permit) ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of a primary residence in Cumberland County. The exemption applies to no more th…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101. Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Owner-builder applicants for a single-family dwelling permit. If the owner is the builder, the owner must sign an affidavit in the office. The page also separately requires cont…
Building Permit Process ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of a primary residence owned by that person for personal use. The exemption appl…
Virginia Code § 54.1-1101 ↗An owner acting as the contractor for construction in Wythe County. If the contractor is listed as self or owner, no license is required; the owner must ensure anyone hired for …
wytheco.org ↗Applicants for Amelia County building permits who are not required by law to be licensed as contractors. A written statement supported by an affidavit is required. The affidavit…
Permits And Forms ↗Property-owner-performed building work under Buchanan County Code §25-3. The ordinance states the contractor requirement applies to work not performed by the property owner; it …
Buchanan County Board of Supervisors Minutes, February 3, 2025 ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builders performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of a primary residence in Smyth County. The exemption applies to no more t…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101 ↗Code of Virginia 54.1-1101 exempts an owner from contractor licensing when building or improving one primary residence owned by and for their own use within a 24-month period.
Code of Virginia - 54.1-1101 Exemptions ↗An owner applying for a building permit without being a licensed contractor. The applicant must be the property owner, be familiar with Code of Virginia section 54.1-111, not be…
Building Permit Application Form ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗An owner applying for an Appomattox County construction permit and serving as the contractor for the project. The applicant must be the owner and be listed as a contractor. The …
Application for Construction Permit ↗A homeowner performing work described on a Tazewell County building permit. The homeowner must complete an affidavit and remain responsible for all work performed. The cited exe…
Building Inspections – Tazewell County, Virginia ↗Statewide rule. An owner-builder performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence that the owner owns and uses, incl…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Under Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101(A)(7) a person may construct/improve no more than one primary residence owned by and for their own use within a 24-month period without a cont…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101 - Exemptions ↗Owner permit applicants for manufactured homes The source is a manufactured-home permit application and does not establish a general owner-builder exemption for all construction…
Russell County Manufactured Home Permit Application ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builders and certain owner-performed residential work in Mecklenburg County under Virginia contractor-licensing law. The exemption covers no more than one …
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗An owner performing or supervising construction or renovation of the owner's own project in Grayson County. The owner may act as the project's own general contractor. The owner …
Grayson County Building Department — Building Permits Frequently Asked Questions ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗An owner applying for a Giles County building permit who is not subject to contractor or subcontractor licensure. The owner must affirm familiarity with Code of Virginia §54.1-1…
Owner Builder - AFFIDAVIT ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗An unlicensed person acting as their own contractor to obtain a building permit. The county provides an owner-builder affidavit route under Virginia Code § 54.1-1111. The county…
Building & Development - Washington County Virginia ↗Owner-builder or owner-contractor licensing exemptions used in Southampton County permit applications. Primary-residence work qualifies if the applicant has not owned more than …
Commercial Building Permit Application Package ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's…
Contractor Exemption Affidavit (If not a licensed contractor) ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's…
Code of Virginia Code - Article 1. Regulation of Contractors ↗Under Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101(A)(7) a person may construct/improve no more than one primary residence owned by and for their own use within a 24-month period without a cont…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101 - Exemptions ↗A property owner acting as self-contractor for a Franklin County building project. The applicant must complete the Development Services Self Affidavit. The applicant must be fam…
Development Services Application ↗Residential building permit applicants in Greene County. The owner may act as the own general contractor; other application requirements, permits, licenses, plans, and inspectio…
Single Family Application Check List ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builder work in Highland County that falls within Virginia's contractor-licensure exemptions. The exemption applies to contractor-licensure requirements un…
Virginia Code § 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Under Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101(A)(7) a person may construct/improve no more than one primary residence owned by and for their own use within a 24-month period without a cont…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101 - Exemptions ↗A property owner applying for a permit in the owner's own name and acting as the contractor. The homeowner must sign the county affidavit; must own the property; must be respons…
Building Permit Application Checklist ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Virginia law lets an owner act as their own contractor and obtain a permit to build/improve a single-family dwelling they own and occupy, exempting them from contractor licensing.
Code of Virginia - Owner exemption from contractor licensing ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Virginia permits a property owner to act as their own contractor (homeowner exemption) on their own residence; Bath County provides a residential building brochure and permit ap…
Bath County Residential Building Informational Brochure ↗Statewide rule. A person constructing, removing, repairing, or improving no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use during any 24-mont…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗The residential permit application allows the owner to do their own building/plumbing/electrical/mechanical work; only if the owner is not doing the work must a licensed contrac…
Augusta County Residential Building Permit Process ↗Code of Virginia 54.1-1101 exempts a property owner from general-contractor licensing to build their own primary residence (one per 24-month period, for own use), though a build…
Code of Virginia 54.1-1101 (Exemptions) ↗Homeowners acting as their own contractors on King William County building projects. The homeowner affidavit is required for all building projects. The homeowner must affirm own…
Residential Building Application ↗Statewide rule. An owner-builder performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence that the owner owns and uses, incl…
Virginia Code § 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties. ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. Contractor-licensure exemptions and owner-builder work associated with building permits in Sussex County under Virginia law. The exemption includes a person perf…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builders and other persons performing or supervising covered construction, removal, repair, or improvement work in Essex County, under Virginia contractor-…
Code of Virginia, Article 1. Regulation of Contractors ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Owner serving as general, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing contractor for a primary residence. The property must be the applicant's primary residence. The applicant must not …
rockinghamcountyva.gov ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builders performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement work in Spotsylvania County under Virginia contractor-licensure law. The e…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person constructing, removing, repairing, or improving no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use during any 24-mont…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101, Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗An owner applying for a residential building permit in Powhatan County. The residential permit page requires a Statement of Exemption from Contractor Licensing when applying as …
Residential Structure Permits ↗An owner applying for a Westmoreland County building permit who is not subject to contractor or subcontractor licensure. The applicant must furnish the required license, certifi…
Owner Affidavit ↗Statewide rule. A Warren County owner who performs or supervises construction of no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use during any…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101 — Exemptions ↗Owner-builders performing or supervising qualifying construction in King George County. An Owner Builder Affidavit must be signed and notarized if applicable. The Virginia exemp…
Permit Amendment Application ↗Statewide rule. An individual who performs or supervises construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by that individual and used by…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101. Exemptions ↗Homeowners and direct family members performing their own work in Craig County. The county FAQ states that contractors need a state DPOR license, but homeowners and direct famil…
Building and Zoning FAQs ↗Statewide rule. A person constructing, removing, repairing, or improving a qualifying residence in Culpeper County without being subject to Virginia contractor-licensing provisi…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. Owner construction or supervision of a primary residence in Virginia, including Frederick County The exemption applies to no more than one primary residence owne…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Virginia permits an owner to act as their own contractor for their residence via a contractor exemption affidavit in the permit process.
City of Virginia Beach Building Permits ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of a primary residence owned by that person for that person's own use, including…
Virginia Board for Contractors Regulations and Statutory Provisions ↗Permit applicants who are owners, lessees, or their agents and claim a contractor-licensure exemption. Before permit issuance, the applicant must be licensed/certified or file a…
Owner Exemption Worksheet ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide Virginia Code 54.1-1101 exempts a person constructing no more than one primary residence owned by and for his own use in any 24-month period from contractor licensing …
Code of Virginia 54.1-1101 Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing or supervising construction of one primary residence in Goochland County for the owner's own use, and certain family-gift construction The ex…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of a primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, inclu…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101 — Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Applicants not required by law to be licensed as contractors A written statement supported by an affidavit must establish that the applicant is not subject to contractor, subcon…
Residential Application Requirements ↗Statewide rule. Virginia contractor-licensing requirements affecting owner-builders, including Clarke County. The exemption covers a person performing or supervising constructio…
Code of Virginia, § 54.1-1101 ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builders performing or supervising residential construction in York County, Virginia, under Virginia contractor-licensing law. The exemption applies to con…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties. ↗Statewide Virginia Code 54.1-1101 exempts a person constructing no more than one primary residence owned by and for his own use in any 24-month period from contractor licensing …
Code of Virginia 54.1-1101 Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. Contractor-licensing exemptions for owner-builders and related exempt persons performing construction, removal, repair, or improvement work in Norton city. The e…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Under the Virginia USBC a homeowner may obtain a permit and perform construction work on their own dwelling.
Virginia DHCD — Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. Virginia contractor-licensing exemptions relevant to owner-builders in Buena Vista city. The exemption covers no more than one primary residence owned by the per…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person constructing, removing, repairing, or improving no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use in Radford city, V…
Virginia Code § 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of a primary residence in Bristol city may be exempt from Virginia contractor-li…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties. ↗Statewide rule. An owner performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of a primary residence in Franklin city, Virginia, or constructing a house on th…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101 — Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. Virginia contractor-licensing exemption for a person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of a primary residence, including wo…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101 — Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Owner or other qualifying person performing or supervising construction or improvement without a licensed contractor. The primary-residence exemption is limited to no more than …
License Exemption Affidavit and Info Sheet ↗Owners performing work under a proper permit in Harrisonburg city. The owner must obtain the proper permit. All required inspections must be requested and performed.
Building Inspections | City of Harrisonburg, VA ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement work in Virginia, including Danville city, under the contractor-licensing exempt…
Code of Virginia, § 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Code of Virginia 54.1-1101(A)(7) exempts a person who builds or improves no more than one primary residence owned by them for their own use during any 24-month period from contr…
Code of Virginia 54.1-1101 (Contractor licensing exemptions) ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builders and persons supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of residential property in Petersburg city, under Virginia contractor-licens…
Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties. ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. Virginia contractor-license exemptions relevant to an owner-builder performing or supervising construction in Portsmouth city. The exemption applies to no more t…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Virginia allows an owner acting as their own contractor via a contractor exemption affidavit accepted in the city's residential permit process.
City of Newport News Permit Applications ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builders performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement work on a primary residence in Richmond city, under Virginia contractor-li…
Virginia Code § 54.1-1101, Exemptions ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of a primary residence in Poquoson city, Virginia, where the person owns the res…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. Owner-builder contractor-licensure exemption used for City of Fairfax building or trade permits. The owner must own and occupy the single-family dwelling as a pr…
Owner Exemption Statement ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Statewide rule. A person performing or supervising construction, removal, repair, or improvement of one primary residence owned by that person and for that person's own use, for…
§ 54.1-1101. Exemptions; failure to obtain certificate of occupancy; penalties ↗Every county here has a full profile — water, land prices, hazard safety, seclusion, and the rest of its building rules. See the Virginia state page for all 133 counties ranked, or go back to the national list.
Off-grid gear
Building on land in one of these Virginia counties? The kit we'd start with:
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General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.
