Norfolk building, trade and zoning permits are filed online in the city's E-Permit Portal. Fences and driveways need a free zoning certificate. 757-664-6565.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Norfolk Department of City Planning’s Permits and Inspections pages and the city’s zoning ordinance page, each linked below.
Norfolk issues building, trade and zoning permits through the Department of City Planning, and nearly everything is filed online in the city’s E-Permit Portal. For building permit questions, call 757-664-6565; for zoning, 757-664-6588.
Who to call
- Building permits and plan review: 757-664-6565, planreviewpermits@norfolk.gov
- Zoning certificates and reviews: 757-664-6588, zoningDSC@norfolk.gov
- Portal logins and general planning questions: 757-664-4752, planning@norfolk.gov
- Historic districts: Historic Preservation Officer, 757-803-5379
- Before you dig: call 811 to have underground lines marked for free
Watch for scams. The city warns that people have been posing as city departments and asking for extra application fees. Official planning emails come only from norfolk.gov addresses, and the city does not send invoices or ask for wire transfers. Report a suspicious message to 757-664-4752.
When you need a building permit
Norfolk requires a building permit for any repair, addition or new construction that adds framing or exposes existing framing, the permits page says. For homes that includes:
- Removing drywall, building or moving walls, or changing the roof pitch
- Decks, room additions, screened porches and covered porches
- Accessory buildings over 256 square feet and prebuilt carports
- Above-ground pools deeper than 2 feet, hot tubs and spas
- Masonry walls with a footing
When you do not
No building permit is needed on a one- or two-family home for:
- Re-roofing
- Replacement windows of the same size
- Vinyl or shake siding, cabinets and floor coverings
- Minor deck repairs, such as boards and treads
- Driveways (which need a zoning certificate instead)
- Retaining walls holding back less than 2 feet of fill
- Above-ground pools less than 2 feet deep
Commercial work has a longer list, including re-roofing, siding, tenant build-outs and fences over 6 feet.
Fences, driveways and sheds: the zoning certificate
When a project needs no building permit, it usually needs a zoning certificate, which is free, as is the first inspection, the city’s fence, driveway and accessory structure page says. Apply in the portal and attach a sketch on a survey or aerial photo with measurements in feet:
- Fences: height, distance to property lines, how see-through it is (chain link, pickets, solid) and any gates.
- Driveways: the size of existing and new paving, distance to property lines and the material. Gravel and loose rock are not allowed. A separate right-of-way apron permit may also be needed from Public Works.
Allow five to 10 business days for review. The final inspection must be done within six months or the certificate expires. Pool barrier fences need a building permit, and retaining walls start with the building permit team.
Applying and inspections
Building, fire, sign, elevator, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and zoning permits are all applied for and issued in the E-Permit Portal, which takes only Visa and Mastercard. Fees are in the city’s building permit fee schedule.
Inspections are booked online through the same account; request before midnight for the next day. The city does not inspect on its holidays, including Election Day, Nov. 3, Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Thanksgiving and the day after, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Hiring someone? Virginia contractors must print their license number on contracts, bids and ads. Check it with the state Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation or the State Board for Contractors at 804-367-8511.
Permits issued in the past year
The city publishes every permit in its open data permits dataset, with address, type, status and dates.
Zoning and historic districts
Norfolk’s zoning rules are in the official zoning ordinance (PDF), with an unofficial searchable version. Look up the zoning of any parcel on the Interactive Planning and Zoning Map or Norfolk AIR.
In a local historic district, exterior work also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Architectural Review Board, which the city’s Historic Preservation program runs. Call 757-803-5379 before you start. Rezonings and special uses go to the City Planning Commission and then City Council.
Building in a flood zone? Read the city’s substantial improvement brochure (PDF) first.
What this means for you
- If the work opens a wall, it almost certainly needs a permit.
- A fence or driveway needs a free zoning certificate; apply before the contractor starts.
- In a historic district, call the preservation office first.
Related: property taxes, hurricane prep and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Norfolk?
Yes. Norfolk requires a building permit for new decks, porches, screened or covered porches and room additions. Minor deck repairs, such as replacing boards or treads, do not need one.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Norfolk?
Most fences need a zoning certificate, which is free. Apply in the city’s E-Permit Portal with a sketch showing the fence height, distance to property lines and type. A pool barrier fence needs a building permit.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Norfolk?
Not for a one- or two-family home. Norfolk does not require a building permit for residential re-roofs, same-size replacement windows, siding, cabinets or floor coverings. Commercial re-roofs do need one.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Norfolk?
Schedule it online through the E-Permit Portal account the permit was applied under. Requests made before midnight can get next-day inspections. Call 757-664-6565 for help.
Where can I see Norfolk’s zoning map?
On the city’s Interactive Planning and Zoning Map or on Norfolk AIR, the city’s address information site. The official zoning ordinance is posted as a PDF on norfolk.gov.
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