Permitting Authorities / Goochland County - Department of Building Inspection
Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Goochland County, VA?
Adopted code
Goochland County - Department of Building Inspection
No, Goochland County, VA does not require a permit for like-for-like roof replacement (Goochland County - Department of Building Inspection). Goochland County's Department of Building Inspection lists "Roof coverings or siding (for most residential building types)" among the "Ordinary repairs" that "will not require a permit", and adds: "You do not need a permit, but you must still do the work just as the building code requires and the Building Department will pursue violations of the code even though a permit was not first obtained." Ordinary repairs, on the same page, do not include "The removal or cutting of any structural beam or load bearing support". The County offers a permit type only for "Commercial Roof Replacement" (more than 100 square feet). The statewide rule, Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2 item 14.5, exempts "Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in Group R-3, R-4 or R-5 provided the building or structure is not in an area where the nominal design wind speed is greater than 100 miles per hour (44.7 meters per second) and replacement of 100 square feet (9.29 m 2 ) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones." The County's list does not repeat that wind condition, and its published wind figures ("90 to 105 miles per hour - 3 second gusts" on the Design Criteria page; "115 mph - 3 second gusts" in its FAQ) do not say whether they are nominal speeds, so do not compare them directly with the 100 mph line. Item 14.6 exempts only "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m 2 ) or less of roof decking" in those groups. Two exceptions let the building official require a permit: "for the installation of replacement siding, roofing and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to Section 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia" and "for any items exempted in this section which are located in a special flood hazard area." An owner may always ask for one: "when an owner or an owner's agent requests that a permit be issued for any of the following, then a permit shall be issued and any related inspections shall be required." The County also says "A permit is required when removing or disturbing sections of asbestos." For anything outside the exemption the Department says "feel free to contact us directly at 804-556-5815." Permits are applied for through the County's EnerGov portal ("All permit applications must be applied for electronically through the permitting software."); staff check each contractor's County business licence and Virginia contractor licence before taking in a permit. Work done without a required permit costs "$100.00 or 25% of the applicable permit fee, if greater, but not more than $500.00 total" on top of the permit fee. Office: 1800 Sandy Hook Road, Goochland, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Roof code checklist: Goochland County, VA
Each row comes from the sourced record on this page; full wording is in the table below. "Not published" means no official source for that item was found when the record was last verified.
Jurisdiction
Goochland County, Virginia
Address
1800 Sandy Hook Road, Goochland, VA 23063
Contact
- url: https://www.goochlandva.us/168/Building-Inspection
- phone: 804-556-5815
Roofing permit required
Not required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
- state_level: Virginia licenses contractors through the Board for Contractors (DPOR). Code of Virginia Section 54.1-1100, as amended in 2025: "'Class C contractors' perform or manage construction, removal, repair, or improvements when (i) the total value referred to in a single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000, or (ii) the total value of all such construction, removal, repair, or improvements undertaken by such person within any 12-month period is less than $250,000." Larger jobs fall in the Class B and Class A tiers. Roofing work is licensed under the Board's classifications and specialties, including the "Roofing contracting" (ROC) specialty of 18VAC50-22-30. Section 54.1-1111 makes anyone applying for a building permit furnish "either (i) satisfactory proof to such official or authority that he is duly licensed or certified under the terms of this chapter to carry out or superintend the same, or (ii) file a written statement that he is not subject to licensure or certification as a contractor or subcontractor pursuant to this chapter." Section 54.1-1101 A says the chapter does not apply to "7. Any person who performs or supervises the construction, removal, repair, or improvement of no more than one primary residence owned by him and for his own use during any 24-month period". Some older pages give a $10,000 floor for Class C; that figure predates the 2025 amendment.
- county_level: Goochland County adds no contractor licence of its own. Its FAQ says: "Before a permit is taken in by staff the credentials of every contractor are checked to verify if they have a County of Goochland business license and are licensed by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) to perform the scope of work indicated on the permit application." The County's residential building permit application asks for the "Contractor License Number", "Type" and "Expiration", and carries an owner's statement listing "common exemptions from being a licensed contractor pursuant to Code of Virginia § 54.1-1101", including "owner performing work on not more than one primary residence for his or her own use during any 24- month period". A County business licence is a local tax registration, not a trade credential.
Permit process note
Goochland County's Department of Building Inspection lists "Roof coverings or siding (for most residential building types)" among the "Ordinary repairs" that "will not require a permit", and adds: "You do not need a permit, but you must still do the work just as the building code requires and the Building Department will pursue violations of the code even though a permit was not first obtained." Ordinary repairs, on the same page, do not include "The removal or cutting of any structural beam or load bearing support". The County offers a permit type only for "Commercial Roof Replacement" (more than 100 square feet). The statewide rule, Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2 item 14.5, exempts "Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in Group R-3, R-4 or R-5 provided the building or structure is not in an area where the nominal design wind speed is greater than 100 miles per hour (44.7 meters per second) and replacement of 100 square feet (9.29 m 2 ) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones." The County's list does not repeat that wind condition, and its published wind figures ("90 to 105 miles per hour - 3 second gusts" on the Design Criteria page; "115 mph - 3 second gusts" in its FAQ) do not say whether they are nominal speeds, so do not compare them directly with the 100 mph line. Item 14.6 exempts only "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m 2 ) or less of roof decking" in those groups. Two exceptions let the building official require a permit: "for the installation of replacement siding, roofing and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to Section 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia" and "for any items exempted in this section which are located in a special flood hazard area." An owner may always ask for one: "when an owner or an owner's agent requests that a permit be issued for any of the following, then a permit shall be issued and any related inspections shall be required." The County also says "A permit is required when removing or disturbing sections of asbestos." For anything outside the exemption the Department says "feel free to contact us directly at 804-556-5815." Permits are applied for through the County's EnerGov portal ("All permit applications must be applied for electronically through the permitting software."); staff check each contractor's County business licence and Virginia contractor licence before taking in a permit. Work done without a required permit costs "$100.00 or 25% of the applicable permit fee, if greater, but not more than $500.00 total" on top of the permit fee. Office: 1800 Sandy Hook Road, Goochland, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Adopted code
The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (13VAC5-63), effective January 18, 2024. For detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, Section 310.6.1 of the Virginia Construction Code applies "The provisions of the IRC for detached one-family and two-family dwellings and townhouses as amended by VCC Section 310.8, also referred to as the Virginia Residential Code (VRC)"; work on existing buildings falls under Part II, the Virginia Existing Building Code, whose reroofing section reads "602.3.2.1 Reroofing. Materials and methods of application used for recovering or replacing an existing roof covering shall comply with Chapter 15 of the VCC, except as modified by Section 302.1 and this section." The statewide code supersedes local building codes (Code of Virginia Section 36-98: "Such building code shall supersede the building codes and regulations of the counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions and state agencies."). The Goochland County Code adopts it: "Part I, the mandatory provisions of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), as amended, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein." (Sec. 12-1(a)). The County's FAQ, answering "What edition of the building code is the County of Goochland enforcing?", says "Effective January 18, 2024, the 2021 edition of the Uniform Statewide Building Code will go into effect. Any permit submitted after January 17, 2024, will be reviewed in accordance with the 2021 USBC." Article I of Chapter 12 of the County Code (Buildings and Structures, In General), read in full, adds no technical roofing provision of its own.
Ice & water shield
Required — Goochland County's Design Criteria page ("Goochland County maintains the following design criteria") lists "Ice barrier underlayment: Yes", and the County's Develop Property FAQ lists "Ice Barrier Underlayment: Yes" in its basic design criteria for the County.
About ice & water barrierImpact-resistant roofing
Not required — Virginia's statewide building code (13VAC5-63), which a county may not amend, carries no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement for roof coverings in its Virginia amendments to the International Residential Code (Virginia Construction Code Section 310.8). Goochland County's Chapter 12 (Structures and Addressing), its design criteria and its permit exemption and permit type lists add none; no UL 2218 or Class 4 impact requirement appears in the code the County enforces. Insurers may still offer discounts for impact-rated shingles; that is not a code requirement.
Repair permit threshold
Goochland County's Department of Building Inspection says on its Permit Exemptions page: "Ordinary repairs will not require a permit." Its list of what "'Ordinary repairs' include" names "Roof coverings or siding (for most residential building types)", and the same page says ordinary repairs do not include "The removal or cutting away of any wall or partition", "The removal or cutting of any structural beam or load bearing support" or "The removal or change of any required means-of-egress (exits), changing or adding any wiring or piping or duct work." It adds: "You do not need a permit, but you must still do the work just as the building code requires and the Building Department will pursue violations of the code even though a permit was not first obtained." The County's list of permit types carries "Commercial Roof Replacement" ("Use this permit for > 100 sq. ft. of commercial roof replacement.") and no residential roofing permit type. The statewide rule behind the County's list is Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2 (2021 edition): "application for a permit and any related inspections shall not be required for the following ... 14. Ordinary repairs that include the following: ... 14.5. Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in Group R-3, R-4 or R-5 provided the building or structure is not in an area where the nominal design wind speed is greater than 100 miles per hour (44.7 meters per second) and replacement of 100 square feet (9.29 m 2 ) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones. 14.6. Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m 2 ) or less of roof decking in Group R-3, R-4 or R-5 unless the decking to be replaced was required at the time or original construction to be fire-retardant-treated or protected in some other way to form a fire-rated wall termination." The same section's two Exceptions: "1. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for the installation of replacement siding, roofing and windows in buildings within a historic district designated by a locality pursuant to Section 15.2-2306 of the Code of Virginia." and "2. Application for a permit may be required by the building official for any items exempted in this section which are located in a special flood hazard area." The owner keeps the right to a permit: "when an owner or an owner's agent requests that a permit be issued for any of the following, then a permit shall be issued and any related inspections shall be required." The County's list does not repeat item 14.5's wind-speed condition. The County publishes its design wind speed as "90 to 105 miles per hour - 3 second gusts" on its Design Criteria page and as "115 mph - 3 second gusts" in its Develop Property FAQ, without saying whether either is the nominal figure item 14.5 uses. The no-permit line for residential roof coverings is the Department's stated practice; this record does not decide how the Department applies item 14.5's wind condition. Replacing more than 256 square feet of roof decking is outside item 14.6. The County's Permit Requirements page also says "A permit is required when removing or disturbing sections of asbestos." In the County's entrance corridor and village center overlay districts a zoning certificate of approval is required for exterior changes (the fee schedule lists "façade/roof changes"), but County Code Sec. 15-440 says "No certificate of approval is required for any of the following: (1) Single-family dwellings used exclusively for residential purposes". Where a building permit is issued, the residential fee is set by value of work ($30.00 up to $4,000, plus $4.50 per $1,000 or portion above that, plus the 2% state levy), and the Department's fee sheet charges "Working Without a Permit ... $100.00 or 25% of the applicable permit fee, if greater, but not more than $500.00 total". The County Code's own permit section (Sec. 12-3) and fee schedule have no roofing line.
Wind design criteria
Goochland County publishes two different design wind speeds, neither labelled as an ultimate or a nominal speed. Its Design Criteria page ("Goochland County maintains the following design criteria") gives "Wind Speed: 90 to 105 miles per hour - 3 second gusts", with "Seismic Category: B", "Weathering: Severe", "Frost depth: 18 inches", "Termite: Moderate to heavy", "Winter design temperature: 17 Degree Fahrenheit", "Ice barrier underlayment: Yes", "Air freezing index: 1500 or less" and ground snow load by the County's Snow Load Map. The County's Develop Property FAQ, answering "What is the basic design criteria for the County of Goochland?", gives "Wind Speed: 115 mph - 3 second gusts" with the same other entries. Neither statement says which figure applies where in the county; confirm the design wind speed with the Department of Building Inspection (804-556-5815) for the address.
Deck & sheathing requirements
No county-specific rule. Virginia's amendments to the International Residential Code (Virginia Construction Code Section 310.8, 13VAC5-63-210) do not amend the roof sheathing section (R803), and Article I of Goochland County's Chapter 12 (Buildings and Structures, In General), read in full, adds no sheathing or decking provision, so the base 2021 IRC roof-sheathing provisions apply unmodified to work under the Virginia Residential Code. For reroofing an existing house, the Virginia Existing Building Code sends materials and methods to Chapter 15 of the Virginia Construction Code (602.3.2.1) and adds "602.3.2.2 Structural and construction loads. Structural roof components shall be capable of supporting the roof covering system and the material and equipment loads that will be encountered during installation of the systems." Permit line: replacing more than 256 square feet of roof decking on a house is outside the statewide permit exemption (Virginia Construction Code 108.2 item 14.6).
Sales & use tax
6.0% general sales and use tax in Goochland County (Virginia Tax, "Sales Tax Rates by Locality" workbook, "Jan 2026 - Present" sheet, headed "January 1, 2026 - Present": Goochland, code 51075, General Sales 0.06). That is the 4.3% state tax (Code of Virginia Section 58.1-603), the 1% local option tax (Section 58.1-605) and the 0.70% regional tax of Section 58.1-603.1; Virginia Tax's rates page lists Goochland in the 6% Central Virginia group. Food and personal hygiene items are taxed at 1% statewide. Virginia treats the roofing contractor as the consumer of the materials: "Unless otherwise noted, the law treats every contractor as the user or consumer of all tangible personal property furnished to the contractor or by the contractor in connection with real property construction, reconstruction, installation, repair, and similar contracts" (23VAC10-210-410). So the roofer pays the tax on shingles and other materials when buying them and "does not pass the sales or use tax on to anyone else as a tax"; "If a supplier of a contractor doing work in Virginia does not collect the Virginia tax from the contractor, the contractor will be liable for the use tax on the contractor's purchases from the supplier." Repair and full replacement are treated alike. "Any change in the rate of any local sales and use tax shall only become effective on the first day of a calendar quarter" (Section 58.1-605).
More roof permit pages in Virginia
Related guides
The Department of Building Inspection of Goochland County, Virginia, part of the County's Community Development department, enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code in the county and issues residential and commercial building and trade permits and inspections through the County's EnerGov online permitting portal and its office at 1800 Sandy Hook Road, Goochland.
Hail reports near the center of Goochland County, VA
- Reports, last 24 months
- 1
- Largest, last 24 months
- 1.50 in Aug 14, 2026
- Most recent
- Aug 14, 2026 1.50 in
- Reports, last 5 years
- 1
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database and daily storm reports (reports since the start of the current year are preliminary), within 10 miles of the center of Goochland County, VA. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.
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