The Roofing Book

Permitting Authorities / Henrico County - Department of Building Construction and Inspections

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Henrico County, VA?

Adopted code

Henrico County - Department of Building Construction and Inspections

No, Henrico County, VA does not require a permit for like-for-like roof replacement (Henrico County - Department of Building Construction and Inspections). Henrico County's Permit Center page "When a Building Permit is Not Required" lists, under "Ordinary repairs that include the following:", "Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in townhouses and detached single family dwellings and condominiums." and "Replacement of 256 square feet (8 sheets of sheathing) or less of roof decking in townhouses and detached single family dwellings unless the decking to be replaced was required at the time of original construction to be fire-retardant-treated or protected in some other way to form a fire-rated wall termination." It also lists "Roof repairs." among "typical home improvement projects" that "do not require a permit", and adds "Note: Items listed above, although exempt from requiring permits, may not be exempt from requirements of the USBC (Uniform Statewide Building Code) for Health, Safety, Accessibility, Energy, and Water Conservation." The County's "When a Building Permit is Required" page lists "Roof sheathing – repairing or replacing more than 256 square feet" and says "This list is not comprehensive. Please call the Department of Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 or the Permit Center at (804) 501-7280 with any questions." The state rule the County is applying is Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2 (2021 USBC), item 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 m2) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones." and item 14.6: "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) 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." Section 108.2 carries 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 County states that "Henrico County has both FEMA and Community Special Flood Hazard Areas", so a house in one of them, or in a locally designated historic district, may be asked for a permit. Section 108.2 also provides that "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 nominal wind speed condition, and the County's design criteria page states only an "Ultimate Wind Design Speed: 115 mph"; this record does not convert that figure. The County's permit fee ordinance (County Code Sec. 6-3) has no roofing fee line, and Sec. 6-3(e) adds "a fee of ten percent of the permit fee, or $20.00, whichever is greater" to the permit fee where work that needed a permit started before approval. Where a permit is needed, apply through the Build Henrico portal.

Roof code checklist: Henrico County, VA

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofNohenrico.gov2026-09-26
Repair permit thresholdPublishedhenrico.gov2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overNot published
Deck & sheathingPublishedR803law.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldYesR905.1.2henrico.gov2026-09-26
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNolaw.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedhenrico.gov2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 310.6.1law.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Contractor license / registrationYeslaw.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Sales & use taxPublishedtax.virginia.gov2026-09-26

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
Henrico County, Virginia
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
4301 East Parham Road, Henrico, VA 23228
Contact
  • url: https://henrico.gov/bldg/
  • phone: 804-501-4360
Permit portal
Permit portal
Roofing permit required
Not required
Contractor registration required
Required
Registration details
  • state_level: Virginia licenses contractors through the Board for Contractors. Va. Code 54.1-1100, as amended by 2025 Acts ch. 127: "'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." Classes A and B cover larger contracts. Roofing is licensed under the Roofing Contracting (ROC) specialty, defined in 18VAC50-22-30 as "the service that provides for the installation, repair, removal, or improvement of materials common to the industry that form a watertight, weather resistant surface for roofs and decks", which also says "The CBC and RBC classifications and the HIC and CIC specialties also provide for this function." Older pages giving a $10,000 Class C floor predate the 2025 amendment. Va. Code 54.1-1101 A lists who the chapter does not apply to, including "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"; this record does not decide whether any reader falls within an exemption. Va. Code 54.1-1111 A requires a permit applicant to furnish "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."
  • county_level: Henrico County's Permit Center page "Who, What, When & Where" lists who can apply for a permit: "Homeowner (with Owner’s Statement of Responsibility )", "Authorized Agent for the Homeowner (with Owner’s Statement of Responsibility)" and "Licensed Contractor (must have a valid VA Contractor’s #)". Contractors register their state licence number to a contractor account in the Build Henrico portal. The County sets no roofing licence, bond or registration of its own in Chapter 6 of the County Code (Buildings, Special Zones and Programs). A County business license is a separate matter and is not a trade credential.
Permit process note
Henrico County's Permit Center page "When a Building Permit is Not Required" lists, under "Ordinary repairs that include the following:", "Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in townhouses and detached single family dwellings and condominiums." and "Replacement of 256 square feet (8 sheets of sheathing) or less of roof decking in townhouses and detached single family dwellings unless the decking to be replaced was required at the time of original construction to be fire-retardant-treated or protected in some other way to form a fire-rated wall termination." It also lists "Roof repairs." among "typical home improvement projects" that "do not require a permit", and adds "Note: Items listed above, although exempt from requiring permits, may not be exempt from requirements of the USBC (Uniform Statewide Building Code) for Health, Safety, Accessibility, Energy, and Water Conservation." The County's "When a Building Permit is Required" page lists "Roof sheathing – repairing or replacing more than 256 square feet" and says "This list is not comprehensive. Please call the Department of Building Construction and Inspections at (804) 501-4360 or the Permit Center at (804) 501-7280 with any questions." The state rule the County is applying is Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2 (2021 USBC), item 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 m2) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones." and item 14.6: "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) 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." Section 108.2 carries 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 County states that "Henrico County has both FEMA and Community Special Flood Hazard Areas", so a house in one of them, or in a locally designated historic district, may be asked for a permit. Section 108.2 also provides that "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 nominal wind speed condition, and the County's design criteria page states only an "Ultimate Wind Design Speed: 115 mph"; this record does not convert that figure. The County's permit fee ordinance (County Code Sec. 6-3) has no roofing fee line, and Sec. 6-3(e) adds "a fee of ten percent of the permit fee, or $20.00, whichever is greater" to the permit fee where work that needed a permit started before approval. Where a permit is needed, apply through the Build Henrico portal.
Adopted code
The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC, 13VAC5-63), effective January 18, 2024, applies in Henrico County. For detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, Virginia Construction Code Section 310.6.1 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 the Virginia Existing Building Code (USBC Part II). Va. Code 36-98 provides that the USBC "shall supersede the building codes and regulations of the counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions and state agencies". Henrico County Code Chapter 6 adopts no technical building code of its own; Sec. 6-1(a) states "The building official administers and interprets the uniform statewide building code, which regulates the construction and maintenance of buildings and structures and provides procedures for its administration and enforcement." The Department's Building Code Information page states "The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) is a state regulation promulgated by the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development to establish minimum regulations to govern the construction and maintenance of buildings and structures." The County's Residential Building Inspection Matrix states "Complies to 2021 VRC". As read on September 26, 2026, a 2024 edition of the USBC is in rulemaking and has not been adopted.
Ice & water shield
Required — Henrico County's Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria page lists "Ice Barrier required: Yes" for the County. That is the County's entry for the ice barrier line of the Virginia Residential Code's climatic design criteria table, which Virginia leaves to each locality to complete, so an ice barrier is required where the code's shingle underlayment provisions apply (IRC Section R905.1.2). About ice & water barrier
Impact-resistant roofing
Not required — Neither the 2021 Virginia Residential Code amendments (Virginia Construction Code Section 310.8, 13VAC5-63) nor Henrico County's own building provisions (County Code Chapter 6, Buildings, Special Zones and Programs, and the Department's published design criteria and permit pages) contain a UL 2218 or Class 4 impact rating requirement for roof coverings; no such requirement appears in the state code or in the County's code.
Repair permit threshold
Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2 (2021 USBC), item 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 m2) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones." Item 14.6: "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) 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." 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." "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." An owner may still ask for 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." Henrico County's own Permit Center pages state the same lines for houses: no permit for "Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in townhouses and detached single family dwellings and condominiums." or for "Replacement of 256 square feet (8 sheets of sheathing) or less of roof decking", and a permit for "Roof sheathing – repairing or replacing more than 256 square feet". The County's list omits item 14.5's nominal wind speed condition; its design criteria page gives only an ultimate wind design speed of 115 mph. Replacing more than 256 square feet of decking, or any work that alters a structural component, needs a permit; the fee for work on an existing one- or two-family dwelling is "$100.00, plus $6.00 per $1,000.00 or fraction thereof of value over $5,000.00" (County Code Sec. 6-3(g)(2)) plus the 2% state levy.
Wind design criteria
Henrico County's Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria page lists: Ground Snow Load (Residential) 20 psf; "Ultimate Wind Design Speed: 115 mph"; Seismic Design Category B; Weathering Severe; Frost Line Depth 18 inches; Termite Damage Moderate to Heavy; Winter Design Temperature 17 degrees F; Ice Barrier required Yes; Air Freezing Index 1500; Mean Annual Temperature 57.7 degrees F; Shrink-Swell Soils per local GIS mapping. The page states the wind speed as an ultimate design speed and gives no nominal (allowable stress) figure. It also states "Henrico County has both FEMA and Community Special Flood Hazard Areas." For commercial snow loads the County publishes a Ground Snow Load Policy for the 2021 Virginia Construction Code dated January 18, 2025.
Deck & sheathing requirements
Henrico County enforces the 2021 Virginia Residential Code and has no building code of its own. Virginia's residential amendments (Virginia Construction Code Section 310.8) make no change to the roof sheathing provisions of the IRC (Section R803), so those provisions apply as the model code states them; Henrico County Code Chapter 6 adds nothing on roof decking. For permits, the County lists "Roof sheathing – repairing or replacing more than 256 square feet" as work that needs one.
Sales & use tax
6.0% general sales and use tax in Henrico County, per Virginia Tax's "Sales and Use Tax Rates by Locality" workbook, "January 1, 2026 - Present" block (Henrico, code 51087, General Sales 0.06). The workbook gives the combined rate only; it is made up of the 4.3% state rate (Va. Code 58.1-603), the 1% local option rate (Va. Code 58.1-605) and the 0.70% additional regional state rate (Va. Code 58.1-603.1). Under 23VAC10-210-410, "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" and says a contractor "does not pass the sales or use tax on to anyone else as a tax". A roofer pays the tax on materials when buying them, whether the job is a repair or a replacement; the rate above is the roofer's cost basis on materials, not a tax charged to the homeowner.

More roof permit pages in Virginia

Henry County, VARoof permit Hopewell, VARoof permit Isle of Wight County, VARoof permit James City County, VARoof permit King George County, VARoof permit Roofing in VirginiaState hub

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The building department of Henrico County, Virginia. The Department of Building Construction and Inspections and its Permit Center issue residential and commercial building and trade permits through the Build Henrico portal and enforce the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code countywide. Henrico has no incorporated towns; the independent City of Richmond is a separate jurisdiction with its own building department.

Hail reports near the center of Henrico County, VA

Reports, last 24 months
0
Largest, last 24 months
None
Most recent
None in 24 months
Reports, last 5 years
6
5 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
May 26, 20242.40 in6 mi N
Apr 15, 20241.00 in9 mi ENE
Jun 26, 20231.00 in8 mi N
Apr 1, 20231.00 in8 mi WNW
Apr 1, 20231.00 in2 mi WSW

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 Henrico County, VA. Data through Sep 30, 2026. A report is an observation, not a damage record.

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Sources

Roofing questions: Henrico County, VA

Do you need a permit to replace a roof in Henrico County, VA?

No, Henrico County, VA does not require a permit to replace a roof. Virginia Construction Code Section 108.2 (2021 USBC), item 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 m2) or less of roof covering in all groups and all wind zones." Item 14.6: "Replacement of 256 square feet (23.78 m2) 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." 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." "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." An owner may still ask for 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." Henrico County's own Permit Center pages state the same lines for houses: no permit for "Replacement of an unlimited amount of roof covering or siding in townhouses and detached single family dwellings and condominiums." or for "Replacement of 256 square feet (8 sheets of sheathing) or less of roof decking", and a permit for "Roof sheathing – repairing or replacing more than 256 square feet". The County's list omits item 14.5's nominal wind speed condition; its design criteria page gives only an ultimate wind design speed of 115 mph. Replacing more than 256 square feet of decking, or any work that alters a structural component, needs a permit; the fee for work on an existing one- or two-family dwelling is "$100.00, plus $6.00 per $1,000.00 or fraction thereof of value over $5,000.00" (County Code Sec. 6-3(g)(2)) plus the 2% state levy.

Is ice & water shield required in Henrico County, VA?

Yes. Henrico County's Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria page lists "Ice Barrier required: Yes" for the County. That is the County's entry for the ice barrier line of the Virginia Residential Code's climatic design criteria table, which Virginia leaves to each locality to complete, so an ice barrier is required where the code's shingle underlayment provisions apply (IRC Section R905.1.2).

Do roofing contractors need a license or registration in Henrico County, VA?

Yes.

What building code does Henrico County, VA use?

The 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC, 13VAC5-63), effective January 18, 2024, applies in Henrico County. For detached one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses, Virginia Construction Code Section 310.6.1 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 the Virginia Existing Building Code (USBC Part II). Va. Code 36-98 provides that the USBC "shall supersede the building codes and regulations of the counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions and state agencies". Henrico County Code Chapter 6 adopts no technical building code of its own; Sec. 6-1(a) states "The building official administers and interprets the uniform statewide building code, which regulates the construction and maintenance of buildings and structures and provides procedures for its administration and enforcement." The Department's Building Code Information page states "The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) is a state regulation promulgated by the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development to establish minimum regulations to govern the construction and maintenance of buildings and structures." The County's Residential Building Inspection Matrix states "Complies to 2021 VRC". As read on September 26, 2026, a 2024 edition of the USBC is in rulemaking and has not been adopted.