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Permitting Authorities / Shenandoah County - Building Inspection

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

Adopted code

Shenandoah County - Building Inspection

Building Inspection, part of Shenandoah County's Office of Community Development, enforces the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code in Shenandoah County, Virginia, taking building permit applications, reviewing plans and making inspections from the County Government Center at 600 North Main Street in Woodstock. The County's permit packets ask for zoning approval from the town where a property lies within town limits, and its permit application asks whether the job is located in a town or the county.

Roof code checklist: Shenandoah County, VA

ItemAnswerCode citeSourceVerified
Permit to replace a roofNot published
Repair permit thresholdPublished2021-virginia-construction-code.pdf2026-09-26
Layer limit / roof-overNot published
Deck & sheathingPublishedR803law.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Drip edgeNot published
Ice & water shieldYesshenandoahcountyva.gov2026-09-26
Mid-roof inspectionNot published
Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofingNolaw.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Wind design criteriaPublishedshenandoahcountyva.gov2026-09-26
Adopted codePublishedSec. 310.6.1shenandoahcountyva.gov2026-09-26
Contractor license / registrationYeslaw.lis.virginia.gov2026-09-26
Sales & use taxPublishedSec. 58.1-603tax.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
Shenandoah County, Virginia
Jurisdiction type
county
Address
600 North Main Street, Suite 107, Woodstock, VA 22664
Contact
  • url: https://www.shenandoahcountyva.gov/172/Building-Inspection
  • phone: 540-459-6185
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: Shenandoah County issues its own contractor's license. Its Contractor License page says "All contractors performing or manage construction, removal, repair, or improvements in Shenandoah County (except VA Class A) require a Shenandoah County Contractor's License. Any Contractor who performs or manages construction, removal, repair, or improvements and does not obtain a State Class License, the total value referred to in a single contract or project cannot exceed $1,000." The license "expires on December 31 of year issued and must be renewed." The County's application form asks whether the applicant holds a Virginia Class A, B or C license, lists trade codes including ROC, and says "The fee for the Shenandoah County License is $35. Class A Contractors are exempt from this fee."; an applicant without a state license signs an affidavit "verifying that no work is to be done over $1000.00 per job." The County's fee schedule lists "SHENANDOAH COUNTY CONTRACTOR'S LICENSES ... $35.00" and waives the fee for applicants 65 or older without a state license on projects valued at $1,000 or less. The County's contractor listing form cites "§81-1 License Required of the Code of Shenandoah County". The County's permit page says "all permits must now be obtained by the license holder or a permit authorization Affidavit must be submitted by the license holder", and its permit application asks for the "VA Contractor License #", the VA class and "County License". An owner acting as his own contractor signs an Owners Affidavit stating that anyone hired "must be licensed with Shenandoah County and the Commonwealth of Virginia." The County's Contractor License page quotes Class A, B and C dollar limits that differ from the current state statute quoted above; the statute's figures apply.
Permit process note
Whether an ordinary shingle reroof of a Shenandoah County house needs a building permit turns on the statewide exemption's wind test, which the County's published pages do not settle. 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." 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 republishes that list and says "It is always best to contact the Building Inspections Department to verify if your project meets any of these exemptions prior to any work being performed."; its design information lists an ultimate ("VULT") wind speed of 115 mph, not a nominal one, so call Building Inspection (540-459-6185) before relying on the exemption. The County also says "A zoning permit is required for any improvement made to your property even if you are exempt from obtaining a building permit." Where a building permit is needed, apply at the Office of Community Development, 600 North Main Street, Suite 107, Woodstock, on the County's Application for Building Permit; "all permits must now be obtained by the license holder or a permit authorization Affidavit must be submitted by the license holder", and an owner acting as his own contractor signs the County's Owners Affidavit. Fees are paid at application.
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 ... 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."). Shenandoah County's Design Information page states "As of February 17, 2024, Shenandoah County is enforcing the 2021 edition of the International Codes with the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code amendments.", and its Building Inspection page says the new code "became effective on February 17, 2024" and that the USBC "is the building code used throughout Virginia and supersedes all local building codes." (the County's own date; the state regulation's effective date is January 18, 2024). The County's 2021 code-change training presentation gives the state date: "The following codes have been adopted by the state of Virginia with an effective date of January 18th 2024."
Ice & water shield
Required — Shenandoah County's Design Information page, which lists the County's climatic design values under the 2021 code, answers "Ice barrier underlayment requirement, Yes". Ask Building Inspection (540-459-6185) how it applies the entry to a reroof; a shingle manufacturer's installation instructions also apply to the job. About ice & water barrier
Impact-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) or its existing-building reroofing rules. Shenandoah County's Design Information page, its building permit pages and its residential permit packets 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
Statewide permit exemption, 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 exemption does not relax the code itself ("this section shall not be construed to exempt such activities from other applicable requirements of this code"). Shenandoah County's Building Department publishes the same list as its "Permit Exemptions" sheet (dated July 23, 2019, before the 2021 code took effect), and its permit page adds "It is always best to contact the Building Inspections Department to verify if your project meets any of these exemptions prior to any work being performed." Neither says whether a Shenandoah County house is inside or outside the 100 mph nominal wind line. The County's Design Information page gives "VULT Wind speed is 115 MPH, 3-second gust", an ultimate design wind speed, which is a different basis from the nominal speed in item 14.5, so this record does not decide whether item 14.5 exempts an ordinary reroof in the County; ask Building Inspection before starting. Item 14.6 exempts no more than 256 square feet of roof decking. Separately, the County's permit page says "A zoning permit is required for any improvement made to your property even if you are exempt from obtaining a building permit. Contact the Zoning Administrator for further information." The County's fee schedule (updated July 1, 2023) has no roofing line; residential "ADDITIONS, REMODELING" work is charged at the "ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST ... MULTIPLIED BY .00155 ($100 MINIMUM FEE)", with "2% TO ALL FEES FOR STATE LEVY" added.
Wind design criteria
Shenandoah County's Design Information page (the County's climatic design values, posted with its statement that it enforces the 2021 code from February 17, 2024) gives: frost depth 24 inches; ground snow load 40 PSF; "VULT Wind speed is 115 MPH, 3-second gust"; seismic design category B; severe weathering; moderate to heavy termite damage; winter design temperature 16 degrees; mean annual temperature 50 degrees; air freezing index 0-1000; ice barrier underlayment required, Yes; Climate Zone 4A. The County's older new-home permit packet prints "DESIGN CRITEREA for SHENANDOAH COUNTY, VA.- WIND SPEED DESIGN 115 mph and GROUND SNOW LOAD (Pg) 37 psf. Risk Category 2", a different snow load from the Design Information page; confirm the snow load with the Plans Examiner (540-459-6185) for any structural work. VULT is an ultimate design wind speed; do not compare 115 mph directly with the 100 mph nominal-speed line in the statewide reroof permit exemption, which is a different basis.
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 the statewide code supersedes local building codes, so the base 2021 IRC roof-sheathing provisions apply unmodified to work under the Virginia Residential Code; Shenandoah County's building pages and residential permit packets add no sheathing or decking provision. 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: the statewide exemption covers replacing no more than 256 square feet of roof decking on a house (Virginia Construction Code 108.2 item 14.6).
Sales & use tax
5.3% general sales and use tax in Shenandoah County (Virginia Tax, "Sales Tax Rates by Locality" workbook, "Jan 2026 - Present" sheet, "January 1, 2026 - Present": Shenandoah, code 51171, General Sales 0.053). That is the 4.3% state tax (Code of Virginia Section 58.1-603) and the 1% local option tax (Section 58.1-605); Shenandoah County is in none of the regional or local add-on groups. The same row taxes food and personal hygiene items at 1%. 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.

More roof permit pages in Virginia

Smyth County, VARoof permit Spotsylvania County, VARoof permit Stafford County, VARoof permit Suffolk, VARoof permit Tazewell County, VARoof permit Roofing in VirginiaState hub

Related guides

Denver-Metro Roofing Permits Filing a Hail Insurance Claim Colorado Hail Season Prep Hiring a Contractor

Hail reports near the center of Shenandoah County, VA

Reports, last 24 months
0
Largest, last 24 months
None
Most recent
None in 24 months
Reports, last 5 years
2
2 most recent reports, last 5 years
DateHail sizeDistance
Sep 8, 20231.00 in4 mi NNE
Jul 12, 20221.00 in4 mi WNW

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

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Sources

Roofing questions: Shenandoah County, VA

When does a roof repair need a permit in Shenandoah County, VA?

Statewide permit exemption, 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 exemption does not relax the code itself ("this section shall not be construed to exempt such activities from other applicable requirements of this code"). Shenandoah County's Building Department publishes the same list as its "Permit Exemptions" sheet (dated July 23, 2019, before the 2021 code took effect), and its permit page adds "It is always best to contact the Building Inspections Department to verify if your project meets any of these exemptions prior to any work being performed." Neither says whether a Shenandoah County house is inside or outside the 100 mph nominal wind line. The County's Design Information page gives "VULT Wind speed is 115 MPH, 3-second gust", an ultimate design wind speed, which is a different basis from the nominal speed in item 14.5, so this record does not decide whether item 14.5 exempts an ordinary reroof in the County; ask Building Inspection before starting. Item 14.6 exempts no more than 256 square feet of roof decking. Separately, the County's permit page says "A zoning permit is required for any improvement made to your property even if you are exempt from obtaining a building permit. Contact the Zoning Administrator for further information." The County's fee schedule (updated July 1, 2023) has no roofing line; residential "ADDITIONS, REMODELING" work is charged at the "ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST ... MULTIPLIED BY .00155 ($100 MINIMUM FEE)", with "2% TO ALL FEES FOR STATE LEVY" added.

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

Yes. Shenandoah County's Design Information page, which lists the County's climatic design values under the 2021 code, answers "Ice barrier underlayment requirement, Yes". Ask Building Inspection (540-459-6185) how it applies the entry to a reroof; a shingle manufacturer's installation instructions also apply to the job.

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

Yes.

What building code does Shenandoah County, VA use?

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 ... 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."). Shenandoah County's Design Information page states "As of February 17, 2024, Shenandoah County is enforcing the 2021 edition of the International Codes with the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code amendments.", and its Building Inspection page says the new code "became effective on February 17, 2024" and that the USBC "is the building code used throughout Virginia and supersedes all local building codes." (the County's own date; the state regulation's effective date is January 18, 2024). The County's 2021 code-change training presentation gives the state date: "The following codes have been adopted by the state of Virginia with an effective date of January 18th 2024."