Alexandria building permits go through the APEX portal; the Permit Center is at 4850 Mark Center Drive, 703-746-4200. Old Town work needs BAR approval.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Alexandria’s Permit Center, Code Administration, Permits and Land Use Applications, Land Use and Zoning and Planning boards and commissions pages, and the city’s Legistar meeting calendar.

Building permits in Alexandria are applied for, paid for and tracked online through APEX, the city’s permitting and land use portal. The Department of Code Administration issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits and inspects the work under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. The Department of Planning and Zoning decides what can be built where. For help with APEX, call 703-746-4200.

Who to call

Where to go

The Permit Center is on the second floor of the Redella S. “Dell” Pepper Community Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except city holidays, closes for lunch from noon to 1 p.m., and closes at 2 p.m. on the first Monday of each month. The door locks at 4:30 p.m., and same-day service ends at 4:15 p.m. For now the city asks customers to send applications electronically through APEX instead of walking them in. At the counter, payments are made by logging in to your APEX account at a kiosk.

While City Hall is renovated, the Department of Planning and Zoning works from 421 King St., Suite 205, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Watch for scams. The city has warned that fraudsters posing as city staff have asked permit applicants for money. Alexandria never asks for permit fees by cryptocurrency, wire transfer, Venmo or Zelle.

How a permit works

  1. Check what you need. The city’s APEX document library has the checklists, forms and required attachments for each type of permit and plan. If the work involves a new use, an addition or a structure in a yard, ask the Zoning Planner of the Day first.
  2. Register and apply in APEX. Upload plans and documents, and pay the fees online. The city’s fee schedule changed July 1, 2025; APEX shows the fee for your application. A card processing fee from the city’s vendor is added to card payments.
  3. Plan review. Reviews are done electronically.
  4. Inspections. Schedule them in APEX. The Daily Inspection Viewer is updated until 8 a.m. on inspection day. Residential inspections in occupied homes are done by video call.
  5. Track it. Look up any permit’s status and inspection history in APEX with the address or permit number.

Hiring a contractor? The city’s contractor guide explains which permits and inspections the contractor must get.

Zoning: what can go where

Find your property’s zone on the city’s GIS Parcel Viewer, then read that zone’s permitted uses, administrative special uses and special uses in the Alexandria Zoning Ordinance.

  • Fences and sheds: contact zoning before you start work.
  • Home businesses are allowed in homes within the limits of Section 7-300 of the Zoning Ordinance.
  • Opening a business: some uses that once needed a special use permit can now open by right if they meet the city’s published use limitations. Email planners at pznondevelopment@alexandriava.gov before applying.
  • Plats: the city does not keep property plats. Look in your closing documents or hire a surveyor.
  • Zoning complaints are filed through Alex311 at 311 or 703-746-4311.

Historic districts: the Board of Architectural Review

Much of Old Town sits in one of two local historic districts, the Old and Historic Alexandria District and the Parker-Gray District. In both, the Board of Architectural Review must approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for new construction and for exterior changes that can be seen from a public way, and a Permit to Demolish for removing more than 25 square feet of material, whether or not it is visible. Get the approval before you apply for the building permit. Design guidelines for both districts are on the city’s historic preservation page, where new chapters are being adopted this year.

Boards and meeting dates

Board What it decides Next hearings
Board of Zoning Appeals Variances, special exceptions and appeals of zoning decisions 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, and 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, City Council Chambers, 4850 Mark Center Drive, Room 1305
Board of Architectural Review Changes in the two historic districts 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 901 Wythe St.
Planning Commission Subdivisions, site plans and recommendations on rezonings and special use permits 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, City Council Chambers, 4850 Mark Center Drive; normally the first Tuesday of each month except August

The City Council makes the final decision on rezonings and special use permits. Dockets, staff reports and webcasts for each board are on the city’s Legistar calendar. BZA questions go to the Boards and Commissions Unit at 703-746-4666.

What this means for you

  • Start in APEX, and ask zoning before any fence, shed, addition or home business.
  • In Old Town or Parker-Gray, get the Board of Architectural Review’s approval first.
  • Never pay a permit fee by wire, app or crypto; the city does not ask for it that way.

Related guides: Alexandria property taxes, who to call at City Hall and Alexandria history and landmarks.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a building permit in Alexandria?

Apply online through APEX, the city’s permitting and land use portal, which is open around the clock. The city asks customers to submit applications electronically; the APEX help line is 703-746-4200.

Where is the Alexandria Permit Center?

On the second floor of the Redella S. “Dell” Pepper Community Center, 4850 Mark Center Drive. It is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, closed noon to 1 p.m., and same-day service ends at 4:15 p.m.

Do I need permission to change the outside of a house in Old Town Alexandria?

Yes. In the Old and Historic Alexandria and Parker-Gray districts, the Board of Architectural Review must approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior changes visible from a public way. Call preservation staff at 703-746-3833.

Do I need a permit for a fence or shed in Alexandria?

Check with zoning first. The city asks owners to contact the Zoning Planner of the Day at 703-746-4333 or zoning@alexandriava.gov before building a fence or shed.

How do I find the zoning of my property in Alexandria?

Search your address on the city’s GIS Parcel Viewer, then read that zone’s permitted uses in the Zoning Ordinance on Municode.