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Virginia building permit plan submission requirements (2026)

How 4 large Virginia cities take construction plans, based on each building department's own pages: 2 digital only, 1 paper in limited cases, 1 not grouped. 2 of the 4 state a number of plan sets, 1 state a sheet size and 4 state a seal or signature rule.

Snapshot: October 19, 2026. “Not stated” means the cited pages do not publish the rule. Confirm current requirements with the permit office before ordering.

Fields a city's official pages don't state are left off its card. Missing means not published on the pages we checked, not that no rule exists; ask the permit office.

At a glance

Virginia Beach, VA

City of Virginia Beach Planning Department, Permits & Inspections · Census 2025 rank 43 · ID USPPR-043

How they take plans

Paper accepted only in limited cases

Exact quotes and source

“Permits & Inspections will accept submittals at the counter (Municipal Center, Building 3, 2403 Courthouse Drive, Virginia Beach) only for small plan sets meeting the requirements listed below.” Virginia Beach: Building Permits · Source date: no date shown

“All other items should be submitted online .” Virginia Beach: Building Permits · Source date: no date shown

Submission details

digital; paper only for small sets at the counter (5 pages or fewer)

Portal

Online submittal

Paper rule

Counter submittals only for small plan sets (5 pages or fewer, with size/use limits); all other items online

Plan sets stated

2 (medium not stated; commercial (signed & sealed arch/structural))

“Two copies of the complete signed and sealed architectural and structural plans, as well as material specifications of all work.” Virginia Beach: Commercial Building Permits · Source date: no date shown

Seal / signature

Commercial architectural and structural plans signed and sealed

“Two copies of the complete signed and sealed architectural and structural plans” Virginia Beach: Commercial Building Permits · Source date: no date shown

Last checked October 19, 2026.

Chesapeake, VA

City of Chesapeake Department of Development & Permits · Census 2025 rank 92 · ID USPPR-091

Plan sets stated

2 (medium not stated (digital preferred); residential (complete set in duplicate)); 1 (medium not stated; Plan Review Level 3)

Exact quotes and source

“Complete set of plans in duplicate:” Chesapeake: Residential Plan Requirements (PDF) · Source date: PDF modified 2025-01-30

“Digital plans are preferred” Chesapeake: Residential Plan Requirements (PDF) · Source date: PDF modified 2025-01-30

“One set of plans drawn to scale” Chesapeake: Plan Review Level 3 · Source date: no date shown

Sheet size

Residential: minimum 8.5 x 11 in., maximum 2 x 3 ft

“Minimum sheet size is 8-1/2 x 11 inches. Maximum size is 2×3 feet.” Chesapeake: Residential Plan Requirements (PDF) · Source date: PDF modified 2025-01-30

Scale

Residential: minimum 1/8" = 1' for plans and elevations, 3/4" = 1' for details

“Minimum scale of 1/8 inch = 1 foot for plan and elevations and ¾ inch = 1 foot for details.” Chesapeake: Residential Plan Requirements (PDF) · Source date: PDF modified 2025-01-30

Seal / signature

Level 3: plans designed and submitted with a Virginia-licensed architect/engineer seal and signature

“This level requires plans to be designed by and submitted with an architectural / engineer seal and signature per State Code.” Chesapeake: Plan Review Level 3 · Source date: no date shown

Last checked October 19, 2026.

Richmond, VA

City of Richmond Department of Planning & Development Review, Permits and Inspections · Census 2025 rank 96 · ID USPPR-095

How they take plans

Digital only (stated)

Exact quote and source

“All documents must be submitted as a single black and white pdf file.” Richmond: Commercial Building Plan Review Requirements (March 2025) · Source date: March 2025

Submission details

Commercial: all documents as a single black-and-white PDF; other permit types not stated

Paper rule

Commercial: documents submitted as a single black-and-white PDF

Scale

Architectural plans minimum 1/8" = 1'-0"; civil and site plans may be smaller (e.g. 1" = 30')

“The minimum scale used on architectural plans shall be 1/8” = 1’-0”. Civil and site plans can be plotted at a smaller scale, such as 1”=30’.” Richmond: Commercial Building Plan Review Requirements (March 2025) · Source date: March 2025

Seal / signature

Architectural and engineering plans sealed and signed by a Registered Design Professional responsible for the design in Virginia (exemptions per Code of Virginia 54.1-402); sealed drawings where required by Code of Virginia 54.1-402

“All architectural and engineering plans shall be sealed and signed by a Registered Design Professional responsible for the design in the Commonwealth of Virginia except where, exempted by Section 54.1-402 of the Code of Virginia.” Richmond: Commercial Building Plan Review Requirements (March 2025) · Source date: March 2025

“Provide sealed drawings where required by Title 54.1-402 of the Code of Virginia” Richmond: Commercial Building Plan Review Requirements (March 2025) · Source date: March 2025

Approved set on the jobsite

Approved plans on the job site (framing inspection)

“Approved plans must be on the job site.” Richmond: Commercial Building Plan Review Requirements (March 2025) · Source date: March 2025

Last checked October 19, 2026.

Norfolk, VA

City of Norfolk Development Services Center · Census 2025 rank 101 · ID USPPR-099

How they take plans

Digital only (stated)

Exact quote and source

“your documents must be submitted into one .pdf. at this email address: planreviewpermits@norfolk.gov” Norfolk: Commercial permit packet (minimum requirements) · Source date: PDF modified 2025-09-10

Submission details

Commercial: documents must be submitted as one PDF by email after applying in the online portal (other permit types / paper route not stated)

Paper rule

Commercial: apply in the online portal, then email the application and complete construction plans combined into one PDF

Scale

Plans to scale and legible (residential project types; no minimum stated)

“Plans that are to scale and legible” Norfolk: Information Needed for Plans by Project Type · Source date: PDF created 2025-01-09

Seal / signature

Sealed plans required where plans must be drawn by a registered design professional (Code of Virginia 54.1-402 charts)

“Check the following page to see if you need to have plans drawn by a registered design professional, if so sealed plans are required.” Norfolk: Commercial permit packet (minimum requirements) · Source date: PDF modified 2025-09-10

“Charts A, B and C provide a quick reference to determine if Section 54.1-402 of the Code of Virginia requires an architect’s or engineer’s (A/E) seal on drawings for the proposed construction.” Norfolk: Commercial permit packet (minimum requirements) · Source date: PDF modified 2025-09-10

Last checked October 19, 2026.

How to use this data

Confirm with the permit office before you submit. A missing field means the official pages we checked don’t state it. Submission groups and method are explained on the national page.

Downloads

Virginia: CSV · JSON. All 124 cities: CSV · JSON.

Cite this data

License: CC BY 4.0. Attribution: Print My Plans, printmyplans.com. The license covers our compilation; quoted text stays attributed to each city.

Corrections: support@printmyplans.com

Print My Plans (2026). US Plan Submission Requirements: 124 Large US Cities (checked 2026-10-19). printmyplans.com

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