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Finishing a Residential Basement
Overview
All finished basement permit applications and floor plans are required to be submitted via Prince William County’s ePortal system. Consult the Customer Electronic Plan Review (ePlans) Guide for information on how to prepare and submit documents for electronic plan review and the electronic plan review guide for building ePlan submission guidelines.
- STEP 1: Zoning Approval
The Zoning Division counter is open 8 a.m. until to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- No approvals are issued after 4 p.m.
- If the basement will include a second kitchen, see Zoning Approval: Secondary Food Preparation Area.
- STEP 2: Plan Approval
The Building Plan Intake Counter is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Floor plan showing room dimensions, square footage, their intended uses, and whether the room is already finished, will remain unfinished, or to be finished.
- Complete the appropriate permit applications for building permit, mechanical permit, plumbing permit, and/or electrical permit.
- Obtain fee pricing.
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- STEP 3: Permit Issuance
The Building Permitting Services Counter is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- If the homeowner is the permit applicant and will be responsible for the work, the homeowner must complete the Statement of Exemption.
- If the contractor is the permit applicant and will be responsible for the work, the contractor must provide a copy of his or her Virginia State Contractor License and Prince William County Business License.
- Pay for permits based on the approved Building Development Fee Schedule.
- STEP 4: Construction Inspections
In order for staff to conduct an inspection you must call for the appropriate inspection, the permit must be affixed to the front window of the residence (or a location that can be viewed from the road outside the residence), and the approved plans must be available for the inspector to review at the time of inspection.
Building inspections are conducted between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit www.pwcgov.org/ePortal or call 1-866-457-5280 to schedule an inspection through the automated system. The systems will prompt for the permit number or 6 Digit IVR Pin Number, and inspection type code, which were provided at the time of permit issuance. The inspection process will vary depending on the extent of the work. The most common inspection types and codes are 198-residential combination concealment, 199-residential combination final, and 401-plumbing groundwork.
For more details on finishing a basement, see the Guidelines for Finishing Your Basement handout.