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READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESVIRGINIAARLINGTON COUNTY
FILE 51013 · COUNTY OF ARLINGTONSEAT · ARLINGTONPOPULATION · 238KVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

Arlington.

Arlington County in Virginia. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Arlington
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

Arlington County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatArlington
Population (est.)238K
FIPS51013
Building departmentArlington County Inspection Services Division
Permit portalArlington Permit Arlington
Fire marshalArlington County Fire Marshal's Office
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
Arlington
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 51013
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) with local amendments.

Arlington County is a single jurisdiction that operates as a county-manager form of government, meaning there are no independent incorporated cities or towns within its borders. All building permits, zoning, and inspections are managed centrally by the county government. The county utilizes specific overlays for Chesapeake Bay preservation, historic districts, and site plan requirements for high-density development.

The county enforces a strict Tree Canopy Fund and site plan requirements that mandate specific tree replacement and landscaping standards for most development projects.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is Virginia DPOR - Board for Contractors. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · Arlington County Inspection Services DivisionLast verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors must hold a valid Virginia state license, but no additional local registration is required to perform work within the county.

Building

Arlington County Inspection Services Division

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

Arlington Permit Arlington

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

Arlington County Zoning Administration

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

Arlington County Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What Arlington County usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
Verify employer status and DPOR/local requirements
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
Arlington County Inspection Services Division
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
Class A/B may use financial statement or surety bond for net worth/equity
State or county
County overlayContractors must provide proof of valid Virginia state licensure and workers' compensation insurance as required by the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.
Verify
Varies
Arlington County Inspection Services Division
Source · Arlington County Inspection Services DivisionVerify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN ARLINGTON COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in Arlington County.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

ArlingtonArlington County
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN ARLINGTON COUNTY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in Arlington County.

Each trade opens against the first indexed city in the county. Use the city browser above to open the same trade in another city.

Concrete
CODE · CN
GL
Open file →
Electrical
CODE · EL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Flooring
CODE · FL
GL
Open file →
Framing
CODE · FR
GL
Open file →
General Contracting
CODE · GC
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
HVAC
CODE · HV
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Landscaping
CODE · LS
GL
Open file →
Painting
CODE · PT
GL
Open file →
Pest Control
CODE · PC
State Lic.GL
Open file →
Plumbing
CODE · PL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Pool Service
CODE · PS
GLBond
Open file →
Roofing
CODE · RF
LicenseBondGL
Open file →
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

Virginia DPOR - Board for Contractors

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/virginia
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

Arlington County Inspection Services Division

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

Arlington Permit Arlington
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

Arlington County Zoning Administration

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

Arlington County Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in Arlington County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through Virginia DPOR - Board for Contractors. Arlington County and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · Virginia DPOR - Board for Contractors
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (Arlington County Inspection Services Division). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · Arlington County Inspection Services Division
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

Arlington County now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.

Browse cities→Back to state←