Construction of new buildings or renovation of older ones requires a building permit which implements a number of local and state regulations.

State building codes requires that building construction must conform to the Uniform Statewide Building Code which uses the Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA) Code.

The Uniform Statewide
Building Code is adopted by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community
Development and is enforced by the local
building departments. 
State Code

Except when work is done
by the owner, all work done within the City of Radford is required by law to be
done by a licensed, certified, and bonded contractor.

Application for a building
permit must be made at 619 Second Street, Room 143, in person, or by mail.
Information needed is as follows:

1. Owner’s name
2. Owner’s address
3. Owner’s phone number
4. Site address
5. Contractor’s name, address, and phone number
6. Description of work
7. Total amount spent for construction
8. Contractor’s state registration license
9. Contractor’s business license

At the time of application
for new construction, a signature sheet will be sent to the zoning office to
verify all zoning regulations, the City Engineer’s
office to verify the address and all work concerning public access, drainage
and erosion control, then, to the
Water/Wastewater Department, where all regulations concerning public
utilities are addressed. Depending on the type of construction, a set of plans
may be required.

After the signature sheet
is returned to the Building Official’s office, a building permit may be issued.

The Code Enforcement
Officer, working in conjunction with the Building Official, enforces Radford
City Ordinances. Those enforced most by this office are:

1. Section 12-7,
concerning inoperative vehicles,
2. Section 10-138, concerning litter and debris on private property,
3. Section 10-161, concerning weed and grass cutting,
4. Section 17-5, concerning removal of snow and ice from city sidewalks.

Any questions, comments or
complaints may be made at the above address or by phone at
540-731-3601