HOME ADDITIONS · ALEXANDRIA, VA
Plans for home additions in Alexandria
Permit drawings for additions, garages and renovations, set up for the City of Alexandria's Permit Center.
THE CHECKLIST
What Alexandria asks for
- Plan set
- Electronic, scaled or dimensioned, up to 100 MB
- Site plan
- A certified survey plat showing the new work, or a scaled site plan
- Plans and elevations
- Existing and proposed floor plans and elevations, and a roof plan with materials and pitch
- Zoning
- The floor area ratio and open space form, with average grade marked on the plans
- Near the boundary
- A neighbour letter if the work or digging is within 5 ft of the property line
- Historic districts
- Board of Architectural Review approval comes first, for homes in a historic district or over 100 years old
From the city's residential plan checklist, read October 2026. Check for the latest version before you submit: alexandriava.gov (new tab).
Many Alexandria, VA addresses are in Fairfax County, which has its own permit office. This page covers the City of Alexandria. Not sure which you're in? Send us the address.
HOW IT GOES
From idea to permit
Start with zoning
Alexandria's Zoning Planner of the Day can confirm setbacks, height, open space and floor area ratio before you design anything: [email protected].
We draw the set
Existing and proposed plans, elevations and roof plan, with the work shown on your survey plat.
Historic district?
If your house is in one, the Board of Architectural Review approves the work before you apply for a permit.
Permit Center review
You submit the set electronically. We answer plan-check comments, round by round. Your quote says what's included.
We work remotely, from your photos, measurements and sketches. We don't visit the site.
SEALS
Does it need a seal?
It depends. Virginia exempts many homes up to three stories from needing a licensed designer, but not their electrical and mechanical systems or any unique structural design.
Alexandria asks for a sealed set where Virginia law requires one, or when a Virginia-licensed design professional is responsible for the plans. Where a seal is needed, it comes from a Virginia-licensed design professional, not from us. Tell us about the project when you ask for a quote.
OUR WORK
