Building Safety Month 2024 - Permits & FAQs

2024 Building Safety Month


Last week, we introduced you to our Building and Community Development departments as part of Building Safety Month, an international campaign celebrated in May to raise awareness about the importance of building safety. This week, we're highlighting the Town of West Point’s permitting process, along with FAQs and resources on our website.

Two questions we often receive are, “Do I need a permit for my construction project?” and “Why do I need a permit for my project?”

First, we’ll answer the “why.” As we shared in last week’s article, the primary mission of our Building and Community Development departments is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our citizens, and the permitting process is a critical tool that aids our staff in meeting that mission. Permits act as a safety net for homeowners and their structure(s) and allow town staff to:

  • Check contractor licenses
  • Review drawings for code compliance
  • Ensure projects adhere to town ordinances and regulations
  • Perform inspections throughout projects according to our mission of protecting our citizens, and to ensure work is completed to code and by licensed contractors

Second, most building projects within the Town of West Point require an approved permit. Whenever you construct, reconstruct, enlarge, alter, or demolish a structure, a permit should be in place prior to work starting. If you are unsure if your project requires a permit, please contact the Building Department at 804-843-3426, rminick@west-point.va.us, or by visiting Town Hall. Our Building Official, Ron Minick, is always happy to help and answer any questions you have. You can also learn more about when permits are required and when projects may be exempt on the International Code Council website.

Finally, the Building Department section of our website offers many resources, including a full list of FAQs, links to all of our permits, checklists, and more. Make sure you review the information before starting a new project on your property.

Follow this link for Building Safety Month Week 3 - Pools & Outdoor Structures.