Henrico County issues every permit in Short Pump through Build Henrico. Decks, additions and big sheds need one. Permit Center: 804-501-7280.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Sources: Henrico County Permit Center, Building Inspections and the Planning Department. Updated when the county changes its rules or hearing dates.
Short Pump has no town government, so every building permit, zoning decision and inspection comes from Henrico County. Homeowners start at the county’s Permit Center, a one-stop shop for residential projects, at 804-501-7280. Since Aug. 30, 2021, all applications and inspections run through the online portal, Build Henrico.
Who to call
- Permit Center (residential permits): 804-501-7280, 4301 E. Parham Road
- Building Inspections: 804-501-4360, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays
- Planning Department (zoning, rezoning): 804-501-4602
- Code complaints (Community Revitalization): 804-501-4757, option 1
- Apply, schedule inspections, check status: Build Henrico
The county’s automated permit phone line, 804-501-7770, was retired Sept. 30. Inspections are now scheduled and canceled in the portal, or by calling Building Inspections during office hours.
Projects that need a permit
From the county’s list of typical home projects that need a permit:
- Additions, garages, carports and accessory dwelling units
- New decks, or repairs to deck rails, stairs or structure
- New porches, or enclosing an existing one
- Finishing a basement or attic, or converting a room to a bedroom or bathroom
- Turning a window into a door
- Sheds and playhouses over 256 square feet or more than one story
- Hot tubs and swim spas, and any fence that serves as a pool barrier
- Retaining walls holding back more than 3 feet of soil
- Replacing more than 256 square feet of roof sheathing
- Any new wiring, plumbing, gas or heating work, which takes its own trade permit
Projects that do not
The county’s no-permit list includes painting, flooring, cabinets and trim, gutters, on-grade patios, swing sets, replacing roofing or siding, and swapping windows and doors in existing openings. Sheds of 256 square feet or less and one story, and fences up to 7 feet that are not around a pool, are exempt too. Exempt work must still meet the zoning ordinance, including how far a shed sits from the property line.
How to apply
- Register on Build Henrico and choose Permits, then Building Permit, then Residential.
- Upload a site plan, construction drawings and any engineering for joists, beams or trusses, plus the county’s owner’s statement of responsibility if you are doing the work yourself.
- Pay when you apply. The residential permit fee is based on the estimated cost of labor and materials, plus a 2% state levy; the county has a fee calculator.
- Schedule each inspection in the portal.
A canceled permit is refunded in full before it is issued and 75% after.
Zoning: find yours, and who decides changes
Every property in Henrico has a zoning district. Look yours up on the county’s online GIS map. The zoning ordinance is Chapter 24 of the county code. The Board of Supervisors rewrote the zoning and subdivision ordinances on July 28, 2026, the same day it adopted the HenricoNEXT 2045 Comprehensive Plan, the county’s 20-year land use guide.
- Rezonings and provisional use permits go to the Planning Commission, then to the Board of Supervisors for a final vote. Applicants must first book a preliminary review meeting with the Planning Department. The commission usually meets at 6 p.m. on the Thursday after the second Wednesday of the month. Short Pump’s Three Chopt District commissioner is Bob Shippee, the vice chair.
- Variances, conditional uses and appeals of staff decisions go to the Board of Zoning Appeals, which meets at 9 a.m. on the fourth Thursday from January to October and the third Thursday in November and December.
Both meet in the board room at 4301 E. Parham Road, with a live stream and remote comment through the county’s meetings page. Upcoming dates from the Planning Department:
| Meeting | Date |
|---|---|
| Board of Zoning Appeals | 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 |
| Board of Supervisors hearing on zoning amendments | Tuesday, Nov. 10 |
| Planning Commission, rezonings and provisional use permits | 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 |
The Nov. 10 amendments cover marijuana businesses under recent state law, taller buildings in the Form-Based Alternative Overlay District and a new permit requirement for car washes; the draft is online.
A blue sign on a property means a public hearing is coming on a case there. The county lists them on its blue sign page.
What this means for you
Call the Permit Center before you sign a contractor’s agreement, and ask whether the contractor will pull the permit. Our property tax guide covers assessments and appeals, and who to call in Henrico County government has the rest of the county numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Short Pump?
Yes. Henrico County requires a building permit for a new deck on footings or posts and for repairs to its rails, stairs or structure. Apply online through Build Henrico or call the Permit Center at 804-501-7280.
Do I need a permit for a shed or fence in Henrico County?
Not for a one-story shed or playhouse of 256 square feet or less, or a fence up to 7 feet tall that is not a pool barrier. Zoning setbacks still apply.
How do I find the zoning of my property in Henrico County?
Look it up on the county’s online GIS mapping tool, or call the Planning Department at 804-501-4602 or the Permit Center at 804-501-7281.
When does the Henrico Planning Commission meet?
Usually on the Thursday after the second Wednesday of the month, at 6 p.m., at 4301 E. Parham Road. The next rezoning hearing is Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026.
How do I report a zoning violation in Short Pump?
File a complaint online through Build Henrico, or call Community Revitalization at 804-501-4757, option 1, for tall grass, junk, abandoned cars and zoning problems.
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