• A Plot Plan.
• The estimated value of construction (materials and labor) for the work covered by this permit.
• The name and address of any Mechanics Lien Agent involved with this project.
• Two sets of complete building plans showing:
  • The size, (thickness and width), depth and locations of all footings.
  • The amount of unbalanced fill around the foundation walls.
  • If a crawl space is to be used, show locations of all vents, access doors, and the height of the crawl space.
  • Wall construction details including stud size and spacing, window and door header details, and exterior wall covering.
  • Floor construction details including size, span, spacing and wood species of all floor girders, floor joist, and subfloor.
  • Roofing details, including the size, span, spacing, slope and wood species of all rafters. If engineered roof trusses are to be used, indicate this on the plans.
  • Riser height, tread depth and handrail information for all stairs.
  • Sizes of all bedroom/sleeping room windows.
  • Location of all fuel burning appliances and electric panels.
  • Structural details of all decks, fireplaces, garages, carports and accessory buildings.
  • All plans must include the name, address and occupation of the person who prepared the plans

Section 18-10 Winchester Zoning Ordinance

Need help deciding where to locate a fence on your city property?

The City of Winchester Zoning & Inspections Department recently added the attached document to the City's website in an effort to assist citizens in deciding where to locate fences on their properties. There have been no changes to fence regulations within the Zoning Ordinance. The one-page guide was created from current Ordinance regulations, so as to provide a visual overview of the requirements.

Fence regulations within the Zoning Ordinance outline the type of fence (including height and openness) that may be installed in the various yard areas of a property. These regulations, as well as different types of properties (i.e., corner lot, interior lot, double-frontage lot), are included in the reference guide to help residents make decisions when considering fence installation.

Please note:
 Fences that exceed 6' in height require a building permit.
 Fences erected within the Historic Winchester District require Board of Architectural Review approval. (Please see Permits, Applications & Forms for application.)

The new guide can be found on the City's website at:
http://www.winchesterva.gov/planning/documents/fence_regulations.pdf

For more information, interested persons are encouraged to call the Zoning & Inspections Department at 540-667-1815 x 1418.

• An Approved site plan
• The estimated value of construction (materials and labor) for the work covered by this permit.
• The name and address of any Mechanics Lien Agent involved with this project.
• Two sets of complete building plans showing:
• The "Use Group(s)" classification of this building.
• The "Type of Construction" to be used in this building.
• The total height of the building and the size (sq. ft.) of each floor.
• The proposed occupant loads for each area of this building, and the total proposed occupant load per floor.
• Indicate if the building will be equipped with a full fire suppression system and or fire alarm and detection system.
• The location and size of all exits.
• All design load information including the snow, wind, live and dead loads used in the design.
• The size, (thickness and width), depth and locations of all footings.
• The amount of unbalanced fill around the foundation walls.
• If a crawlspace is to be used, show locations of all vents, access doors, and the height of the crawl space.
• Wall construction details including stud size and spacing, window and door header details, and exterior wall covering.
• Provide "Design numbers, and Fire resistance ratings" of all tenant separation walls, fire walls, exit enclosures, floor/ceiling assemblies and other assemblies required to be fire rated by the code.
• Floor construction details including size, span, spacing and wood species of all floor girders, floor joist, and subfloor. Details of slabs on grade if applicable.
• Roofing details, including the size, span, spacing, slop and wood species of all rafters. If engineered roof trusses are to be used, indicate this and the plans.
• Provide Sealed design information for all engineered structural components
• Riser height, tread depth and handrail information for all stairs.
• Locations and number of plumbing fixtures for all bathrooms.
• Location of all fuel burning appliances and electric panels.
• Structural details of all decks, and accessory buildings.
• Accessibility details (All structures shall be designed and constructed in compliance with the 1996 VUSBC / BOCA Chapter 11).

All plans must include the name, address and occupation of the person who prepared the plans. Some plans may be required to be sealed by a Virginia licensed architect or engineer. Click here to view a table for when an A/E seal is required on the plans.

• The purpose of these charts is for quick reference to determine in accordance with 54.1-402 of the Code of Virginia if an architects or engineers (A/E) seal is required on drawings for the proposed construction.
• Printable PDF of all three A&E Charts

• The State of Virginia has identified soils in the Winchester area as potential shrink-swell soils. Property owners and builders should be aware of these soil characteristics, and design buildings appropriately.
• The City of Winchester does not perform soil testing or analysis. Soil testing is the exclusive responsibility of the owner.

Excerpts from the Code of Virginia Pertaining to Asbestos Disturbance and Removal

36-99.7. Asbestos inspection in buildings to be renovated or demolished; exceptions:

1. A local building department shall not issue a building permit allowing a building for which an initial building permit was issued before January 1, 1985, to be renovated or demolished until the local building department receives certification from the owner or his agent that the affected portions of the building have been inspected for the presence of asbestos by an individual licensed to perform such inspections pursuant to 54.1-503 and that no asbestos-containing materials were found or that appropriate response actions will be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act National Emission Standard for the Hazardous Air Pollutant (NESHAPS) (40 CFR 61, Subpart M), and the asbestos worker protection requirements established by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for construction workers (29 CFR 1926.1101). Local educational agencies that are subject to the requirements established by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) shall also certify compliance with 40 CFR 763 and subsequent amendments thereto.
2. To meet the inspection requirements of subsection A except with respect to schools, asbestos inspection of renovation projects consisting only of repair or replacement of roofing, floor covering, or siding materials may be satisfied by a statement that the materials to be repaired or replaced are assumed to contain friable asbestos and that asbestos installation, removal, or encapsulation will be accomplished by a licensed asbestos contractor.
3. The provisions of this section shall not apply to single-family dwellings or residential housing with four or fewer units, unless the renovation or demolition of such buildings is for commercial or public development purposes. The provisions of this section shall not apply if the combined amount of regulated asbestos-containing material involved in the renovation or demolition is less than 260 linear feet on pipes or less than 160 square feet on other facility components or less than thirty-five cubic feet off facility components where the length or area could not be measured previously.
4. An abatement area shall not be reoccupied until the building official receives certification from the owner that the response actions have been completed and final clearances have been measured. The final clearance levels for reoccupancy of the abatement area shall be 0.01 or fewer asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter if determined by Phase Contrast Microscopy analysis (PCM) or 70 or fewer structures per square millimeter if determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis (TEM).

54.1-503. Licenses required.

1. It shall be unlawful for any person who does not have an asbestos contractor's license to contract with another person, for compensation, to carry out an asbestos project. It shall be unlawful for any person who does not have an asbestos project designer's license to develop an asbestos project design. It shall be unlawful for any person who does not have an asbestos inspector's license to conduct an asbestos inspection. It shall be unlawful for any person who does not have an asbestos management planner's license to develop an asbestos management plan. It shall be unlawful for any person who does not have a license as an asbestos project monitor to act as project monitor on an asbestos project.

It shall be unlawful for any person who does not possess a valid asbestos analytical laboratory license issued by the Board to communicate the findings of an analysis, verbally or in writing, for fee, performed on material known or suspected to contain asbestos for the purpose of determining the presence or absence of asbestos.