The county and your homeowners association are two separate approvals, and a project can clear one and fail the other. That catches Midlothian-area owners in subdivisions such as Salisbury and Hallsley, and it catches buyers who inherit a deck nobody permitted. This guide uses Chesterfield County’s own pages to lay out what needs a permit, what does not, the numbers that matter and the order to do things in. It describes the county’s published rules as we read them in October 2026; it does not describe any particular HOA, because every set of covenants is different and you have to read yours.
The numbers Chesterfield publishes
Permit and height thresholds, as posted by Chesterfield County
| Project | What the county says | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Detached shed, one story, tool storage or playhouse | No permit, but it must be anchored and meet zoning setbacks | 256 sq ft or less |
| Shed, carport or light-framed garage | Building permit required | 257 sq ft or more |
| Foundation for a 257 to 600 sq ft shed | Permanent foundation below final grade | At least 12 inches |
| Foundation for a shed over 600 sq ft | Continuous footings below finished grade | At least 18 inches |
| Fence, side or rear yard | Maximum height under the ordinance | 7 feet |
| Fence, front or corner side yard | Maximum height under the ordinance | 4 feet |
| Fence at the corner of a corner lot | No fence or wall taller than this within the distance shown, in either direction | 2 feet within 30 feet |
| Pool security fence | Building permit for the pool and its barrier | At least 4 feet tall |
Sources: the county’s requirements for sheds, carports and garages and its fences, walls and screening page, read October 7, 2026. The sheds document says light-frame structures have an eave height under 10 feet.
Decks, additions and pools always start with a permit
The county’s residential project requirements page says a deck needs a building permit and may need an electrical permit depending on the scope. An addition needs a building permit and may need electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing permits. A pool needs a building permit for both the pool and its barrier, and the county will not issue it until the electrical permit application is in. For decks, additions, pools and sheds, the county asks for a plot plan showing the entire property with all property line dimensions and the setbacks from the proposed structure to each line, plus a footing or foundation plan. Applications go through the county’s online ELM portal, and the page lists 804-748-1057 for plan review and 804-751-4990 for general building inspection.
That plot plan is why a survey matters. If you cannot show the property lines, you cannot show the setbacks. Our guide to what a plat tells you and what only a survey can explains the difference, and our piece on easements covers the other thing that can stop a project at a property line.
Where the HOA comes in
The county’s fence page says there are no setback or architectural or material requirements for residential fences under the ordinance, and then adds that neighborhood restrictive covenants may impose additional restrictions. That one sentence is the whole relationship: the county sets a floor, and the covenants can set a higher bar. A 6-foot privacy fence that is legal in a side yard can still be refused by an association that limits fences to 4 feet or bans solid panels.
Get the closing-timeline checklist with the permit and covenant steps
If you are buying a home with a deck, shed or pool, our Richmond closing-timeline checklist shows when to ask for permits and association approvals before your inspection period ends. Ask for the closing-timeline checklist and we will mark the steps.
Do things in this order:
- Read the covenants and any architectural guidelines first. Our guides to what to read before you sign in an HOA and to HOA disclosure packets explain where those documents come from.
- Submit the association’s application, and wait for its decision in writing.
- Get the survey or plot plan and apply to the county through the ELM portal, if the project needs a permit.
- Call before you dig. The county’s fence page says underground utility lines must be marked before digging post holes and lists 800-552-7001.
- Keep the approval letters, the permit and the final inspection record with your closing file.
What to have in hand before you apply
A complete first submission saves weeks. Gather the survey or a plot plan that shows every property line dimension, a sketch of the structure with its distances to each line, the footing or foundation detail the county asks for, the contractor’s information if you are hiring one, and the association’s written approval if your covenants require it. The county lists separate numbers for plan review and general inspection, so call the plan review line if the question is about what to submit and the inspection line if the question is about scheduling an inspection. If the project is a deck on a wooded lot, check the lot against the county’s map of protected stream buffers at the same time, so you do not draw a deck footprint that the county will later refuse.
If you are buying a house that already has the project
A deck or addition that looks finished may never have had a permit. Ask the seller for permit numbers and final inspection records, and ask the county for the permit history on the address. A missing permit does not make a house unsellable, but it changes your negotiation, your lender’s and insurer’s questions, and what you do after closing. Our guide to selling a home with unpermitted work explains it from the seller’s side, and our guide to buying a home with a pool covers the pool-specific checks. If a pool is on your list, see homes with pools and our roundup of neighborhoods with pools.
Who this is wrong for
If your project touches a stream, a wetland or the shoreline of a reservoir, the county permit and the HOA are not the only gates. Check our guide to the Bay Act’s 100-foot buffer near Midlothian creeks first. And anyone who plans work the county says needs a building permit should not start before the permit is in hand.
For more on the area, see the Midlothian community page and the Chesterfield County hub, or start a search on our property search. Thinking about selling a home with a project you did yourself? A free home valuation shows what it would list for, and our buyer process page explains the steps if you are buying.
Want the permit and covenant questions answered before you offer?
Tell us which house you are looking at and we will send the closing-timeline checklist, with the steps for asking about decks, sheds, fences and pools. Ask for the closing-timeline checklist.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For questions about a specific property, covenant or contract, talk with a Virginia real estate attorney.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for a shed in Chesterfield County?
Not for a one-story detached shed of 256 square feet or less, according to the county, but it must be anchored and meet zoning setbacks. A shed of 257 square feet or more needs a building permit.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
The county says a building permit is required for a fence only if it serves as a pool barrier. Height limits still apply: 7 feet in side and rear yards and 4 feet in front and corner side yards.
How tall can a fence be on a corner lot?
The county says no fence or wall may be higher than 2 feet within 30 feet in either direction of the corner, and it applies a separate visibility rule at driveway and street intersections.
Does a deck need a building permit?
Yes, the county says a deck needs a building permit and may need an electrical permit depending on the scope of work.
What do I need to submit with a deck or pool application?
A plot plan showing the entire property and every property line dimension, the setbacks from the proposed structure to each line and a footing or foundation plan. Pools also need an electrical permit application before the building permit is issued.
Can my HOA refuse something the county allows?
Yes. The county’s fence page says neighborhood restrictive covenants may impose additional restrictions. The covenants and any architectural guidelines are the only way to know what your association allows.
How do I apply for a county permit?
Through the county’s online ELM portal. The county lists 804-748-1057 for plan review and 804-751-4990 for general building inspection.
What if I find out a deck I bought was never permitted?
Ask the county for the permit history, talk to your lender and insurer and read our guide to unpermitted work. It becomes a negotiation point before closing and a question to settle with the county afterward.
