The party that applies for and/or picks up a permit will need to have an affidavit of permit authorization, unless the permit holder:
- Is the contractor licensed in Virginia for the scope of work on the permit; or
- The permit holder is the property owner, and the property owner is the applicant in the online permitting system.
If you made arrangements with a contractor to perform work, Arlington strongly suggests that the contractor is identified on the permit application as the permit holder. When contractors are the permit holder, they’re indicating their responsibility for the work. The County will also verify that the contractor is licensed as required by state and local laws.
If a permit is issued with the property owner as the permit holder, enforcement actions against the contractor for code violations become difficult. Unwillingness on the part of a contractor to obtain the necessary permit(s) may be an indication that the contractor is not properly licensed.
Note: In-person applications are currently suspended due to the COVID-19 health crisis and Permit Office closure.
Additional Guidance
| Permit Holder |
Submitter |
Affidavit?
(see note 1) |
Permission? |
| Contractor (see note 4) |
Any submitter |
Not required |
Not required |
| Contractor TBD at time of application |
Any submitter |
Residential: Required at submission (see notes 2 and 3 for LLCs)
Commercial: Not required
|
Not required |
| Owner |
Owner |
Not required for individual owner
(see notes 2 and 3 for LLCs) |
Not required |
| Owner |
Tenant |
Required at submission (see notes 2 and 3 for LLCs) |
Not required |
| Owner |
Other |
Required at submission (see notes 2 and 3 for LLCs) |
Not required |
| Tenant |
Owner |
Required at submission (see notes 2 and 3 for LLCs) |
Not required |
| Tenant |
Tenant |
Not required |
For commercial and residential properties a letter for the property owner (not the property management company) must be provided at the time of submission. (see notes 2 and 3 for LLCs) |
| Tenant |
Other |
Required at submission (see notes 2 and 3 for LLCs) |
For commercial and residential properties a letter for the property owner (not the property management company) must be provided at the time of submission. |
| Registered Design Professional (see note 6) |
Registered Design Professional (see note 6) |
Not required |
Not required |
Note 1: If we have an affidavit, the property owner or tenant must be the permit holder.
Note 2: There are limitations if the owner is the permit holder for a residential property. First, the permit cannot be issued with the permit holder as the owner if the owner is an LLC, unless it is currently an existing rental property and proof is provided. Second, the owner can only be the permit holder on one residential address within a two year time period.
Note 3: If the owner is listed as an ownership group or corporation, the individual who is signing the affidavit is required to provide the articles of incorporation, which must show the person listed on the affidavit is a member of that corporation.
Note 4: The contractor’s information must be provided before the permit can be issued.
Note 5: The person listed on the affidavit can sign all forms and applications associated with the permit, including the permit application.
Note 6: The registered design professional that is the permit holder must be the same registered design professional that has signed and sealed the plans.