Building Permit Pre-Application
The Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA) Building Permit Pre-Application (Pre-App) Process is an approval process, conducted by the ACSA, before a Building Permit Application is submitted to the County of Albemarle Office of Community Development (County). A Pre-App is required for specific Building Permit submittal types that are located within specific Tax Maps. Please reference the Required Submittal Determination Sheet link below to determine if your Building Permit Application requires a Pre-App approval from the ACSA. If your property is located within one of the identified Tax Maps and your Building Permit Submittal type is located on the list, you are required to obtain an approval from the ACSA through the Pre-App process before you submit a Building Permit Application to the County.
If you have determined that a Pre-App submittal to the ACSA is required, please access the Pre-Application Form link below. After completing the form in its entirety, click the “submit” button at the bottom of the page. After submission of the Pre-App form, e-mail supporting documentation to buildingpermits@serviceauthority.org (Note: This is a recent change) with “Pre-App Documents” and the “Address of Work or Tax Map and Parcel Number” in the subject line. Supporting documentation shall include, at a minimum, improvement location plans as well as plumbing plans for all structures, except single family homes.
The ACSA will process the Pre-App submittal and e-mail a completed copy back to the applicant. Upon receipt of an approved Pre-App from the ACSA, you may proceed with submitting a Building Permit Application to the County.
Any revisions to approved Pre-App plans require a Pre-App resubmittal to the ACSA for review and approval.
For questions about the process, please email buildingpermits@serviceauthority.org. For supporting documentation attachments less than 5 MB, please upload them directly to the Pre-App submittal. For supporting documentation attachments between 5 MB and 20MB, please email them to buildingpermits@serviceauthority.org after completing your submittal. For supporting documentation attachments larger than 20MB, please email buildingpermits@serviceauthority.org and advise that the supporting documentation is larger than 20 MB and we will contact you to provide FTP instructions to upload the supporting documentation.
Please ensure that @serviceauthority.org is “whitelisted” in your e-mail account to avoid e-mails being blocked by your Spam Filter.
Please check you SPAM and JUNK folder regularly after submission of your Pre-App in case your approval is caught by your SPAM or JUNK e-mail filter.
Be advised that most applications will be approved within 5 business days. If additional information is required to process your application, an ACSA staff member will contact you by e-mail.
Fire Flow Testing Request
The ACSA understands that as part of new construction, fire flow testing may be required for Site Plan Approval and the proper design of Fire Suppression Systems. Please access the Fire Flow Testing Request Form below to submit a request for fire flow testing for your project. An ACSA staff member will contact you via e-mail to confirm the type of test and location of the test.
Fire Main Pre-Flush and Bag Test Approval Request
THIS SECTION IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The ACSA understands that as part of new construction, fire main pre-flushing and bag testing may be required as part of the County of Albemarle inspections for a fire suppression system. Please access the Fire Main Pre-Flush and Bag Test Approval Request Form below to submit a request for ACSA approval to conduct fire main pre-flush and bag test activities. An ACSA staff member will process the request and provide approval via e-mail. After obtaining an approval and completing the fire main pre-flush and bag test, use the Water Usage Reporting Form below to report the volume of water used.
Water Meter Sizing & Connection Fee Request
THIS SECTION IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The ACSA assesses water and/or sewer connection fees based on the Water and Sewer Rate Structure as outlined in the ACSA Rules and Regulation, most recent revision. Prior to paying connection fees, the ACSA Engineering Department will size the water meter and generate the connection fees. Plumbing fixture counts are required to size all meters, except those that serve a single-family dwelling. An active building permit from the County of Albemarle is required prior to the ACSA accepting connection fee payments, except if sewer service is being added to an existing structure severed by public water. If sewer service is being added to an existing structure served by public water, payment of connection fees is required prior to the County of Albemarle issuing a “Sewer Lateral” permit.
Please access the appropriate form below to begin the connection fee quoting process. The ACSA will process the request and e-mail a quote back to the applicant.
ALL connection fee payments shall be accompanied by a connection fee quote, provided by the ACSA, and a copy of the associated building permit from the County of Albemarle.
For questions about the process, please email engineering@serviceauthority.org.
Please ensure that @serviceauthority.org is “whitelisted” in your e-mail account to avoid e-mails being blocked by your Spam Filter.
Water and Sewer Service Activation
THIS SECTION IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The ACSA activates new services by releasing water meters to be set (and locked for backflow testing if applicable). Meter releases are approved after connection fees are paid, all required County inspections on the associated building permit are approved, the meter box is inspected, a request for activation is received and the Engineering Department gives approval.
Please access the appropriate form below to submit a request for service activation. After completing the form in its entirety, click the “submit” button and the ACSA will process your request.
Please note that a trip charge, in accordance with the ACSA Rules and Regulations, will be assessed for each failed meter installation attempt by the ACSA.