Fairfax County
Fairfax County Land Development Services issues building permits here, and county zoning applies. Vienna addresses inside the Town of Vienna also go through the county, with the Town reviewing zoning.
Roofing Service Areas Across Northern Virginia
Sterling Roofers works from an office in Vienna, VA and serves Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Falls Church, Arlington, Alexandria and nearby communities. Each community below links to a page that names the office handling roofing permits there.
Not sure your address is covered? Call (703) 436-4445.
Service map by jurisdiction
Which hub covers my town?
Communities are grouped by the office that issues roofing permits, because that office, not the mailing address, decides who reviews your project.
Town of Herndon
Inside the Town, the Town of Herndon Building Inspections office issues building permits. A Herndon mailing address outside the Town falls under Fairfax County instead.
City of Falls Church
Inside the City, the Department of Code Administration issues permits and Fairfax County has no role. Falls Church addresses outside the City limits are handled by the county.
City of Fairfax
The City of Fairfax Office of Code Administration issues building permits inside the city. A Fairfax mailing address can sit in unincorporated Fairfax County, so the parcel decides.
Arlington County
Arlington County government issues building permits through the Permit Arlington system and runs local historic district review for the whole county.
City of Alexandria
For parcels inside the City, the Department of Code Administration (Permit Center) is the building official, and the Boards of Architectural Review handle historic review.
Loudoun County
Sterling is unincorporated Loudoun County, where the Department of Building and Development issues building permits for the whole county. There is no separate town step.
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services is the building permit office for these Maryland communities. Inside Takoma Park, the City adds its own step.
Washington, DC
The DC Department of Buildings issues building permits in the District. Historic review sits with the Office of Planning's Historic Preservation Office.
Permits
Who issues the roofing permit where I live?
Town, city or county: the office depends on where the parcel sits. Confirm the current rule for your project with that office before work starts.
| Where the house is | Office that issues building permits |
|---|---|
| Unincorporated Fairfax County (McLean, Oakton, Annandale, Burke, Springfield, Great Falls, Reston) | Fairfax County Land Development Services |
| Town of Vienna | Fairfax County is the building official; the Town Planning and Zoning department reviews zoning |
| Town of Herndon | Town of Herndon Building Inspections |
| City of Falls Church | City of Falls Church Department of Code Administration |
| City of Fairfax | City of Fairfax Office of Code Administration |
| Arlington County | Arlington County government (Permit Arlington) |
| City of Alexandria | City of Alexandria Department of Code Administration |
| Loudoun County (Sterling) | Loudoun County Department of Building and Development |
| Bethesda and Silver Spring, Maryland | Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services |
| Washington, DC | DC Department of Buildings |
Fairfax County rules
Fairfax County lists replacement of roof shingles as work that does not need a residential building permit, and replacement of less than 256 square feet of roof plywood as not needing one unless the plywood must be fire rated, such as townhomes. Roof repairs are listed as permit work, so check the county permit page for your project.
Virginia statewide code
Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code exempts replacement of roof covering in R-3, R-4 and R-5 groups and replacement of 256 square feet or less of roof decking, but allows a locality to require a permit for replacement roofing in a historic district. See the code text.
HOA and historic districts
Do I need approval before changing the roof?
Possibly. A homeowners association applies its own rules, so ask for its roof requirements before ordering materials. Historic districts add another layer: in the Town of Vienna, properties in the Windover Heights Historic District need a certificate of appropriateness for exterior modifications other than repair and replacement in kind.
Other places have their own review. The hub pages for Alexandria, Arlington and Washington, DC describe the historic review offices there, and Reston explains how its covenant association differs from a permit office.
About the name
Where is Sterling Roofers actually based?
The company is named Sterling Roofers. The office is at 8466 Tyco Road, Suite B, Vienna, VA 22182, and the company works in Sterling, Loudoun County and the communities listed above.
Roof assessments take place at your property by appointment, so call (703) 436-4445 before visiting. Learn more about Sterling Roofers.
Work in every area
What roofing work do you do in each area?
The same set of services, planned around your roof and your jurisdiction.
Repair and replacement
Diagnose a leak or plan a full re-roof. See roof repair and roof replacement.
Inspections and storm damage
Document what is visible after a storm or before a decision. See roof inspections and storm damage roofing.
Commercial and flat roofs
Membrane and low-slope roofs on small commercial buildings. See commercial roofing or browse all roofing services.
Not on the list?
What if my town is not listed?
Call (703) 436-4445. Whether we can take a project depends on the type of work and the distance, and the answer comes on the phone, not from a map.
FAQ
Service area questions
Which Northern Virginia communities does Sterling Roofers serve?
The grouped list above: Vienna, McLean, Oakton, Annandale, Burke, Springfield, Great Falls, Reston, Herndon, Falls Church, Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and Sterling in Virginia, plus Bethesda and Silver Spring in Maryland and Washington, DC. Coverage beyond the list is confirmed by phone.
Who issues the roof permit in the Town of Vienna?
Fairfax County is the building official for projects in the Town of Vienna, and the Town reviews zoning, as the Town of Vienna residential projects page states. A Vienna mailing address outside the Town is handled by Fairfax County alone.
Do I need a permit to replace shingles in Fairfax County?
Fairfax County lists replacement of roof shingles as work that does not need a residential building permit, and replacement of less than 256 square feet of roof plywood as not needing one unless it must be fire rated, such as townhomes. Other work, including roof repairs, can need a permit, so confirm with Land Development Services.
Does my HOA or a historic district limit my roofing project?
It can. Virginia's building code lets a locality require a permit for replacement roofing in a historic district, Windover Heights in Vienna requires a certificate for certain exterior changes, and homeowners associations apply their own rules. Check before ordering materials.
Do you serve Sterling and Loudoun County if your office is in Vienna?
Yes. The company is named Sterling Roofers and serves Sterling, while the office is in Vienna. Call to confirm your address and the project.
How do I know whether my address is in your service area?
Call (703) 436-4445 or book a phone consultation, and give the property address and the type of project.
Talk through the next step
Discuss your roof with Sterling Roofers
Share the property address, the condition you are seeing and the decision you need to make.