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Contact City Planning
Department of City Planning staff is available to assist citizens with questions related to planning, zoning, building permits, and other related issues.
Contact the Planning Department in the following ways:
- For Zoning questions email zoningdsc@norfolk.gov or call 757-664-6588
- Click here for virtual or telephone appointments with zoning staff
- For Business License/Zoning Approval questions email zoningbl@norfolk.gov or call 757-664-6588
- Click here for more information on Business License Zoning Review
- For Short-Term Rental email str@norfolk.gov or call 757-664-6588
- Click here for Short-Term Rental Information
- For Building Permit questions and other trades permit questions email planreviewpermits@norfolk.gov or call 757-664-6565
- Click here for E-Permitting Portal All permits will be available for application April 12th, 2022.
For all other inquiries email planning@norfolk.gov or call 757-664-4752
Click the following links to get a full directory of staff by each division of the department
Permitting
Process applications for permits such as Plumbing, Mechanical, Gas, Electrical, and Demolitions
Building Plan Review
Review permits for New buildings, additions, renovations, detached garages, pools, decks and solar panels.
Inspections
Performs inspections for all permits. Inspectors can assist with technical questions pertaining to inspections or the scheduling of inspections.
Zoning Permits and Reviews
Contact members of this team for zoning permits for fences, sheds, and driveways, for short-term rental permits, for zoning enforcement, and for zoning reviews of business licenses and building permits. For most zoning questions, email the team at zoningdsc@norfolk.gov. For short-term rental questions, email str@norfolk.gov. For business license zoning reviews, email zoningbl@norfolk.gov.
Environmental Services
Wetland Permits and Wetland Board Administration, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (CBPA) Development guidance and plan review, CBPA tree permits, Land Disturbing Permits, Erosion and Sediment Control (E&S) Plan Review and Inspection, VSMP Construction General Permits (land disturbance > 1 acre).
Architectural Review Board
Current Planning
The Current Planning division takes care of City Planning Commission items such as conditional use permits and rezonings as well as Ownership Review Forms (Buildable Lot Letters) and Zoning Compliance Letters.
Floodplain Management
This division is who you call when you need a flood zone determination, questions about floodplain development regulations, flood insurance questions, flood zone inspections, elevation certificates, Community Rating System Program.
Comprehensive Planning
The Comprehensive Planning program includes maintaining and implementing the city's comprehensive plan, PlaNorfolk, ensuring all development actions are consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and other city policy direction, and preparing, updating, maintaining, and implementing area and neighborhood plans.
Director's Office
The Director's office consists of the Director and Assistant Director of City Planning as well as the Financial Operations Manager. It also takes care of such functions as FOIA Requests for the department, computer and software management for the department and GIS and mapping functions.