Most Leesburg projects need a town zoning permit first, then a Loudoun County building permit. Call Community Development at 703-771-2765.
Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Town of Leesburg’s Home Improvement Projects, Community Development, Zoning Ordinance, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals and Board of Architectural Review pages.
Building in Leesburg usually takes two approvals from two governments. The Town of Leesburg issues the zoning permit, sometimes after an engineering review, and Loudoun County issues the building permit. The county will not release a building permit until the town’s zoning permit is approved, so start with the town. Call the town’s Department of Community Development at 703-771-2765 or apply online through the town’s eTRAKiT portal.
Who to call
- Zoning permits, zoning questions, complaints: Community Development, 703-771-2765, permitting@leesburgva.gov
- Counter: 222 Catoctin Circle SE, Suite 200, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
- Building and trade permits: Loudoun County Department of Building and Development, 703-777-0220
- Engineering review (site plan waivers, grading): planintake@leesburgva.gov
- Historic district approvals: the Historic Preservation staff in Community Development, 703-771-2765
What needs which permit
| Project (residential) | Town zoning permit | Town engineering approval | County building permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home addition | Yes | Yes, if the footprint is over 200 square feet | Yes |
| Shed, detached garage, gazebo | Yes | If land disturbance is over 250 square feet | If over 256 square feet |
| Deck, balcony, outside stairs | Yes | No | Yes |
| Driveway or patio | Yes | If land disturbance is over 250 square feet | Yes |
| In-ground pool | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Finished basement or interior work | Yes | No | Yes |
| Retaining wall | Yes | If land disturbance is over 250 square feet | Yes |
| Fence | No | No | No |
Check with the county on trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical). Your homeowners association may have its own rules on top of the town’s.
How to apply
- Plan review, if needed. Additions of 200 square feet or more, accessory buildings of 200 to 950 square feet, larger driveways and patios, and in-ground pools need a Site Plan Waiver filed with a Land Development Application. Accessory buildings over 950 square feet need a Mini Site Plan. Fees are on the town’s Plan Review Fee Schedule.
- Zoning permit. Apply through eTRAKiT. For outside work, include a plat of the property drawn to engineer’s scale showing existing and proposed structures; for inside work, a floor plan sketch. If you need a copy of your plat, call 703-771-2765 to see whether the town has one on file. Contractors filing for an owner need a letter of consent.
- County building permit. Once the town approves, apply to Loudoun County Building and Development.
The town says fees are paid only through eTRAKiT; it never asks applicants to wire money.
Fences
Fences need no zoning permit but must follow Article 10 of the zoning ordinance:
- Front yards: up to 6 feet. Anything over 42 inches cannot block the view at street or driveway corners.
- Side and rear yards: up to 7 feet, or 8 feet next to nonresidential property.
- No barbed wire or electric fencing in residential districts.
The historic districts
Leesburg has three architectural control districts: the Old and Historic District (H-1) downtown, the Historic Corridor (H-2) and the Gateway District. Any exterior change in them, including a fence, needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before a zoning permit. Larger cases go to the Board of Architectural Review, which meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., with work sessions on the first Monday as needed.
Zoning: what you can build
Your zoning district sets how many homes per acre, minimum lot size, setbacks and building height, and which businesses are allowed. Find it on the town’s maps portal or ask zoning staff. The rules are in the Zoning Ordinance; Article 5 covers residential districts and Article 10 the yard and height limits.
A full rewrite is under way. The Planning Commission draft of the new zoning ordinance is out for public review, with a draft map and draft text online.
Who decides
| Board | What it does | When it meets |
|---|---|---|
| Planning Commission | Reviews rezonings, special exceptions, the Town Plan and capital program; recommends to Town Council | First and third Thursdays, 7 p.m. (next: Nov. 5 and Nov. 19) |
| Board of Zoning Appeals | Variances and appeals of zoning decisions; members appointed by the Circuit Court | Third Tuesday, 7 p.m., as needed |
| Board of Architectural Review | Exterior changes in the historic districts | Third Wednesday, 7 p.m. |
| Town Council | Final vote on rezonings and ordinance changes | See who to call at Town Hall |
All three boards meet in the Council Chamber on the second floor of Town Hall, 25 W. Market St. Meetings stream on the town’s webcasts page and air on Comcast Channel 67 and Verizon Channel 35. BZA applications are due five weeks before a meeting. Upcoming hearings are on the town’s public hearing notices page.
Outside the town limits?
Homes in unincorporated Loudoun County with a Leesburg address answer to Loudoun County alone for zoning and permits; start with the county’s Building and Development department.
Related guides: Leesburg property taxes, Leesburg home prices and public notices.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Leesburg?
Yes. A deck needs a Town of Leesburg zoning permit and then a Loudoun County building permit. The county will not issue its permit until the town’s zoning permit is approved.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Leesburg?
No zoning permit is needed, but the fence must meet the zoning ordinance: up to 6 feet in a front yard and 7 feet in side and rear yards. In the Old and Historic District, a fence needs a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Who issues building permits in Leesburg?
Loudoun County’s Department of Building and Development, 703-777-0220, issues all building permits in the town. The town issues the zoning permit that must come first.
When does the Leesburg Planning Commission meet?
On the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 25 W. Market St. The next meetings are Nov. 5 and Nov. 19.
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