Arlington ADU Permit: The Part of Your ADU Project That Most Contractors Get Wrong

An Arlington ADU requires a building permit (covering structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work), zoning approval confirming compliance with Arlington's ADU ordinance, and a certificate of occupancy upon completion. Berriz Design Build manages all permit applications and inspections.

Initial permit review in Arlington County typically takes 6–10 weeks. If revisions are required, each revision cycle adds 3–6 weeks. Berriz Design Build's thorough permit packages minimize revision cycles — the most common cause of ADU project delays.

Arlington County reviews zoning compliance (setbacks, lot coverage, height), structural plans, electrical and plumbing plans, energy code compliance, and conformance with Arlington's specific ADU ordinance. All components must be complete and accurate for the permit to advance.

Yes, but it's not recommended without professional experience. Incomplete or non-compliant permit packages result in revision cycles that significantly delay projects. Berriz Design Build prepares and manages all ADU permit applications as part of our integrated design-build service.

Arlington's ADU zoning requirements include minimum lot size, setback distances from property lines, maximum ADU square footage (typically 35% of primary home or 1,000 sq ft, whichever is less), height limits for detached ADUs, and owner-occupancy requirements. Berriz Design Build evaluates your specific lot's compliance before design begins.

36+ years of Arlington County permit experience, an in-house design team that prepares complete permit packages, and a track record of first-submission approvals. We treat the permit process as a core competency, not an afterthought.