Roanoke County Expedited Development Review Process

Roanoke County has established an expedited development review policy and corresponding team who are designated to facilitate a fast tract approach to permitting and inspections. The economic development staff can initiate the process and schedule the first team meeting in less than 24-hours. The following highlights the players, steps and time lines associated with the Roanoke County fast tract permitting process:

1. Roanoke County designates an Ombudsman to assist companies with every aspect of the project, including the permit process.

2. Ombudsman calls review team together with companies' architect/engineering firm(s) for preliminary review meeting (i.e. engineering, utility, fire, planning and zoning, procurement, and legal) to share the project overview and to establish concurrent review procedures and critical time schedule constraints.

3. Engineering firm submits grading and necessary soil and erosion plans as well as bond for soil and erosion. The County will review and issue a permit within one (1) to three (3) working days. Bond costs are based on the relocating company's grading and engineering cost estimates submitted showing the quantity cost estimate on the Erosion/Sediment plan. If air permits are required by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality or the EPA, grading could begin while company obtains any necessary permits.

4. Engineering firm submits application for water and sewer service and non-residential sanitary sewer checklist to Western Virginia Water Authority. Review of non-residential sanitary sewer checklist takes three (3) to five (5) days.

5. Architectural/Engineering firm submits foundation/building/site plan(s) for review by team. Company may submit one or combine these items into one set of plans. Review of such submittal is completed in three (3) to five (5) working days. At this time, permission to proceed with construction is given in total or in part. If a permit less than a total permit is issued, the engineering firm will be required to respond to the review team comments within three (3) days.
    a. Engineering firm submits entrance design to Virginia Department of Transportation. This review usually takes two (2) weeks.

6. Architecture/Engineering firm submits any responses required by review team comments. Review of these comments takes two (2) to five (5) days. Roanoke County asks for a commitment from the architect/engineering firm to turn around responses to our comments with a similar time period.

7. Inspections/Temporary Certificate of Occupancy/Final Certificate of Occupancy. The infield inspection team is called upon on as-needed basis to inspect various aspects of the building and site improvements. These team members are kept abreast of the critical dates in the construction process as well as the date a temporary or final certificate of occupancy is required by the company.

Roanoke County seeks to enhance economic development opportunities by developing partnerships with business and industry that create new wealth, jobs and an appropriate return on our investment. Any public private partnership would then be formalized in a Performance Agreement approved by the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. To facilitate the location of new and expanding companies, Roanoke County commits to assist in every stage of development to ensure a prompt response to your requirements.