Nottoway building official outlines when permits are required and why enforcement matters

Nicholas Bowles, Nottoway County's building official, gave an overview of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), what work requires a permit and the enforcement role of the local building department. "My name is Nicholas Bowles. I have the honor to serve Nottoway County as the building official," he said, then walked through the code's origins and the department's responsibilities for plan review, inspections and enforcement.

Bowles said the department is distributing a flyer that lists common permit triggers and exceptions and that notices have begun going out for unpermitted work discovered by the office. He described the code's purpose as protecting residents while allowing construction "at the least possible cost, consistent with recognized standards of health, safety, energy conservation, and water conservation." He asked for feedback on communications and said he would add clarifications for agricultural outbuildings where appropriate.

Board members asked for an agricultural exemption paragraph to be added and for clarification on permit processes for minor work; Bowles agreed to revise the flyer and post it on the county website. The presentation aimed to reduce friction by increasing public understanding of permit requirements and to streamline enforcement.