Home Remodeling in Arlington, VA
We plan and build for home remodeling in Arlington, VA, from whole-home renovations to kitchens and additions. Many Arlington homes were built before 1960, and local rules shape what you can build, especially for accessory dwellings or in one of the county's 55 historic districts. Our process starts with a design that fits your home and an itemized estimate.
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Remodeling Facts for Arlington, Virginia
Renovations in Arlington are shaped by a housing stock where half the homes are pre-1960, specific rules for accessory dwellings, and review for exterior work in 55 local historic districts.
- Housing
- Across Arlington's residential ZIP codes, 54% of owner-occupied homes are detached houses and 16% are townhouses or other attached houses; 51% of owner-occupied homes were built before 1960. Median home value runs from $586,000 (22206) to $1,257,900 (22207).Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year (tables B25003, B25032, B25036, B25077), our sums by ZIP code
- Permits
- Building and trade permits come from the county's Inspection Services Division, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., through Permit Arlington.Source: Arlington County, Inspection Services Division permits
- Historic districts
- Arlington has 55 local historic districts, including Maywood and garden-apartment districts such as Colonial Village and Buckingham. Exterior alterations there need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board or its staff.Source: Arlington local historic districts
- Accessory dwelling size
- An accessory dwelling inside or added to a house of at least 1,000 square feet may be up to 35% of the combined floor area, to a maximum of 750 square feet; a unit wholly in the basement has no specific size limit.Source: Arlington County, Accessory Dwelling Permit
- Detached accessory buildings
- Built after May 18, 2019: footprint up to 560 square feet in the R-5 and R-6 districts and 650 in other districts, height the lesser of 1.5 stories or 25 feet, and rear and side setbacks of at least 5 feet on interior lots.Source: Arlington County, Accessory Dwelling Permit
- Accessory dwelling rules
- The owner must live in the main house or the accessory dwelling, the unit houses no more than three people, and the county needs an accessory dwelling permit and a recorded declaration of covenants before it issues the building permit.Source: Arlington County, Accessory Dwelling Permit
Read November 5, 2026.
What the Rules Mean for Your Arlington Renovation
With over half of Arlington's owner-occupied homes built before 1960, a renovation often involves updating original structures and systems. We can help you plan a project that respects your home's character while modernizing its function, whether it's a detached house or a townhouse. Any project involving structural changes or new electrical and plumbing work will require permits. In Arlington, building and trade permits are managed by the county's Inspection Services Division through the Permit Arlington portal. Our process includes preparing the documents needed for these applications.
Arlington County has 55 designated local historic districts, from Maywood to garden-apartment communities like Colonial Village. If your home is in one of these areas, any exterior alterations need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board or its staff. This review applies to changes like additions, new windows, or roofing alterations. We can design a project that works with these historic guidelines, helping you prepare the required drawings and materials for the review process.
Arlington has specific rules for adding an accessory dwelling. For an internal or attached ADU in a house of at least 1,000 square feet, the unit can be up to 35% of the total floor area, capped at 750 square feet. A unit entirely in a basement has no county-specified size limit. A new detached ADU can have a footprint of 560 square feet in R-5 and R-6 zones or 650 square feet in others. Before a building permit can be issued for an ADU, the county requires an accessory dwelling permit and a recorded declaration of covenants stating the owner will live on the property.
Home Remodeling Projects for Arlington Homes
Where we work in Arlington
All of Arlington County: Ballston, Clarendon, Lyon Park, Cherrydale, Westover, Maywood, Bluemont, Fairlington, Shirlington, Columbia Pike and North Arlington.
ZIP codes 22201, 22202, 22203, 22204, 22205, 22206, 22207, 22209 and 22213.
Renovation questions from Arlington homeowners
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Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Montgomery and Prince George's counties, MD