Insights
Renovation guides
What we tell clients planning a renovation in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia: what projects cost, how to check a contractor, and how permits and historic review work. Every figure is shown with its source. How we write our guides.
- CostsWhat a renovation costs in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern VirginiaPublished cost ranges for kitchen and bathroom remodels, whole-home renovations, additions, and office build-outs in the DC area, with the source and date for every figure.Read the guide
- HiringHow to check a contractor before you hire one in DC, Maryland, or VirginiaWhere to look up a contractor's license in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, what a home improvement contract should include, and the warning signs to watch for before you sign.Read the guide
- PlanningRenovation advisor, design-build firm, or general contractor: which do you need?How a renovation advisor, a design-build firm, and a general contractor differ, who each one works for, how each is paid, and when each makes sense for a project in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.Read the guide
- PermitsRenovating in a DC historic district: how preservation review worksHow historic preservation review fits into the DC building permit process, when the Historic Preservation Review Board or the Commission of Fine Arts gets involved, and how to plan for it.Read the guide
- PermitsDo you need a permit to renovate in Washington, DC?Which home renovation work needs a DC building permit, what is exempt, how Instant Permits and the Alteration & Repair permit work, published review times, and how inspections are scheduled.Read the guide
- PermitsRenovation permits in Montgomery County, MarylandWhen a Montgomery County renovation or addition needs a permit from the Department of Permitting Services, how Residential Fast Track works, the notice sign for additions, historic area work permits, and inspections.Read the guide
- PermitsRenovation permits in Fairfax County, VirginiaWhat home renovation work needs a building permit from Fairfax County Land Development Services, what is exempt, homeowner permits and the License Exemption Affidavit, and how inspections work in PLUS.Read the guide
- PermitsRenovation permits in Arlington County, VirginiaWhen an Arlington home renovation needs a building permit, the published express and route-through review times, who can be the permit holder, and how inspections are scheduled through Permit Arlington.Read the guide
- CommercialOffice build-outs in DC and Northern Virginia: a tenant's guideHow a tenant improvement project works, from the lease work letter to permits and the certificate of occupancy in DC and Fairfax County, with published fit-out cost benchmarks.Read the guide
- PermitsRenovation permits in Prince George's County, MarylandWhat home renovation work needs a Prince George's County permit from DPIE, what is exempt, the same-day Virtual Walk-Through for homeowners, Momentum, WSSC plumbing permits, historic area work permits, and city permits in Bowie, College Park, and Laurel.Read the guide
- PermitsRenovation permits in Anne Arundel County, MarylandWhat home renovation work needs an Anne Arundel County permit, how the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area changes the rules, applying in the Land Use Navigator, fees, inspections, and permits in the City of Annapolis.Read the guide
- PermitsRenovation permits in Howard County, MarylandWhat home renovation work needs a Howard County permit from the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, applying online, FY2027 fees, inspections by phone or text, and historic review in Ellicott City and Lawyers Hill.Read the guide
- PermitsRenovation permits in Loudoun County, VirginiaWhat home renovation work needs a Loudoun County building permit, the county's typical deck and basement details, published review times, LandMARC, fees, inspections, incorporated towns, and historic districts.Read the guide
- PermitsRenovation permits in the City of Alexandria, VirginiaWhat home renovation work needs a City of Alexandria building permit, walk-through plan review, APEX, the FY26 fee schedule, inspections, and when Old Town and Parker-Gray projects need Board of Architectural Review approval.Read the guide
- PlanningHow long a renovation takes in DC, Maryland, and Northern VirginiaPublished permit review times for DC, Montgomery, Prince George's, Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun, historic review timing, and published construction timelines for kitchen and bathroom remodels, with the source for each and its date where the source gives one.Read the guide
Looking for your county's permit office? See our service areas.