Frequently Asked Questions

Ask your contractor/tradesman to see his license before contracting work with anyone. Also, the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) is a source to verify licenses in Virginia.

Wise County Commissioner of the Revenue’s website contains your parcel information.

Example Permit Costs:

• Permits for residential site-built structures are $0.10 per square foot but you will also need a plumbing, electrical, mechanical and zoning permit. That can be $200 to $400 and above. Call the office for more accurate estimate of fees.
• Singlewide manufactured home permits are $76.50 in a mobile home park or $101.50 on private property.
• Doublewide manufactured home permit are $153 in a mobile home park or $178 on private property.
• Solar/photovoltaic permits are $51 for rooftop applications and $76.50 for ground applications. See the Solar Checklist and Fees page for a solar permit checklist.

• You will need your certificate to operate for a newly installed sewage disposal system. 
• You will need a safe, adequate, and proper (SAP) evaluation by the Wise County Health Department for existing sewage disposal systems.
• If you are applying for a manufactured home permit (singlewide or doublewide) you will need to have the make, year model, serial number, who you are purchasing from and information for who will move the home, who is wiring the home and who will install your heat pump.  
• If you are site building; you will need your contractor’s and tradesman’s (electrician, plumber, heater pump installer) address, phone number and license number. You will also need dimensions of the structure or addition being built, number of bathrooms, size of electrical service (new and temporary), number of heat pumps, fireplaces, gas logs and the square footage of the area/site you are disturbing/moving dirt. 

The only way to identify the zoning district that an individual piece of property lies within is by locating the property on the Official Zoning District Map of Wise County, Virginia. A representative of the Building and Zoning Department will be able to assist you in locating your property.

If the use planned is prohibited in the zone which applies to the site, it is possible to apply for rezoning. The likelihood of successfully changing the zoning designation for a site varies greatly. The primary consideration is the compatibility of the proposed change with surrounding uses. Zoning changes require a public hearing and the approval of the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors (PDF).

The purpose of the Special Use Permit procedure is to provide a means for the Board of Supervisors to authorize, after review and subject to appropriate conditions, certain specified uses which, although generally appropriate in the district in which they are permitted by the Zoning Ordinance, have a potentially greater impact on neighboring properties that those uses which are permitted by right in the district. 

The special use procedure is intended to provide the opportunity for the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors (PDF) to review of each proposed special use and its potential impacts on surrounding properties and land uses, with special regard for the particular circumstances of each use. It is also intended to provide an opportunity for the Planning Commission to recommend and for the Board of Supervisors to impose such conditions as are necessary to ensure that the use will be compatible with the surrounding area and consistent with the intent of the particular district and the purpose of the Zoning Ordinance.

If some aspect of a proposed project does not conform with the development standards for the zone, it is possible to apply for a Variance. The purpose of issuing variances is not to allow exceptions to the development standards but rather to help achieve equal treatment for owners who would be disadvantaged by strict application of these standards. For more information on variances contact the Building and Zoning Department.

The Board of Zoning Appeals (PDF) is a four member Board that makes recommendations related to the application and enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance, as well as variation requests.

• Rezoning Fee: $100
• Special Use Fee: $100
• Variance Fee: $30
• Zoning Permit: $25

The 4 pm Law is a ban (or restriction) on open air burning before 4 pm if your fire is within 300 feet of the woods or dry grass which can carry the fire to the woods. You are allowed to burn between 4 pm and midnight as long as you take proper care and precaution and attend your fire at all times.

The law goes into effect on February 15th each year and runs through April 30th.

The 4 pm Law was adopted during the 1940s to reduce the number of wildfires which occurred each spring. During this time of the year, Virginia traditionally has an increased number of fires. During the winter months, winds are usually elevated, the relative humidity is lower and the fuels on the forest floor are extremely dry, having "cured" without having the tree leaves to shade them.

After 4 pm, winds usually calm down and the relative humidity levels are on the increase, both of which reduce the potential for a debris fire or any outdoor open air fire to escape your control.

Debris burning is the number one cause of wildfires, closely followed by intentionally set or "arson" fires.

Virginia has records which date back to 1925, and our 30 year average is 1,449 fires for 8,338 acres per year. 1941 saw the most fires with 3,697, and 1930 had the most acreage burned at 333,023 acres.

No. Campfires are considered an open air fire. A recreational fire such as a campfire may be approved if it meets all the following: the fire is completely contained within a ring of rocks, cinderblocks, metal ring or similar device and also covered by a ¼ inch or smaller metal screen. A fire built in a pit with a similar metal screen may also be approved.

In all cases the fire must be attended at all times and an extra precaution should be taken by clearing a 20 foot area around the "fire" from all flammable material. Ready access to water, rake and shovel should also be provided for. Fires built in commercially available chimineas or fire pits are not considered to be open air fires and therefore legal if they are complete and in good condition to prevent the spread of fire to surrounding areas.

You should check with local authorities and/or the VA Department of Forestry if you have any concerns or questions.

Yes. Although you may have taken all proper precautions and obtained any locally required permits, whoever started the fire is responsible should the fire escape.

Violation of the 4 pm Law is a Class 3 misdemeanor with a fine of not more than $500.

Yes. However, you must take proper care and precaution by clearing all flammable material from around it and you must stay with it until it is completely extinguished or turned off.

No. However, if the burning operations are greater than 300 feet from the woods or flammable grass/vegetation which would allow the fire to spread to the woods the 4 pm Law does not apply.

The 4 pm Law provides for some exceptions to the regulations. Vineyards and orchard owners are allowed to set fires in an attempt to protect their crops from damaging frost. Virginia Certified Prescribed Burn Managers who have applied for and were granted an exemption are allowed to use a prescribed fire under specific and pre-approved conditions for very specific resource management objectives. These management objectives are:

• Control of exotic and invasive plant species that cannot be accomplished at other times of the year.
• Establishment and maintenance of wildlife habitat that cannot be accomplished at other times of the year.
• Necessary management of natural heritage resources.

Yes, if certain precautions are taken to cover and contain the fire. The 4 pm. Law applies to open-air burning, which means any outdoor fire that is not covered and/or contained within non-flammable barriers.

For example, a typical campfire is considered an open-air fire. However, an open-air fire may be acceptable if it meets all the following criteria: it is completely contained within a ring of rocks, cinderblocks, metal ring, or a similar device and is covered by a ¼ inch or smaller metal screen. If these criteria are met, the fire still must be attended at all times, and all flammable material should be cleared from a 20 foot area around the fire. Campers must also have ready access to water, rake and shovel.

Fires built in commercially available chimineas or fire pits are not considered open-air fires and are therefore legal, if they are in good condition to prevent the spread of fire to surrounding areas. Check with local authorities and/or the VA Department of Forestry for any concerns or questions.

A General Reassessment is mandated by the Wise County Board of Supervisors every four years in compliance with Code of Virginia § 58.1-3252). The last reassessment went into effect on January 1, 2022. Values for this reassessment are effective January 1, 2026.

We are required by Virginia State Law to assess property at 100% of fair market value (Code of Virginia: § 58.1-3201). Fair market value is considered to be the most likely price that someone would pay for a given piece of property on the open market, when there are no special circumstances involved.

Constructions costs and the price citizens are paying to buy property in Wise County will impact the value of all local real estate. These costs are established by a national pricing guide, Marshall & Swift, which is an industry standard used by professionals through the nation. Our office has no control over whether values go up or down, but we are required by State Law to reflect all market fluctuations in our assessed values. This can happen even when there has been no change to a subject property.

Our staff is made up of local assessors who have almost 65 years of combined experience assessing property in Wise County. Our chief property assessor is certified by the Virginia Department of Taxation to oversee and complete this general reassessment. All three of our assessors are certified with Master designations through the Weldon Cooper Center of the University of Virginia. Our assessors have completed training courses in all accepted methods of appraisal and ethical practices. All assessors are members of the International Association of Assessing Officers and the Virginia Association of Assessing Officers.

The purpose of a general reassessment is not to raise taxes. The fundamental purpose of a reassessment is to make sure values are accurate and that they have been assessed uniformly and equitably. The Wise County Assessment Office never takes any deficit or surplus in the county's finances into consideration when determining fair market value. Our office has no control over the county tax rate, collection policies, or the local sales ratio. All questions or concerns about the tax rate should be addressed to your representative on the Board of Supervisors.

If you are permanently & totally disabled or if you are over the age of 65, you may qualify to have a portion of your tax bill reduced. In order to receive an exemption, you must own the home as of January 1^st of the calendar year and it must be your primary residence. In addition, your total household income cannot exceed $42,000 and your assets cannot exceed $85,000 (the value of your home is not included in this total).   

If you are a veteran (or surviving spouse of a veteran) who has a 100% service-connected disability through the Veterans Administration, you may also qualify for an exemption. Applications can be found on our webpage at www.wisecounty.org/227/Forms-Applications

Market trends dictate that properties in a certain section of Wise County may increase at a different rate than properties in another area of the county. The county increase or decrease is an average that reflects the difference in total value over the last reassessment cycle, however this does not necessarily reflect each individual and unique property. One property value changing at a different rate than the county-wide average is not unusual, nor is it grounds for an appeal.

No response is necessary if you do not appeal the value. If you choose to protest, we recommend the following steps:    

•  Appeal to the Assessment Office  
•  Appeal to the Board of Equalization
•  File suit in Circuit Court

 If you disagree with the assessment, you may contact the Assessment Office to schedule an appeal.  You will need to be prepared to provide substantial proof of an error to proceed with your appeal.

The Wise County Sheriff's Office is located at 5605 Patriot Drive, Wise, VA. 24293

Directions to the Wise County, VA. Sheriff's Office

If this is an emergency call 911.  You can also call 276-328-3756 or come to the Wise County Sheriff's Office to file a report in person.

If you're seeking a report or information from the Wise County Sheriff's Office please complete the "FOIA - Request For Information (PDF)" and deliver it to the Wise County Sheriff's Office during normal business hours.  For more information please see Making a Request for Records from Wise County, VA.

You must be 21 by the time of academy graduation.

• Wise County - All towns within Wise County will contact the Wise County Dispatch Center in the event law enforcement and/or emergency services are needed.  The Wise County Dispatch Center can be contacted at 276-328-3756 but If your situation is an emergency please dial 911.  
• Norton - If you live within the limits of the City of Norton and need law enforcement and/or emergency services please contact the City of Norton Dispatch Center at 276-679-1211.  If it is an emergency dial 911.

Currently, Wise County has a tax relief program that will deduct up to $200 from your real estate taxes if you are over the age of 65 or totally and permanently disabled and meet the income and asset guidelines. Currently, there is no tax relief program available for personal property, except the TAX EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED VETERANS.

Wise County reassessments are performed every 4 years.

Based on sales studies, most real estate property values increase within the 4 year period.

Assessments are based upon a sales study conducted during the most recent reassessment. Even though the market may change, the assessment remains the same until the next reassessment if there are no changes in acreage, zoning, or new construction.

The Attorney General's office opinioned that values adopted by the Board of Assessors who oversees the reassessment cannot be changed until the next reassessment without changes being made in the size of the property, new construction, rezoning or demolition.

The Wise County Assessment Team conducts a general reassessment of all properties in the county, in accordance with Section 58.1-3252 of the Code of Virginia. Currently, this assessment takes place every four years. The Assessment Office follows the principle of "ad-valorem taxation", which mandates that values reflect the fair market. The Assessment Office is able to determine this by conducting a sales study of all recent transactions in the market. Therefore, assessed values are established by what citizens of Wise County are currently paying for property on the open market, as analyzed by the sales study. The contributions of size, location, and condition of your property will all be considered before final values are determined.

Reassessments are conducted to equalize the values of real estate property throughout the county.

Yes. Real estate values are public record, and are available at our online assessment website, EagleWeb.

State Law mandates that the burden of proof rests with the taypayer to prove that an assessment is in error. The Assessment team does not have the authority to adjust a value between reassessments unless one of the following conditions is true:

1. An error was made in the previous assessment which, once found, is corrected.
2. Boundary lines are adjusted by survey or division.
3. Changes in zoning.
4. Court orders.
5. New construction: including additions, porches, garages, or any other feature that adds value.
6. Improvements to the property, including renovation of a structure. If homes suffer from a condition that can be corrected, assessors will monitor the home periodically, and adjust the value if and when the condition is corrected.
7. Demolition or significant damage to a property.

An appeal process has been established, when an Assessor will review all the features of your property to ensure they reflect that fair market at the time of the last Reassessment, and to ensure that none of the seven criteria above should influence the value. Please be aware that values can go up or down based on the result of the appeal, and in order to obtain more information, the Assessor may need to conduct an inspection of the interior of the dwelling or structures on a property.

If you feel the need to file an appeal with our office, please download the Assessment Appeal Application form and submit it to our office. An Assessor will contact you once the application has been received.

This information is available on our online assessment website at EagleWeb or on the land books located in the Commissioner's office as well as the Circuit Court Clerk's office.

There is a three year statute of limitations on making a tax adjustment.