How much does it cost to run a gas line in Virginia?

There is no standard price for a gas line in Virginia: each line is quoted for its own route, and two houses on the same street can need very different jobs. What you can know in advance is what moves the price, what the permit costs where you live, and what a complete quote should include.

What drives the price

Length and route. A short branch to a range in a kitchen over an open basement is the simple case. A run across a finished house, through a crawlspace, or up into an attic takes more labour, and any wall or ceiling that has to be opened has to be patched afterwards. Ask whether drywall repair and painting are in the price or left to you.

How many appliances the line feeds. The pipe has to be sized for everything it serves. A line for one dryer is smaller than a trunk line that will also feed a future furnace, water heater and generator. Planning ahead can cost a little more now and save a second run later.

Pipe material. The line may be rigid steel pipe or flexible corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST), and the two may be priced differently. The quote should name which one is used. Columbia Gas says CSST should be bonded,^[6] so ask whether bonding is included.

Outdoor and buried runs. A line to a grill, fire pit, pool heater, detached garage or standby generator usually means a trench, and the trench means locates. Virginia 811 is free and asks homeowners to contact it three days before digging.^[7] If Columbia Gas is also bringing in a new service line, all private underground facilities must be marked before Columbia Gas schedules construction of a new service line, and it suggests a private line locating company for that.^[4] A private locate, hand digging near existing lines and restoring the lawn all add cost. Ask whether they are included.

The meter and the service line. A big new load can outgrow what the gas company delivers. Columbia Gas of Virginia asks customers adding equipment to call first so it can confirm there is enough gas pressure,^[6] and its New Business team handles right-sizing meters and service lines and meter upgrades.^[4] If your home has no gas service at all yet, Columbia Gas of Virginia says that once you hire a contractor, it installs the service line and meter.^[5] Other gas companies may work differently, so ask your utility early what, if anything, it charges for its part.

Hookup, testing and start-up. Connecting the appliance, checking for leaks and starting it up should be in the quote. So should a new appliance connector and shut-off valve where they are needed.

The permit and inspection. Virginia's building code requires a permit before work starts on fuel supply systems.^[3] Fees are set locally.

What the permit costs

Permit fees are set by each county or city. Two examples:

• Spotsylvania County's over-the-counter residential packet for mechanical work, updated August 2025, lists $100 per trade plus a 2% building surcharge and a $45 processing fee, or $147.00 for a single trade,^[1] for jobs such as a furnace or water heater replacement.^[1] The packet does not list new gas piping as a job of its own, so ask the county which permit and fee apply to a new line.
• In Montgomery County, when we checked on October 26, 2026, residential plumbing and mechanical trade permits were each $0.03 per square foot of gross building area, with a $45 minimum,^[2] plus a 2% state levy and a 2% technology fee with a $10 minimum.^[2] The same schedule listed a re-inspection fee of $50,^[2] which is a reason to want the work right the first time.

Your contractor normally pulls the permit and builds the fee into the price. Check that the quote says so.

What can offset the cost

If the new line is for a new heating appliance or water heater, ask about utility rebates. Columbia Gas also offers rebates on high-efficiency furnaces, boilers and water heaters installed by a participating contractor.^[5] If another company supplies your gas, ask it whether it offers rebates before you buy the appliance.

When to call a licensed pro

For the whole job, including the quote. The business you hire needs a Virginia contractor licence in a class large enough for the contract. A Class C licence covers a single contract over $1,000 but less than $30,000.^[8] It also needs a specialty that covers gas, such as the gas fitting contracting (GFC) specialty, which covers the installation, repair, improvement, or removal of gas piping and appliances.^[9] Homeowners have a narrow exemption: an owner working on no more than one primary residence that he owns, for his own use, during any 24-month period is exempt from the contractor licensing chapter,^[10] but an owner relying on that exemption must still comply with the Uniform Statewide Building Code,^[10] so the permit and inspection still apply. Our answer on who can install a gas line in Virginia goes through the licences and that exemption, and you can check any licence on DPOR's lookup.

Stop and call your gas company's emergency line, from outside, if you smell gas at any point. See what to do if you smell gas in your house.

Comparing quotes

Virginia's Board for Contractors advises that you get at least three written bids based on the same specifications,^[11] and that you keep the deposit to 10% of the price or $1,000, whichever is less.^[11] It also reminds homeowners: "Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work."^[11] And it advises that you hold back the final payment until the job is completely finished,^[11] which for a gas line means after it passes inspection.

A quote you can compare names the appliances served, the route and pipe material, the permit, trenching and restoration, meter coordination, and the hookup. For the steps behind each item, read what running a new gas line involves. Loclis lists DPOR-licensed businesses with their licence number and class: see plumbers in Blacksburg or more plumbing answers.

Describe the gas line you need once and licensed local businesses send quotes you can compare side by side.