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Office: City of Covington Emergency Management Division, housed within Public Works, under the Covington Municipal Code – coordinates the City’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Program and Emergency Operations Center (EOC), reporting to the City Manager
Notes: A city of just 5.67 square miles, Covington’s emergency management program is closely tied to city departments given its very small geographic footprint
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-64 runs through the city; US-60 and US-220 are also primary corridors in this mountainous western Virginia location
Transit: No dedicated fixed-route local transit identified; confirm current regional options directly with the city
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: City of Covington Development Services – 340 E. Walnut Street, Covington, VA 24426 | (540) 965-6356 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM
Services: Building permit applications can be submitted in multiple ways per the department; seven inspections are required on all new structures
Notes: Applicants certify they are the property owner (or authorized agent) and agree that a permit holder allows the code official reasonable-hour access to enforce code provisions – standard but worth reading carefully before signing. It is a violation of Virginia law to hire or award a contract to an unlicensed contractor.
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
State VSO: Virginia Department of Veterans Services – dvs.virginia.gov (statewide office locator for the nearest Veterans Service Representative)
Notes: Confirm current local point of contact directly with dvs.virginia.gov
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Alleghany Highlands Regional Library (also known as the Charles P. Jones Memorial Library) – 406 West Riverside Street, Covington, VA 24426 | (540) 962-3321 | Fax: (540) 962-8447 | ahrlib.org
Notes: This regional library serves Covington City jointly with Alleghany County and Bath County – a genuinely shared tri-jurisdiction resource, not exclusive to Covington
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Falling Springs Waterfall, a notable roadside waterfall visible from US-220 just north of the city; Humpback Covered Bridge, a historic covered bridge nearby; the Alleghany Historical Society, offering local history exhibits in Covington; Lake Moomaw, a significant regional reservoir for boating and fishing
Notes: Since a 2020-announced, 2023-completed merger, Alleghany County Public Schools and Covington City Public Schools combined into Alleghany Highlands Public Schools – Alleghany High School (opened 1963, previously Alleghany County High School) now serves students from both the county and the independent city of Covington jointly, a notable example of city-county service consolidation even though the two remain separate governmental jurisdictions
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: City of Covington GIS – accessible via covington.va.us
Parcel Search: Covington Commissioner of the Revenue records
Addressing/911: Coordinated through City of Covington Emergency Management
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Covington City Animal Control – 333 West Locust Street, Covington, VA
Independent nonprofit shelter serving the area: Alleghany Humane Society – 9313 Rich Patch Road, Covington, VA | Hours: Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday Noon–4 PM, Monday/Thursday by appointment
Notes: Covington City Animal Control (enforcement) and the Alleghany Humane Society (independent nonprofit shelter/adoption) are two separate entities – confirm which one you need for your specific situation, whether reporting an animal issue (Animal Control) or looking to adopt (Alleghany Humane Society).
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Environmental Complaints: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality – deq.virginia.gov
Notes: Contact City of Covington Public Works directly for current refuse collection and recycling program details, as specifics were not independently confirmed for this entry
NOTES
Covington is one of Virginia’s smaller independent cities by land area (just 5.67 square miles), and it holds the unusual distinction of serving as the county seat of Alleghany County despite being a legally separate jurisdiction from that county – the Alleghany County Courthouse sits within Covington’s city limits. Since 2023, the city’s public schools have merged operationally with Alleghany County’s under Alleghany Highlands Public Schools, even though the two remain distinct local governments for permitting, taxation, and most other services. All contact information above was sourced from official city, county, and library pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Covington City County
Heritage | Covington’s historic ties to the C&O Railway and significant paper-manufacturing industry along the Jackson River reflect the region’s mountain-industrial heritage, with the surrounding Allegheny Mountains giving this small independent city a dramatic scenic backdrop typical of far western Virginia Outdoors | The Jackson River offers renowned fly fishing and paddling through dramatic mountain scenery, while the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests provide extensive hiking and hunting throughout the surrounding Allegheny Mountains Notable | The Jackson River’s fly fishing reputation draws serious anglers to Covington’s scenic mountain waters, tying this small industrial city to significant outdoor recreation appeal Library | Covington branch library serves the city’s mountain-industrial-heritage communities in the Allegheny Highlands
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Services: Deed recording, land records, wills, marriage licenses
CIRCUIT COURT
Address: 815 East Madison St, Covington, VA 24426
Phone: (540) 965-1730
Website: vacourts.gov/courts/circuit/covington
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK
815 East Madison St, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 965-1730
Genealogy
City-level record sources
Alleghany Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Covington (serving both jurisdictions – see Probate section above). Because Covington and Alleghany County share one clerk’s office, family history researchers looking for either jurisdiction’s probate records should search the same combined index.
Alleghany County and the City of Covington also merged their public school systems in 2023, reflecting the close administrative integration between the two.
Local societies
No dedicated Covington genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Alleghany Circuit Court (serves both Alleghany County and the City of Covington) 266 West Main Street, PO Box 670, Covington, VA 24426 (540) 965-1730
Covington is one of Virginia’s 38 independent cities, in Western Virginia’s mountains, physically the county seat of surrounding Alleghany County even though it is a legally separate jurisdiction. Virginia has NO separate probate court – probate (“qualification”) is handled entirely by the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office. Uniquely among independent cities, Covington shares a single Circuit Court and Clerk’s Office with Alleghany County – one clerk serves both jurisdictions from the same courthouse.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Virginia calls the probate process “qualification” rather than “appointment,” and it happens administratively at the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, not before a judge, unless a dispute arises. This framework applies identically in independent cities as in counties.
Small Estate Affidavit (Va. Code § 64.2-601, the “Virginia Small Estate Act”) – available when the decedent’s entire personal probate estate (excluding real estate) does not exceed $75,000, at least 60 days have passed since death, and no personal representative has been appointed or has a pending application in any jurisdiction. If a will exists, it must first be admitted to probate (recorded with the Clerk) even though no executor is appointed. As of July 1, 2026, the affidavit must be filed on the statewide form (CC-1685).
Single Small Asset Release (Va. Code § 64.2-602) – any person or institution holding a single asset of $35,000 or less may release it directly to a successor once 60 days have passed since death and no personal representative has qualified, without any affidavit required at all.
Real Estate Affidavit (Form CC-1612) – if the decedent owned only real estate, this can be recorded directly in land records without full probate. Real estate generally cannot be transferred through the small estate affidavit process.
Full Qualification / Administration – the standard path for larger or more complex estates. The personal representative appears before the Clerk, takes an oath, files the will and death certificate, and typically posts a surety bond. The estate is then supervised by a Commissioner of Accounts throughout administration.
Step 2: filing for administration
The person seeking to qualify as executor or administrator brings the original will (if any) and a certified death certificate to the Alleghany Circuit Court Clerk’s Office in Covington (which handles both Covington and Alleghany County matters).
The Clerk reviews the will’s validity and admits it to probate.
The personal representative takes an oath and qualifies, posting a bond if required; the Clerk issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
The Commissioner of Accounts oversees the estate going forward.
The personal representative notifies creditors, pays valid debts, and manages estate assets.
Remaining assets are distributed to beneficiaries or heirs, and the estate is closed once final accounting is approved.
What it costs
Virginia imposes a PROBATE TAX on most wills admitted to probate and grants of administration: $1 state tax + $0.33 local tax for every $1,000 of estate value. No tax is imposed on estates valued at $15,000 or less.
Filing fees for qualification vary by estate size; confirm current fees directly.
Virginia does NOT impose a state estate tax or inheritance tax – repealed for deaths on or after July 1, 2007. Only the federal estate tax may apply, and only to very large estates.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
Covington Police Department, 336 West Locust St, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 965-6360
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
VOTER REGISTRAR
333 West Locust St, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 965-6300
ELECTIONS
Covington Electoral Board, 333 West Locust St, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 965-6300
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health District
Alleghany Health District, 200 Beech St, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 962-2839
Department of Social Services
341 South Court St, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 965-6350
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Alleghany Health Department (Virginia Department of Health) – serves Covington jointly with Alleghany County
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Virginia delivers public health primarily through regional Virginia Department of Health districts rather than standalone independent-city health departments
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Editorial Trust
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
Population: 5,500
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Covington City County facilities via Amazon.
