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Virginia County
Alleghany County, Virginia
Douthat State Park and Alleghany Highlands - from Douthat State Park (one of Virginia's original six state parks established in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Douthat offers hiking, fishing in a stocked lake, cabins, and camping in a mountain setting in the heart of the Alleghany Highlands - a beloved Virginia outdoor destination that has attracted generations of mountain visitors) to the Alleghany Highlands' natural character (the county's Alleghany Mountain ridges and the Jackson River corridor create a dramatic western Virginia landscape of forested mountain terrain, trout streams, and scenic rural communities along the West Virginia border).
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Office: Alleghany County Public Safety / Director of Public Safety – manages E-911, emergency communications, and Homeland Security grant coordination; works under County Administration, (540) 863-6600
Alert System: Text ALLEGHANYCO to 38276 for emergency alert texts, or sign up directly at alleghanycounty-va.myfreealerts.com
Notes: Nearly half of Alleghany County’s land area lies within national forest; the Director of Public Safety also maintains the county’s E-911 address system and oversees the E-911 Communication Center
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
Roads: I-64 is the primary corridor through the county, connecting to the Alleghany Highlands region
Transit: Limited local transit; the county’s rural, mountainous geography (nearly half in national forest) means most residents rely on personal vehicles
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Alleghany County Building Department (Public Works) – (540) 863-6654 | 9212 Winterberry Avenue, Suite A, Covington, VA 24426
Stormwater/Erosion & Sediment questions: Public Works Department, (540) 863-6650, same address
Services: Permits issued under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (VUSBC); allow two working days for application review; inspections scheduled Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–3:30 PM, requested at least 24 hours in advance (no same-day inspections)
Notes: If you purchased the property within the last year to 18 months, you’ll need to submit a copy of the deed (available from the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at the Courthouse on Main Street, Covington) showing you as the listed owner on the application. New single-family dwellings (excluding mobile/manufactured homes) require two sets of basic structural drawings. A new entrance from a state-maintained road requires a VDOT entrance permit submitted with the application. Fees are based on estimated construction cost and are due at filing – checks payable to Alleghany County Treasurer. Contractors must hold a Virginia Class A, B, or C license plus a local business license to be listed as “contractor” on a permit.
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, as Alleghany’s small population means veteran services are typically delivered through regional VDVS staff rather than an in-house county office
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Alleghany Highlands Regional Library – 406 West Riverside St, Covington, VA 24426 | (540) 962-3321 | Fax: (540) 962-8447
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi; check the library’s own hours directly, as they vary by day (posted as Mon./Wed./Fri. on a differing schedule from other weekdays)
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Nearly 50% of Alleghany County’s land lies within George Washington and Jefferson National Forest; a rail-trail with a finely crushed gravel surface begins just minutes from downtown Covington, popular for walking and biking
Notes: Confirm current trail conditions and any seasonal closures directly with the county or US Forest Service before a visit, given the extensive shared national forest land
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Alleghany County GIS Mapping Site – accessible via co.alleghany.va.us
Parcel Search: Alleghany County Commissioner of the Revenue records
Addressing/911: Coordinated through the county’s Director of Public Safety and E-911 Communication Center
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Facility: Alleghany Humane Society – serves Alleghany County, the City of Covington, and the towns of Clifton Forge and Iron Gate | (540) 862-2436 | [email protected]
Hours: Reclaims 8 AM–4 PM daily; general/adoption hours vary – confirm current hours directly before visiting
Services: Stray intake, lost-and-found, adoptions, owner surrenders, low-cost spay/neuter assistance (subsidized in part by grant funding); roughly 1,000 companion animals assisted annually
Notes: The Humane Society is an independent nonprofit contracted to serve as the area’s animal shelter and local pound – it is not a direct county department, so use its own phone line rather than the general county line for animal issues
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Office: Public Works – (540) 863-6650, 9212 Winterberry Avenue, Suite A, Covington, VA 24426
Services: Weekly refuse pickup for the county and the Town of Clifton Forge; an annual refuse collection fee applies; a transfer station is available (see the county’s Transfer Station Brochure for hours); recycling information is published on the Public Works page
Environmental Complaints: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality – deq.virginia.gov; the county’s own General Complaint Form is also available through Public Works for local issues
Notes: Alleghany County’s stormwater management program (Chapter 52 of the County Code) is unified with its erosion/sediment control and floodplain management requirements – direct stormwater questions to the Stormwater Administrator at the Public Works number above
NOTES
Alleghany County, formed in 1822 from parts of Bath, Botetourt, and Monroe counties (the latter now in West Virginia), takes its name from the Allegheny Mountains along its western border. With nearly half its land in national forest, the county’s identity and much of its outdoor recreation are shaped by that federal land. Covington is the county seat, while nearby Clifton Forge is the largest town; several services – the Alleghany Highlands Regional Library and the Alleghany Humane Society – are shared regionally with Covington and the surrounding towns rather than run by the county alone. All contact information above was sourced from official county and nonprofit pages as of this writing; phone numbers and hours should be reconfirmed directly with the relevant office before a visit.
About Alleghany County
Alleghany County is western Virginia’s Alleghany Highlands and Douthat State Park county – the mountain terrain along the West Virginia border, the Jackson River trout fishery, and the historic paper and chemical manufacturing traditions of the Covington area define a county whose natural and industrial character coexist along Virginia’s western mountain frontier.
County administrative offices are shared with the City of Covington at 266 W. Main Street, Covington, VA 24426, with the county serving residents across the highland terrain surrounding the independent city.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Alleghany County Assessor at 9 N. Maple Avenue, Covington, VA 24426, phone 540-965-1730. VA assessed at 100% fair market value.
Courts & Legal
Alleghany County Circuit Court at 266 W. Main Street, Covington, VA 24426, phone 540-965-1730, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK
9212 Winterberry Ave, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 863-6640
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Alleghany Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Covington (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
Local societies
No dedicated Alleghany County 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 266 West Main Street, PO Box 670, Covington, VA 24426 (540) 965-1730
Alleghany County is in Western Virginia along the West Virginia border, county seat Covington (an independent city). Virginia has NO separate probate court – probate (“qualification”) is handled entirely by the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office.
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.
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.
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 Alleghany County 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
9207 Winterberry Ave, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 863-1642
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
VOTER REGISTRAR
9212 Winterberry Ave, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 863-6640
ELECTIONS
Alleghany County Electoral Board, 9212 Winterberry Ave, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 863-6640
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
110 Rosedale Ave, Covington, VA 24426
(540) 962-2136
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Alleghany Health Department (Virginia Department of Health) – serves Alleghany County and the City of Covington
Services: Immunizations, WIC, environmental health, vital records
Notes: Virginia delivers public health primarily through regional Virginia Department of Health district offices rather than standalone county health departments; new bedroom additions require an approved water/sewer facilities permit from the local health department in addition to a standard building permit
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: shared with Covington City
Population: 15,000
Established: 1822
Tier: 3
Public Records
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