Building Permit Requirements: Essential Guide for Construction Projects

Constructing a new building or renovating an old one requires substantial effort, both in physical labor and paperwork. While there are a lot of fun creative aspects to new constructions, such as planning and designing new assets and the actual building part, essential but less exciting tasks like submitting paperwork are unavoidable.

In many cases, failing to obtain the correct business permits can lead to major legal and financial consequences. The risks of building without a permit can come in the form of major financial fines or full-on project shutdowns. 

But what is required to receive a building permit? In this article, we discuss what a building permit is, what requirements you might need to receive one, and how you can go through the permit submission process successfully. 

What is a building permit?

A building permit is a type of document issued by the government that grants permission for construction to begin on a specific property. Governments require building permits to ensure new constructions comply with local zoning laws and building regulations. These regulations are monitored to protect the occupants of certain buildings and ensure that the construction is safe and secure.

Some common projects that often require permits include:

• Construction of brand-new buildings
• Major renovations on older buildings
• Work on historically recognized buildings
• Work that requires connection to major resources, such as plumbing or grid work

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Building permits are all regulated by local regulations. To check what specific requirements you’ll need for your project, be sure to check your local jurisdiction for building permit requirements.

When do you need a building permit? 

• Common scenarios: List and explain common scenarios where a building permit is needed (e.g., structural changes, additions, demolitions).
• Minor vs. major projects: Differentiate between minor projects that might not need a permit and major ones that do.
• Local variations: Mention that requirements can vary by location and it's important to check with local authorities.

Not all construction projects are created equal, and some might now even require a building permit to begin. However, it’s always important to check with your government before starting your build to see if a permit is required to minimize the risk of running into penalties. 

Projects likely to require a permit include structural changes or changes in room usage. Some of the examples include:

• Adding or removing walls
• Demolishing part of your house
• Adding an additional room
• Changing the usage of a room (like changing a garage into a living space)

The goal of a permit is to ensure the safety and security of the occupants, so there may be legislation for what is considered standard to the area. For example, windows in California might have different requirements than windows in Florida, where they are more prone to damaging weather such as hurricanes.

Major vs. minor projects

To determine if you need a permit, categorize your project as 'major' or 'minor'. What needs to be done to complete your project? Are you creating any holes or shifting any major structures in your building? Do you need to make adjustments to potentially dangerous utilities such as water or electric? Is my project for a utilitarian reason, or cosmetic?

We’ve divided a few projects into major and minor categories for you to consider:

Major projects:

• Adding a deck to your backyard
• Renovating a new addition to your house
• Rewiring your house for electrical

Minor projects:

• Painting your house a different color
• Installing a new faucet
• Landscaping your front lawn

If you are ever unsure for whatever reason, it’s always best to consult your local government before beginning your project. That way, you’ll have all of the information you need before you even begin and reduce the risk of penalties or fines.

How to apply for a building permit

Applying for a building permit unfortunately is not a uniform experience. The submission process depends on your local jurisdiction and its regulations. However, there are 10 basic steps to applying for a building permit. 

How to apply for a building permit in 10 steps:

1. Determine project scope
2. Identify the correct permits for submission
3. Develop plans and compile application materials
4. Submit your application including all plans and assets
5. Application review period
6. Submit any necessary fees to the designated departments
7. Receive permit after approval
8. Break ground
9. Schedule inspections at designated milestones
10. Final inspection and approval

Common challenges submitting puilding permits and how to overcome them

It can be confusing to find the right requirements for your building permit, and even more convoluted to submit them. It’s not unusual to run into issues when submitting a building permit. Here are some common challenges you might run into when submitting your building permit:

Delays

A delay in your application is one of the most common issues you might come across when submitting your building permit. This might happen for a few reasons:

• An incomplete application: If you submit documentation for a building permit and it doesn’t have all of the necessary information, your permit will likely be delayed. One way to avoid this is to use permit management software like PermitFlow to help keep track of everything you’ll need to submit a building permit.
• Zoning issues: Building and zoning permits have different requirements. Be sure that your building complies with both local building and zoning laws when submitting your application for a permit. 
• Submission backlog: You’re not the only one looking to submit a building permit. If there is a significant backlog of permits in review, you’re likely to be delayed. The best thing to do is to submit your permit far in advanced with extra cushion to ensure that permit delivery won’t delay your project.

Denials

While some issues can cause delays to your permit submissions, others can cause an outright denial of your permit submission. This could mean that you have to start the entire submission process over from scratch, or create a brand new plan that fits the requirements. Common reasons for permit denial include:

• Non-compliance with building codes: One of the main reasons you’re filing for a permit is to prove your compliance with local building codes. If your submission doesn’t comply with building codes, some jurisdictions will automatically deny your submission. Be sure that all of your plans and information provided comply with local laws and regulations to prevent this from happening. 
• Insufficient detail: The government needs to know as much information as possible regarding your construction plan. If you don’t submit the right information, or enough information, that could be considered an outright denial depending on the jurisdiction you’re filing for a permit. Using a permit submission tool like PermitFlow can help you identify whether or not your documents satisfy the permit requirements.
• Inadequate site plans: For larger projects, it’s important to consider how your building affects the entire site, in addition to just your project. If your site plans are inadequate, it might result in an entire dismissal of your application. 

Inspections

While they are not a part of the building permit requirements, building inspections are part of the building process as a whole. Building inspections can present their own set of challenges which include:

• A failed inspection: If the building doesn’t match up to the plans submitted within your permit application or doesn’t meet building codes, this can delay your full project. To avoid this, be sure to build exactly to the plans outlined in your building permit application.
• Scheduling conflicts: If your construction timeline doesn’t meet the necessary deadline for your inspection, this can cause significant delays to your project. It could also require you to resubmit for a new building permit, which can cause an even bigger delay in the process.
• Misunderstanding inspection criteria: Inspections happen at varying stages of your construction build. If you miss a certain inspection or don’t meet inspection criteria, your project can be temporarily halted or you might pay an additional fine. 

Uncover building permit requirements with PermitFlow

Filing for a building permit is just one aspect of the construction process, and it’s important that you start off on the right foot. Uncover all of your building permit requirements by using a permit management platform like PermitFlow.

PermitFlow offers a variety of solutions to help you manage multiple permits at once to ensure both efficiency and transparency in the submission process. Uncover everything you’ll need to correctly submit an application the first time with PermitFlow. 

If you’re interested in learning about how PermitFlow can streamline your permit submission process and help you navigate the complexities of permit requirements, speak with one of our permitting experts today.