Get the Construction Permit

As we discussed in Overview – The Permit Process, if required before starting construction, you should get a construction permit.

City Departments Involved

Generally, the three city departments involved in the planning, design, and permitting processes are the zoning, building, and code compliance departments.

Zoning Department

The zoning department is responsible for managing property use throughout a municipality. For example, if you want to put a commercial building in an area zoned residential, or you want to build a residential building in an area zoned commercial, you have to talk to zoning to get approval before the building department will review the project.

Building Department

The building department is responsible for reviewing construction documents and issuing the building permit as described in Figure 7: The Permit Process Flow Chart and later, the occupancy permit as discussed in Construction – Occupancy Permit.

Code Compliance Department

The code compliance department is responsible for municipal inspections. They inspect throughout several stages of construction to make sure construction is proceeding and completed “as permitted” according to the permitted plans. Code compliance is responsible for providing final authorization for the issue of the Occupancy Permit.

Click here for a more in depth look at the permit process.

How long is the Building Permit good?

There are two very important dates. The first is the date when construction must start; the second is the expiration date when construction must be substantially complete.

Most residential permits require that construction starts within 30 days of receiving the permit and completes within one year of when construction started. In commercial construction, the project generally starts within 90 days of receipt of permit and is good until the project is complete, as long as there is no break in construction. Site inactivity for six months or longer is generally considered a break in construction. Dates can vary between municipalities, so talk with your local building department about the specific requirements and limits in your area.

TIP: Remember that you will attract more bees with flowers than you will with vinegar, so be sure to treat the people at the permit office with the respect they deserve. You’ll be amazed at how helpful building department officials can be when treated respectfully.