Building permits are required for most new construction or remodeling projects – in fact every project we work on requires a permit. These permits are issued by the regulatory body with jurisdiction over the project site.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple step-by-step process for obtaining a permit that can be applied to all projects—each one is different. Be patient and engage with your local building officials. A fifteen minute in-person meeting can go a long way toward clearing up questions and potential issues.

Most of the time, the city or township will issue building permits but that isn’t always the case. Some smaller townships conduct their own planning and zoning review but defer to the County Building Department for actual building permits. Some project elements may require approval from the State or other governmental agencies. During the first phase of an architecture project the architect determines who has jurisdiction and begins to work with them.

During the Schematic Design phase of the project the architect’s office researches the zoning requirements for the project site. Zoning codes cover the physical aspects of the site. Site setbacks, height limitations, parking requirements, and use restrictions are common examples of the information gathered during this phase. Any aspect of the project that violates the zoning code is allowable only if a variance is granted. There is usually a Planning and/or Zoning Board associated with the city that hears cases and can grant variances.

A building permit is applied for with a drawing set produced after the Design Development phase and during the Construction Document phase. The drawings are submitted to the city and then reviewed. The drawings are either approved or, more commonly, conditional approval is awarded. The plan reviewer will send a letter to the Architect noting issues the city has with the. A building permit is issued when a plan reviewer is satisfied with the revisions.

A lot of things happen before a building permit is issued. Check out our phases of an architecture project blog post for more information.