What Commercial Building Permits are Required?

Navigating state, city and local commercial building permit requirements can be a difficult and time-consuming task. 

Needs change based on location, size and scope of work. What may be unimportant to one town may be non-negotiable a few dozen miles away.

Before trying to do this yourself, make sure to research applicable building and zoning laws in order to file the proper paperwork for each job.

Filing for a commercial building permit includes a series of steps that, if followed, correctly lead to success.

The problem is that one mistake along the way can set a project back weeks or even months.

That is why it is important to be aware of the process and to prepare the paperwork correctly. A commercial building checklist includes:

• Review local regulations. Locations can be close in distance but miles apart in terms of requirements. States, cities and local entities are empowered to enact the rules they want to see in terms of zoning, beauty, environmentalism and more. Make sure you know going in what is expected. Don’t let picking the wrong windows or outward facing material set you back.
• Register for an e-permit account. Most state, county and local building departments require basic background information to apply for a permit. Many cities and states no longer accept over-the-counter permit requests.
• Prepare your files. Save all digital files as PDFs. That includes construction drawings such as conceptual designs, mechanical and electrical systems, finishes and exteriors. You also need the project scope, budget and contract.
• Determine if you need to submit a site development plan. They are required for larger projects in many states.
• Identify who and when reviews or approvals are needed. Are landmarks, zoning or right of way impacted? Knowing this ahead of time will shorten delays down the line.

Only then is it time to file the application, which brings its own set of fees, requirements, reviews, corrections and resubmittals.

That’s why it is much easier to let an experienced permit professional such as Express Permits help.

Building codes vary from state to state. This is in part because of geography and population density, but it also reflects what is important to people who live in an area.

For example, California and Colorado more heavily regulate carbon emissions while New England states are very protective of historical value.

Knowing the codes and restrictions for a specific state is crucial. Start with local building department websites. They likely - but not always - reflect statewide regulations. That is why you need to review county and state websites as well.

Here is a handy guide to state-by-state building codes.

Managing these details is what permit professionals do every day. And with services in 48 states, Express Permits offers the experience and knowledge to smoothly navigate the permitting process.

Once you access the codes, identify the ones that apply to your project. These can include:

• Architectural
• Structural
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Fire and safety
• Mechanical
• ADA accessibility
• Historical
• And more

Managing these requirements properly lessens the cost during the commercial permit process. Missing or making a mistake along the way adds to the time and money needed for construction.

The types of building permits you need are determined by size, impact, location and future use. Additional permits often are required as well. Common ones include:

• Local site plans. This includes lighting, signage, parking and landscaping.
• Local building permits. These general construction permits include plumbing and HVAC.
• State site plans. This includes elevators, electrical, exhaust, fire and safety.
• Department of Natural Resources permit. This includes stormwater management, watershed protection, erosion control and any hazardous material that requires disposal.

Permanent or temporary permits also may be required for planting trees, sound limits, sidewalks, concrete installation, underground storage and more.

Missing one or more of these requirements means delays, which is why outsourcing the permitting process always makes sense.

Contact us at sales@expresspermits.net with any questions or reach out via our form.

Make sure to read the next part of this series: Do Permit Expeditors Know the Permit Regulations in my Area?