Permitting and Plan Review
The permit process
Permitting begins with a complete application and submittal documents sufficient to show code compliance. The reviewer checks scope, occupancy, construction type, egress, structural and fire protection features, and whether the design professional is licensed for the work. Plan review is a desk check; it does not replace field inspection. A permit authorizes work within the approved scope and approved plans. Changes in scope require a revised permit or approved revision before the work proceeds.
Key concepts
Know the difference between a complete application and a technically compliant one; between a deferred submittal and an omitted item; and between a permit expiration and a suspension. Understand phased permits, master or prototype plans, and when a permit is exempt. Fees, refunds, and expiration rules are usually local ordinance matters, so read the adopted administrative provisions.
Traps
- Treating permit issuance as a warranty that the design is code compliant.
- Assuming plan approval authorizes field deviations.
- Missing that deferred submittals require later approval before installation or concealment.
- Confusing a revision with a new permit when the scope changes materially.
Worked example
A contractor submits roof truss design as a deferred submittal. The permit is issued with a condition that truss shop drawings be approved before truss installation. The inspector later finds trusses installed without that approval. The correct response is not to accept the installation because the main permit was issued; it is to require the deferred approval and inspect for compliance. Rule of thumb: a permit is an authorization with conditions, not a certificate of compliance.