ICC PT key terms

A formal written authorization issued by a local jurisdiction that allows the holder to perform specific construction, demolition, or property work, subject to compliance with adopted codes and required inspections.

The appointed officer responsible for enforcing the adopted code, interpreting its provisions, issuing or denying permits, directing inspections, and initiating enforcement action within the jurisdiction.

A front-line staff member who receives applications, checks them for completeness, calculates and collects fees, issues permits within delegated authority, and routes plans for technical review.

The systematic examination of submitted construction documents by qualified staff to verify compliance with adopted codes and ordinances before a permit is issued.

A document issued after final inspection confirming that a building complies with the code and approved plans and may lawfully be occupied for its stated use.

A published list of charges adopted by the jurisdiction that establishes how much is collected for permits, based on factors such as construction valuation, floor area, or fixture counts.

A written directive halting construction or other work that is proceeding without a permit, contrary to approved plans, or in an unsafe manner until the cited conditions are corrected.

A body created by ordinance that hears appeals of code interpretations and decisions made by the building official and may grant limited relief from specific code provisions.

A portion of the design, such as truss drawings or fire sprinkler plans, submitted for review after the main permit is issued but before that portion of the work begins.

The rule that a permit lapses when work has not started within a set period after issuance, or when work is suspended or abandoned for a specified length of time.

A written notice to an owner or responsible party identifying code violations, the corrective action required, a compliance deadline, and the consequences of failing to comply.

The legal authority of code officials to enter property to conduct inspections, obtained through owner consent, an administrative warrant, or statutory authority in emergency conditions.

A court order based on probable cause that authorizes a code official to inspect a property when the owner or occupant refuses to grant consent for entry.

The process by which the jurisdiction itself corrects a violation, such as securing or demolishing an unsafe structure, and then recovers the cost from the property owner.

The constitutional requirement that government give affected persons adequate notice and a fair opportunity to be heard before depriving them of property or another protected interest.

A building or portion of one that the code official finds dangerous to life or property because of structural damage, fire hazard, or other conditions requiring repair, vacation, or demolition.

A legal claim recorded against real property to secure payment of costs the jurisdiction incurred, such as charges for nuisance abatement, board-up, or demolition work.

A monetary fine imposed through an administrative or court proceeding for a code violation, separate from any criminal charge that may also apply.

A written field notice from an inspector listing deficiencies observed during an inspection and requiring correction and re-inspection before the work may proceed or be approved.

A charge assessed when work is not ready when the inspector arrives, or when previously cited deficiencies have not been corrected before the return visit.

The drawings, specifications, and supporting calculations submitted to the jurisdiction that describe the location, nature, extent, and quality of the proposed work.

A scaled drawing showing the layout of rooms, walls, doors, windows, and fixtures at a stated building level, viewed as though cut horizontally and seen from above.

A scaled drawing of the vertical face of a building or an interior wall, showing heights, materials, finishes, and the relationship of features above grade.

A drawing showing a building cut vertically to reveal internal construction, floor-to-floor heights, and material relationships that are not visible on plans or elevations.

The written portion of the construction documents that sets out required materials, referenced standards, workmanship, and installation methods for the project.

The stamp, signature, and date applied by a licensed architect or engineer to documents, certifying that the signer is responsible for the design within their authorized scope of practice.

Revised drawings marked to reflect actual installed conditions and changes made during construction, typically submitted at project completion for the record.

A mapped area of a community within which a uniform set of regulations governs permitted land uses, density, building height, and lot development standards.

The minimum required horizontal distance between a building or structure and a specified lot line, street right-of-way, or other designated reference line.

The share of a lot, usually stated as a percentage, that may be occupied by buildings or by buildings plus other impervious surfaces such as paving.

The ratio of total building floor area to the area of the lot on which it sits, used to control density and the overall mass of development.

An authorized departure from a specific zoning requirement, granted through a public process when strict application would cause practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship to the owner.

A use or structure that lawfully existed before current zoning rules took effect but does not meet those rules, and is generally allowed to continue with limits on expansion.

An approval required for certain uses that may be acceptable in a zoning district only after review of site impacts and the imposition of conditions to reduce those impacts.

A legal right held by someone other than the owner to use a defined portion of a property for a specific purpose, such as utility lines, access, or drainage.

Land dedicated or reserved for public use, such as a street, alley, or sidewalk, over which abutting owners generally have no right to build or obstruct.

A scaled drawing showing lot boundaries, existing and proposed buildings, access, parking, drainage, and utilities, used to evaluate zoning and site development compliance.