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PSB LBO practice questions

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Question 1Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

Under the International Building Code, a building's occupancy classification is primarily determined by which consideration?

  1. The number of plumbing fixtures required
  2. The fire-flow capacity of the nearest hydrant
  3. The purpose for which the space is used and the associated hazard to occupants Correct answer.
  4. The construction type selected by the architect

Explanation

The IBC assigns every space an occupancy group based on the use or purpose of the space and the relative hazard that use presents to occupants. Construction type, fixture counts, and site fire flow are consequences of that classification rather than the basis for it.

Question 2Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A jurisdiction adopts a new edition of the International Building Code with a local amendment. Which document governs where the amendment conflicts with the model text?

  1. The locally adopted amendment Correct answer.
  2. The prior edition of the model code
  3. The designer's professional judgment
  4. The model code as published

Explanation

A locally adopted amendment is part of the legally enacted code and controls over the conflicting model language. Model codes have no legal force until adopted, and adoption occurs as amended by the local authority.

Question 3Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A permit applicant disagrees with a plan reviewer's interpretation of a code section. What is the standard first step in the regulatory appeal process?

  1. Resubmit identical plans to a different reviewer
  2. File suit in the local court of general jurisdiction
  3. Request a written interpretation and appeal to the board of appeals Correct answer.
  4. Proceed with construction and seek approval at final inspection

Explanation

Most adopted codes establish an administrative appeal to a board of appeals, often after requesting a written interpretation from the building official. Litigation is generally available only after administrative remedies are exhausted.

Question 4Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A change of use occurs in an existing building without any alteration work. What does the code generally require?

  1. Nothing, because no construction permit is triggered
  2. Demolition of the nonconforming portions
  3. Full upgrade to new-construction standards for the entire building
  4. Compliance with the requirements applicable to the new occupancy as required by the existing building provisions Correct answer.

Explanation

A change of occupancy triggers review under the existing building provisions, which apply requirements based on the new occupancy and the relative hazard of the prior use. It does not automatically require full new-construction compliance.

Question 5Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A building official may issue a stop-work order when which condition is observed?

  1. Work is proceeding without a required permit Correct answer.
  2. A subcontractor is not yet mobilized
  3. The owner requests a design change
  4. The contractor's schedule is behind

Explanation

Stop-work authority exists to halt work that is unsafe or proceeding contrary to the code, including work without a required permit. Scheduling and staffing matters are contractual, not regulatory.

Question 6Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

Which party is responsible for requesting required inspections at the appropriate stages of construction?

  1. The fire marshal
  2. The building official
  3. The permit holder or authorized agent Correct answer.
  4. The lending institution

Explanation

The code places the duty to notify the building official when work is ready for inspection on the permit holder or authorized agent. The building official performs inspections but does not schedule them.

Question 7Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A certificate of occupancy is issued to document what?

  1. That the design professional's contract is complete
  2. That the property taxes are current
  3. That the building complies with the code for its intended occupancy and may be lawfully occupied Correct answer.
  4. That the contractor has been paid in full

Explanation

A certificate of occupancy certifies that the completed work complies with applicable code provisions and that the structure may be used for the stated occupancy. Financial and contractual matters are unrelated to its issuance.

Question 8Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

Which term describes a building that lawfully existed before the current code but does not comply with a later-adopted requirement?

  1. Unsafe structure
  2. Nonconforming structure Correct answer.
  3. Illegal occupancy
  4. Condemned building

Explanation

A legally established building that does not meet a subsequently adopted requirement is nonconforming, and the code limits when it may continue. Illegal occupancy and unsafe or condemned status describe different regulatory conditions.

Question 9Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A designer needs the allowable height and area for a proposed building. Which combination of factors does the code use to establish those limits?

  1. Owner budget, schedule, and site size
  2. Sprinkler brand, roof material, and window type
  3. Occupancy group, construction type, and frontage Correct answer.
  4. Zoning district, parking count, and landscaping

Explanation

Allowable height and building area are tabulated by occupancy group and construction type, with increases permitted for open frontage and for automatic sprinkler protection. The other listed items are not the tabular basis for height and area.

Question 10Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

During construction, a field inspector finds a deviation from the approved plans that affects structural safety. What action is most consistent with the code?

  1. Accept it if the contractor provides a verbal assurance
  2. Note it in the file and address it at the next scheduled inspection
  3. Require correction or a revised design approved by the building official before work continues Correct answer.
  4. Refer the matter to the owner's lender

Explanation

Work must conform to the approved construction documents, and deviations affecting safety require correction or an approved revision. Deferring the issue or accepting informal assurances does not satisfy the code.

Question 11Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A building official's written interpretation of an ambiguous code section is best characterized as which of the following?

  1. A court precedent binding on all jurisdictions
  2. A statute enacted by the legislature
  3. An administrative determination entitled to deference unless clearly erroneous Correct answer.
  4. A nonbinding opinion with no regulatory effect

Explanation

Interpretations issued by the enforcing official are administrative determinations that carry weight in review but are subject to appeal and judicial scrutiny. They are not statutes or binding precedent.

Question 12Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A property owner wants to enlarge a legally nonconforming building. What does the code generally require before the enlargement is approved?

  1. Nothing, because the building is grandfathered
  2. That the enlargement not increase the degree of noncompliance and that the project meet applicable provisions Correct answer.
  3. That the nonconformity be recorded with the county recorder
  4. That the entire building be brought fully into compliance with all current requirements

Explanation

Enlargements of nonconforming buildings are typically permitted only where the work does not increase the extent of noncompliance and the new work complies with current provisions. Full retroactive compliance is generally not required.

Question 13Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A tenant proposes a use in an existing building that falls into a more hazardous occupancy group than the prior use. What does the change-of-occupancy analysis focus on?

  1. The relative hazard of the new use compared with the prior use and required upgrades Correct answer.
  2. The building's original construction date alone
  3. Only the tenant's lease terms
  4. The number of parking spaces on site

Explanation

The change-of-occupancy provisions compare the hazard classification of the new use to the existing one and require upgrades scaled to that difference. Lease terms and parking counts are outside this analysis.

Question 14Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

Which mechanism allows a designer to demonstrate code compliance using an alternative method not prescribed by the code?

  1. An alternative materials and methods request supported by technical evidence Correct answer.
  2. A deferred submittal at closeout
  3. A field change approved by the contractor
  4. A variance granted by the zoning board

Explanation

Codes permit approval of alternative materials, designs, or methods where the official finds them equivalent in performance and safety, supported by technical data. Variances address zoning standards, not building code equivalence.

Question 15Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

An inspector discovers that an occupied building has an immediate life-safety hazard. Which enforcement action is most appropriate?

  1. Wait for the next scheduled annual inspection
  2. Order immediate evacuation and prohibit occupancy until the hazard is abated Correct answer.
  3. Refer the matter to the planning commission
  4. Issue a notice of violation with a 90-day correction period

Explanation

Where an imminent hazard exists, the code authorizes the official to order the building vacated and occupancy prohibited until the danger is corrected. A routine correction period is inappropriate for immediate danger.

Question 16Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

Which document set must be approved before a building permit is issued for new construction?

  1. The construction documents demonstrating code compliance Correct answer.
  2. The subcontractor list
  3. The owner's insurance certificate
  4. The contractor's payment bond

Explanation

A permit is issued after the building official reviews construction documents and finds they show compliance with the code. Bonding, insurance, and subcontractor lists are contractual or licensing matters.

Question 17Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A local amendment increases the required fire-resistance rating for a construction type above the model code minimum. Which standard applies to a project permitted after the amendment takes effect?

  1. Either one, at the designer's election
  2. The stricter local amendment Correct answer.
  3. The model code minimum
  4. The rating in effect when the property was originally built

Explanation

A validly adopted local amendment supersedes the model text and applies to projects permitted after its effective date. Designers cannot elect a less stringent standard.

Question 18Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

The term "occupant load" is used in the code primarily to establish which of the following?

  1. The contractor's liability limit
  2. The number of exits and egress width required Correct answer.
  3. The building's resale value
  4. The required number of parking spaces

Explanation

Occupant load is calculated from floor area and use and drives egress design, including the number and width of means of egress. It does not set value, parking, or liability.

Question 19Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A building official is asked to approve a product that lacks the listing the code references but has independent test data showing equivalent performance. What is the appropriate basis for a decision?

  1. Approve it only if the manufacturer pays a review fee
  2. Reject it because the listing is absent
  3. Approve it as an alternative method where the official finds equivalence supported by the data Correct answer.
  4. Require the designer to change the occupancy classification

Explanation

The alternative methods provision allows approval where the official determines that the proposed product provides equivalent safety and performance, supported by technical evidence. Absence of a specific listing is not automatically disqualifying.

Question 20Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

After a fire damages a building, the building official determines the structure is unsafe. What authority does the official typically exercise?

  1. Transfer the property to the municipality
  2. Require the owner to rebuild to the latest code within 30 days
  3. Suspend the owner's contractor license
  4. Order repair, vacation, or demolition as necessary to remove the hazard Correct answer.

Explanation

Unsafe structure provisions authorize the official to order the building repaired, vacated, or demolished as needed to eliminate danger. The official cannot compel immediate full reconstruction or transfer title.

Question 21Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A project team proposes to phase construction so that a portion of the building is occupied before the entire project is complete. What must occur before that partial occupancy?

  1. Approval of the portion for occupancy with required life-safety systems in service Correct answer.
  2. Payment of the final permit fee
  3. Nothing, because a permit already exists
  4. Submission of as-built drawings

Explanation

Partial occupancy requires approval of the affected portion and confirmation that required fire protection, egress, and other life-safety systems serving that portion are operational. An existing permit does not authorize occupancy.

Question 22Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A board of appeals reviews a building official's decision. What is the board's typical scope of authority?

  1. Interpreting the code and granting relief where the code authorizes it Correct answer.
  2. Awarding damages to the applicant
  3. Deciding constitutional questions of law
  4. Amending the adopted code text

Explanation

Boards of appeals generally hear interpretations and authorized relief, such as variances from specific code provisions. They do not decide constitutional issues, award damages, or amend the code.

Question 23Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

An existing building is being altered and the work will increase the occupant load of a floor. What does the code require regarding the means of egress?

  1. Egress must be evaluated and upgraded to support the increased occupant load Correct answer.
  2. The building must be reclassified as a new structure
  3. Egress may remain unchanged if the walls are not moved
  4. Only the exit signs must be replaced

Explanation

Alterations that increase occupant load require the egress system to be evaluated and brought up to the capacity needed for the higher load. Reclassification as new construction is not automatic.

Question 24Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A building official wants to require a retrofit of an existing building that has no proposed work and no change of use. On what basis may such a requirement generally be imposed?

  1. The designer's preference for newer systems
  2. The lender's underwriting standards
  3. A specific code provision or ordinance addressing the identified hazard Correct answer.
  4. Routine periodic upgrade of all buildings in the jurisdiction

Explanation

Retroactive requirements must rest on an express code provision or locally adopted ordinance targeting a hazard, since existing buildings are generally not required to meet later standards absent such authority. Routine upgrades and private preferences lack that basis.

Question 25Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A developer argues that a building permit issued years ago authorizes work that now conflicts with a newly adopted code requirement. How is the permit best treated?

  1. It converts into a certificate of occupancy
  2. It remains valid indefinitely under the code in effect at issuance
  3. It is automatically void upon adoption of any new code edition
  4. Its validity is subject to the code's permit expiration and extension provisions Correct answer.

Explanation

Permits are subject to expiration and extension provisions, and work must generally commence within a stated period to remain valid. A permit does not confer perpetual immunity from later-adopted requirements.

Question 26Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

Under a typical model building code adopted by a local jurisdiction, which document formally adopts the code and gives it the force of law within that jurisdiction?

  1. The published model code volume issued by the code development organization
  2. The designer's sealed construction documents submitted with the permit application
  3. The adopting ordinance or resolution passed by the local governing body Correct answer.
  4. The building official's written interpretation memo on code sections

Explanation

A model code has no legal effect until a jurisdiction formally adopts it by ordinance or resolution, which establishes the effective date, scope, and any local amendments. The model code volume itself is only a recommended standard until that adoption occurs.

Question 27Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A building official delegates routine plan review tasks to a licensed architect retained as a consultant. Which statement best describes the official's remaining responsibility for those reviews?

  1. The official retains ultimate authority and accountability for code enforcement decisions Correct answer.
  2. Responsibility shifts to the state code agency that certified the consultant
  3. The consultant assumes full legal authority once the delegation is documented in writing
  4. Liability is extinguished because a licensed professional performed the review

Explanation

Delegation of technical review work does not transfer the statutory enforcement authority vested in the building official, who remains answerable for approvals and denials. The consultant provides professional analysis, but the official signs off on the determination.

Question 28Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A jurisdiction wants to adopt a technical amendment that differs from the model code. Which action makes that amendment enforceable?

  1. Formal adoption of the amendment through the jurisdiction's legislative process Correct answer.
  2. Publication of the amendment in the local newspaper's opinion section
  3. Inclusion of the amendment in a design professional's permit drawings
  4. Verbal direction from the building official to staff reviewers

Explanation

Local amendments become enforceable only when adopted through the same legislative process used for the base code, such as a council ordinance with any required public hearings. Informal communication or project documents cannot create binding code requirements.

Question 29Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A permit applicant disagrees with a plan reviewer's determination that a proposed stair width is inadequate. Which step is normally available first under the code's administrative provisions?

  1. File a lawsuit against the jurisdiction in superior court
  2. Appeal directly to the governing body without any prior administrative step
  3. Request a review or reconsideration of the decision by the building official Correct answer.
  4. Submit revised drawings without any accompanying explanation of the dispute

Explanation

Administrative provisions typically require the applicant to seek review by the building official before pursuing an appeal to a higher body such as a board of appeals. Exhausting the administrative remedy is generally a prerequisite to judicial action.

Question 30Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

What is the primary function of a building department's permit fee schedule in the regulatory process?

  1. To set the market value of construction work for property tax purposes
  2. To penalize applicants who submit incomplete permit applications
  3. To guarantee that the project will pass all required inspections
  4. To fund code enforcement activities such as plan review and inspection Correct answer.

Explanation

Permit fees are established to recover the cost of administering the code, including plan review, inspections, and enforcement staff. They are not penalties, tax valuations, or guarantees of compliance outcomes.

Question 31Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A building official issues a stop-work order on a project. Which condition most directly justifies that action under typical code enforcement provisions?

  1. The project is located in a historic district subject to design review
  2. The contractor has requested an extension of the project schedule
  3. The owner has changed the interior finish color from the approved palette
  4. Work is proceeding without a required permit or contrary to approved documents Correct answer.

Explanation

Stop-work authority exists to halt construction that is unpermitted, unsafe, or inconsistent with approved plans. Schedule changes, cosmetic selections, and historic review status do not by themselves constitute code violations justifying a stop-work order.

Question 32Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

Which body typically hears appeals from decisions of the building official and may grant a variance from strict code application?

  1. The fire department's prevention division
  2. The local planning commission responsible for zoning map amendments
  3. The board of appeals established under the code's administrative provisions Correct answer.
  4. The state licensing board for contractors

Explanation

The code establishes a board of appeals with authority to hear challenges to the building official's decisions and, within limits, grant variances where strict application causes practical difficulty. Planning commissions, fire prevention divisions, and contractor licensing boards have different functions.

Question 33Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A building official determines that an existing structure is dangerous and orders it vacated. Which principle governs the owner's obligation to comply?

  1. The owner may delay compliance indefinitely while seeking a new use permit
  2. The owner may ignore the order until a court issues a separate injunction
  3. The owner may continue occupancy if a tenant signs a liability waiver
  4. The owner must comply with the order, subject to the right to appeal the determination Correct answer.

Explanation

Orders issued under the code's unsafe structure provisions are enforceable, and the owner's remedy is to appeal the determination through the established administrative process. Self-help delay, waivers, or unrelated permit applications do not suspend the order.

Question 34Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

Before adopting a new edition of the model code, a jurisdiction typically performs which step to inform the public and affected industries?

  1. Suspend all permit issuance until the new edition takes effect
  2. Require designers to resubmit previously approved plans
  3. Hold public hearings and provide notice of the proposed adoption Correct answer.
  4. Obtain written consent from every licensed contractor in the jurisdiction

Explanation

Adoption of a new code edition generally follows a public process with notice and hearings so that stakeholders can comment on the proposal and any local amendments. Unanimous industry consent, permit moratoria, and resubmittal of prior plans are not standard requirements.

Question 35Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A designer submits plans that rely on a product evaluation report issued by a recognized evaluation service. What is the building official's typical basis for accepting that product?

  1. The report transfers enforcement authority to the evaluation service
  2. The report replaces the need for any plan review of the product's installation
  3. The report demonstrates compliance with the code through an approved alternative means Correct answer.
  4. The report automatically amends the code to include the product

Explanation

Evaluation reports document that a product or method satisfies code requirements through testing and analysis, giving the official a basis to approve it as an alternative means. The report does not amend the code, eliminate plan review, or shift enforcement authority.

Question 36Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

Which record-keeping obligation does a building department typically carry after a certificate of occupancy is issued?

  1. Transferring the file to the property owner as the official custodian
  2. Retaining permit records, approved plans, and inspection results for the required retention period Correct answer.
  3. Destroying all project files once the owner takes possession
  4. Forwarding the full permit file to the contractor's licensing board

Explanation

Building departments are generally required to maintain permit and inspection records for a defined retention period so that compliance history is available for future alterations, resale inquiries, and enforcement. Files are not routinely destroyed at occupancy or transferred to other parties.

Question 37Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A building official issues a written notice of violation to a property owner. What element is essential for the notice to be effective as an enforcement tool?

  1. A statement that the owner waives all rights to appeal
  2. Identification of the specific code section violated and the corrective action required Correct answer.
  3. An estimate of the cost the owner will incur for repairs
  4. A deadline set solely at the discretion of the inspector without any code basis

Explanation

An enforceable notice of violation must identify the violation with reference to the code requirement and state what must be done to correct it, along with any compliance deadline authorized by the code. Waivers of appeal rights, cost estimates, and arbitrary deadlines are not essential elements.

Question 38Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between the model code and a jurisdiction's adopted code where a local amendment conflicts with the model text?

  1. The model code controls because it is the national baseline
  2. The adopted local amendment controls within that jurisdiction Correct answer.
  3. Both provisions apply and the designer may choose either
  4. The conflict voids both provisions until resolved by a court

Explanation

Once adopted with amendments, the local code as amended is the governing law in that jurisdiction, and the amendment supersedes the corresponding model text. The model code serves as a baseline but does not override a validly adopted local change.

Question 39Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A building department wants to verify that a completed project matches approved plans before issuing a certificate of occupancy. Which administrative mechanism is designed for this purpose?

  1. A zoning variance granted by the board of appeals
  2. A final inspection and sign-off by the code official Correct answer.
  3. A property tax reassessment conducted by the assessor
  4. A contractor license renewal filed with the state

Explanation

The final inspection confirms that construction conforms to approved plans and code requirements, forming the basis for occupancy approval. Zoning variances, license renewals, and tax reassessments address different regulatory functions.

Question 40Building Codes and Regulatory Administration

A building official must decide whether to accept a phased occupancy request in which only part of a building will be occupied. Which consideration is most central to that determination?

  1. Whether the architect has signed a statement that the remaining work is on schedule
  2. Whether the contractor has finished all exterior landscaping shown on the site plan
  3. Whether the owner has paid the full permit fee for the entire project
  4. Whether the occupied portion is separated and provided with all life-safety systems required for its use Correct answer.

Explanation

Phased or partial occupancy approval hinges on whether the portion to be occupied is safe and self-sufficient, including required egress, fire protection, and separation from areas still under construction. Landscaping, fee payment, and schedule assurances are not the governing safety criteria.

Question 41Plan Review and Permit Processing

Under the model codes adopted by most U.S. jurisdictions, a permit application is typically considered complete on the date the building official does which of the following?

  1. Issues the first plan review correction letter
  2. Receives the application and the required submittal documents Correct answer.
  3. Collects the full permit fee at the counter
  4. Schedules the applicant's pre-application meeting

Explanation

The completeness date is generally the date the building official receives the application together with all required submittal documents and fees. That date starts the statutory review clock, so it matters for tracking turnaround times and deemed-approval provisions.

Question 42Plan Review and Permit Processing

A jurisdiction has a statutory 30-business-day review period that begins when an application is deemed complete. The complete application arrives on day 1, and the reviewer sends a written request for additional information on day 12. What is the usual effect on the review clock?

  1. The clock continues to run and the permit must issue by day 30 regardless
  2. The clock resets to day 1 only if the applicant pays a resubmittal fee
  3. The clock is voided and a new application must be filed
  4. The clock stops on day 12 and restarts when the requested information is received Correct answer.

Explanation

Most review statutes and local ordinances suspend the review period when the agency issues a written deficiency notice. The remaining review time resumes once the applicant supplies the requested information, so the agency is not forced to deny a permit for its own information request.

Question 43Plan Review and Permit Processing

During plan review, the reviewer identifies that a proposed assembly occupancy has an occupant load that triggers a second required exit but the plan shows only one. Which review action best reflects standard practice?

  1. Ask the applicant to resubmit the entire drawing set with no written comments
  2. Approve the plan and note the issue for the field inspector
  3. Write a code-referenced correction citing the occupant-load calculation and exit requirement Correct answer.
  4. Reject the permit outright without listing deficiencies

Explanation

Good review practice documents each deficiency with a specific code citation and the technical basis, so the designer can respond precisely. A written, referenced correction also creates an auditable record if the decision is appealed.

Question 44Plan Review and Permit Processing

A plan reviewer is deciding whether a proposed commercial kitchen hood system requires a permit separate from the building permit. Which document most directly governs this determination?

  1. The locally adopted mechanical code and its permit exemptions Correct answer.
  2. The jurisdiction's records retention schedule
  3. The state procurement manual
  4. The zoning ordinance's parking ratio table

Explanation

Scope-of-permit questions are resolved by the adopted technical codes and their exemption lists, here the mechanical code. Zoning, records, and procurement documents do not define which construction work requires a permit.

Question 45Plan Review and Permit Processing

An applicant submits plans for a tenant improvement in a building constructed in 1962. The reviewer must determine which code edition applies to the alteration. What is the most defensible approach?

  1. Apply the code edition in effect on the date the complete permit application was filed, subject to any adopted work-area or rehabilitation provisions Correct answer.
  2. Apply the code edition in effect when the building was originally constructed
  3. Apply whichever edition the designer prefers, as long as it is a published edition
  4. Apply the most recent edition only to the new work and ignore egress from the existing building

Explanation

Permits are generally reviewed under the code in effect at the time of application, with adopted provisions governing alterations to existing buildings. Those provisions address how much of the existing structure must be upgraded when work occurs.

Question 46Plan Review and Permit Processing

A reviewer receives a resubmittal that addresses some, but not all, previously cited corrections. What is the standard next step?

  1. Return the resubmittal unopened and require a new application
  2. Issue a follow-up correction notice listing only the unresolved items and any new deficiencies Correct answer.
  3. Approve the permit because most corrections were resolved
  4. Escalate directly to the board of appeals

Explanation

Each review cycle should document which corrections are resolved and which remain, plus any new issues created by the revised design. This keeps the record clear and tells the applicant exactly what is still needed.

Question 47Plan Review and Permit Processing

Which item is most appropriately verified during plan review rather than deferred to field inspection?

  1. Concrete slump at the time of placement
  2. Structural member sizing against design loads shown on the drawings Correct answer.
  3. Torque values on anchor bolts after installation
  4. Compaction results of the subgrade

Explanation

Plan review confirms that the design intent, including member sizing and load assumptions, complies with the code before construction begins. Field inspections verify that installed work matches the approved design and meets workmanship standards.

Question 48Plan Review and Permit Processing

A reviewer must confirm that a proposed project's drawings are sealed and signed by the appropriate design professional. In most U.S. jurisdictions, which standard governs this requirement?

  1. State professional licensing laws and rules for architects and engineers Correct answer.
  2. The jurisdiction's sign ordinance
  3. The contractor licensing bond schedule
  4. The building code's fire-resistance tables

Explanation

Seal and signature requirements come from state professional practice acts administered by licensing boards, not from the building code itself. The permit office applies those rules as a submittal requirement.

Question 49Plan Review and Permit Processing

A permit technician notices that the submitted site plan shows a proposed building within the required front setback. The project otherwise meets building code requirements. What is the appropriate action?

  1. Refer the setback issue to the zoning administrator and hold the building permit until zoning compliance is confirmed Correct answer.
  2. Approve the plan because setbacks are not building code provisions
  3. Issue the building permit and note the setback for the zoning office later
  4. Deny the building permit permanently with no referral

Explanation

Setbacks are zoning requirements administered separately from the building code, so the permit office coordinates with the zoning authority before issuance. Many jurisdictions require zoning sign-off as a precondition to a building permit.

Question 50Plan Review and Permit Processing

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a plan review checklist used by a permit office?

  1. To transfer code compliance responsibility from the designer to the reviewer
  2. To serve as the final inspection record for the completed building
  3. To replace the adopted code as the legal standard of review
  4. To provide a consistent, documented set of code items reviewed for each project type Correct answer.

Explanation

Checklists standardize review so that the same code items are examined on every project of a given type and the review is documented. They supplement but never supersede the adopted code.