Most jurisdictions have very different requirements for residential versus commercial permitting. You will need to check with your local jurisdiction for the type of work you intend to complete.
In commercial applications the following documents must be provided in two or more stapled sets to obtain a building permit.
The submitted documents must meet the requirements for stamping and sealing of professional consultants in the state where your project is being built.
Providing a well developed cover sheet for your drawings with certain basic elements is usually the first step for getting the permit application accepted.
This is a partial list of required items that should be on the cover sheet:
- Footprint - square footage of floor area in project
- Codes Summary (Critical to your submittal) What code publications and editions are used in the design
- Scope of work
- Legal Description or Tax Parcel No.
- Location of work clearly defined
- Index of drawings
- Allowable Height
- Allowable Area
- Building occupancy group
- Building Construction Type
Other submittal information:
- Name, phone number and address of the applicant is probably the single most important part of the submittal.
- Construction Cost Required to determine permit fees.
- Floor Plan w/egress routes and work area highlighted
- Dimensioned to scale Design Drawings/Sections/Plans/Elevations
- Stamped Structural Drawings
- Stamped Engineering Calculations
- Civil Drawings including Landscape Plans and site drainage information
- Demolition plans if required
- Erosion and dust control processes
- Asbestos Information on Demolition and Remodels
- Stamped Fire Protection Drawings
- Stamped Construction Specifications
- Plumbing and Mechanical Drawings
- Environmental Checklist (Some projects are exempt)*
- Critical Areas and Resource Lands data
- Energy code requirements
- Sewer and Water Availability
- Health Department Approval
- State Electrical Approval*
- NPDES Permit
- Soil Investigation Reports*
- Other documents may be required in special cases
The building official may require plans, computations and specifications to be prepared and designed by an engineer or architect licensed by the state where the work is being performed.
