PlainPermitHow to apply for a building permit
Short answer: Find your city's permitting office, check whether your project needs a permit, prepare what it asks for (often a site plan and, for trade work, a licensed contractor), then apply online or at the permit counter; links for 35 cities are below.
Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.
1. Check whether your project needs a permit
Start with your city and project on our project comparison pages. Each answer quotes the official source.
2. Know what the office will ask for
Requirements differ by city. Examples from official sources:
- Oklahoma City requires permits to build, alter, repair, enlarge, move or demolish any primary or accessory structure.
“Permits are required when you construct, alter, repair, enlarge, move or demolish any primary or accessory structure.”
- In Oklahoma City, trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical, re-roofing and others) are issued only to state-licensed, city-registered contractors.
“electrical, plumbing, mechanical, sign, driveway, elevator, boiler, re-roofing, and fire suppression system permits, can only be issued to contractors licensed in the State of Oklahoma and registered with the City of Oklahoma City.”
- Jacksonville homeowners doing their own work sign an Owner's Affidavit and submit it with the permit application.
“The property owner must sign an Owner's Affidavit affirming the owner's intent to perform the permitted work him/herself or under his/her direction and supervision. This affidavit must be signed and submitted with your permit application.”
- Jacksonville building permit applications are available at the permitting counter.
“You may obtain a Building Permit Application at the permitting counter.”
- Nashville requires a site plan for a residential construction permit.
“A site plan is required to obtain a residential construction permit.”
- Nashville homeowners pulling their own permit complete an Affidavit of Exemption and a Self Permit Affidavit (notarized).
“For a self-permit, complete the Affidavit of Exemption and the Self Permit Affidavit.”
- Seattle issues re-roofing permits the same day you apply online.
“We issue re-roofing permits on the same day that you apply online.”
- Philadelphia can issue some permits immediately when a licensed, insured contractor with a current tax account applies.
“Some permits may be issued immediately if the application is made by the contractor with a current license, insurance, and tax account.”
- In New York City, decks and porches must be designed by a New York State licensed engineer or architect before a permit is issued.
“Only an NYS licensed professional engineer (PE) or registered architect (RA) may design them.”
3. Apply with your city's permitting office
4. Pay the fee and schedule inspections
Fees come from each city's published schedule; we list the ones we verified on each city's permit fees page where available. Your permitting office tells you which inspections are needed.