Permitting process

Apply for permits

Based on the type of project you are proposing, find the appropriate type of permit application on our applications, submittal checklists, & fees webpage. Your permit package will consist of the following:

• One (1) Copy of completed permit application (if paper application)
• Two (2) sets of plans, reports, calculation packages, etc. as stated on the corresponding submittal checklist. One set will be issued with the permit, once approved, as the job site copy. The other set will be retained for City records. 

Note: If applying online through the online permitting portal, drop off of hard copy plans may still be required. 

Submittal instructions

Please reference our permit application submittal & re-submittal Instructions (PDF) for instructions on dropping off permit applications to our Lobby Drop Box. 

City review for compliance

Review process outlined:

Upon submittal, your application will be logged into our permitting software and can then be tracked through review and construction on our Online Permitting Portal. Please allow up to 7 business days for your application to show up in our system online. 

Next, an intake review will be performed to verify the applications’ completeness and compliance with submittal/checklist requirements for the type of application submitted. 

• If additional items are needed, you will be contacted by the intake reviewer with corrections and/or next steps. 
• If the application is complete, it will be routed to the applicable plan reviewers for the type of application submitted to be reviewed for compliance with local, state, and federal rules, regulations, ordinances, and codes. View the current Construction codes (PDF) that will apply to your project. 

Each plan reviewer will perform their independent review for the codes in their area of expertise. If corrections are required, you will receive a separate correction letter from that reviewer. Note that you may receive several correction letters. Check the Online Permitting Portal to see the status of each review type and determine when it is appropriate to submit your revisions. 

Review timelines:

Permits are reviewed in the order received to be fair to all permit applicants. We are currently experiencing a larger than normal volume of permits in our review queue. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through the reviews as quickly as possible in the order received. 

• New Construction (Building & Public Works Permits): Approximately 10-12 weeks from submittal to first round of comments. Re-reviews are running at 4-6 weeks. 
• T.I.’s, additions, remodels, & trade permits requiring plan review (sign, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, etc.): Up to 10-12 weeks from submittal to first round of review comments. Re-reviews are running at 4-6 weeks.

Permit approval & issuance

Permit approval:

Permit approval consists of two steps:

Step 1: Reviewer Approval - First, all of the required plan reviewers must approve their scope of the review. Once all reviewers have approved, the permit file will be routed to the permit technicians to prepare your permits. Note that the permit is not yet approved at this stage and the overall permit status will still say ROUTED FOR REVIEW.

Step 2: Permit Technician Approval - Permit preparation consists of reviewing worksheets and checklists from the reviewers, calculating permit fees, entering in critical permit information, gathering all of the necessary documents for issuance, and preparing the physical permits. After all of this work has been completed, the overall status of the permit will be changed to APPROVED and the permit technician will email the contact listed on the permit application with instructions for paying the final permit fees. 

Permit issuance:

Once final payment has been received, the permit technicians will process the payment, gather the documents for permit issuance (permits, approved plans, reports, calculation packages, etc.) and issue the permit package. The contact listed on the permit application will receive an email notifying them that the permit package has been issued with instructions to retrieve the package (either issued physically to our Will Call bin of our lobby or issued online with instructions for download). Please note that the permit and approved documents must be available on-site prior to construction commencing.

Construction & inspections

Posting permits on-site:

Construction permits must be posted on-site and all approved permitting documents must be available on-site prior to construction commencing and throughout the construction duration.

Requesting inspections:

Inspections are required for all stages of construction. Please request inspections through the Online Permitting Portal. 

Inspection results:

The Online Permitting Portal will show all requested inspections and inspection results, including and any corrections that may be required. Some permits will also show administrative items that need to be completed prior to permit final such as recording of easements, submission of as-builts or special inspection reports, or landscape inspections. These items will need to be completed prior to requesting a permit final, temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO), or Certificate of Occupancy (CO). 

Permit final:

All permits must request a permit final in order to close out the permit and validate the work done as legal and permitted. Without a permit final, it is essentially the same as doing work without permits. Some permits will show inspection items consisting of administrative items that need to be completed prior to permit final such as recording of easements, submission of as-builts or special inspection reports, or landscape inspections. These items will need to be completed prior to requesting a permit final, temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO), or Certificate of Occupancy (CO). 

Certificate of occupancy:

For building permits, a Certificate of Occupancy can be requested after a permit has received permit final through the inspection process. A Certificate of Occupancy can be requested through the inspection request drop-down menu. 

Permit expiration & extensions:

Permits expire 180 days after issuance if no work has begun. Each completed inspection automatically pushes out the expiration date another 180 days. To keep your permit valid, continue to request the required inspections through the Online Permitting Portal throughout construction. If work has not begun or is paused, request a Permit Extension in the inspection request drop-down menu with a valid reason for the extension listed in the notes field.

When your permit expires, your permit may be closed and a new permit application will be required to complete the work and receive the required final inspection approval.