PLAN REVIEW PROCESS

Before a building permit can be issued, a plans examiner must evaluate structural integrity, construction details, and provisions for meeting fire and life safety requirements. This requires that permit applications be accompanied by plans that accurately describe the project and the proposed construction. It is especially important that foundation plans, framing plans, structural details, and design notes be complete and accurate so that the plans examiner can see that the design complies with all code requirements. We recognize that there are numerous methods for complying with the code and we merely evaluate each applicant's proposal. Building department personnel cannot design the building for you, but will advise you of items that do not comply with the code.
Plan reviews are performed on a first-in, first-reviewed basis. Depending on the number of plans being submitted plan reviews are usually completed within two to three weeks from submittal. If there are items that are incomplete or incorrect, you may be asked to revise and re-submit the plans for additional review. It may take several days before the plans examiner can evaluate the re-submittal.
We will contact the applicant as soon as the plans have been approved. The general contractor then comes to the office and pays the permit fee, returns the completed “sign-off” card, signs the permit, and picks up the field-set of approved plans and the field inspection card (FIC). The permit is thus issued.
If during the course of construction you wish to make changes to your plans, you must get those changes approved by a plans examiner prior to proceeding with the change. Bring the field-set of approved (redlined) plans into the office and a plans examiner will go over the changes with you. If you are making changes to plans stamped by an architect or engineer, you must first have her or him draw the revisions before bringing them to us for approval. Unless your project is significantly altered, there is no extra charge to have changes approved.