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Building Permit versus Permit Application

august 2022, issue 4

ELITE PERMITS

BRIEFING ON CONSTRUCTION & Some other stuff

Written by TATIANA gUSt

For over 15 years, I have been working on the code enforcement side of the building process, and I love all the details that the code has to offer. For many, the code is a completely different language, and in this blog I want to make an important clarification that not many people think about it. For the noncode enforcement user, there is no significant difference between a permit and a permit application. But there is a huge difference that can be quite costly for those who are unaware.  

permit application
Permit Application

VS

building permit picture
Building Permit

So, let us review this together.    

How many times has your contractor told you, “I applied for the permit”? Or “the permit is under review”? While the application is under review, it is just that — an application.

You do NOT have a permit until the documents are approved and officially issued.

This seems logical, but many people tell me they have a permit but it was rejected. Even from a technical point of view, this is not accurate, as they in fact have a rejected permit application.

Another important fact is that NO WORK shall occur until you have a permit in hand or have permission to work.

This means the permit has been issued or the building official has approved an early work authorization to proceed with work prior to permit issuance. This is especially important if your property is located in a FEMA flood zone and you are below base flood elevation.  

Because of the limitation on the amount of work that can be done on FEMA projects, (take a look of my other blogs (HERE) where this is explained), we have seen cases where the work commenced without a permit or permission, only to find out that what the client wanted to do originally is not allowed by code, and they have to put things back same as before or in worse cases they have to demo the structure and start over.

Now, with the official permit in hand, you can work on your project.  

Let me know if you have additional questions about the building codes or construction process. Follow us for more and share our blog!

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Exposure represents the adjustments due the characteristics of the terrain surrounding the building.

Exposure B.For buildings with a mean roof height of less than or equal to 30 feet (9144 mm), Exposure B shall apply where the ground surface roughness, as defined by Surface Roughness B, prevails in the upwind direction for a distance of at least 1,500 feet (457 m). For buildings with a mean roof height greater than 30 feet (9144 mm), Exposure B shall apply where Surface Roughness B prevails in the upwind direction for a distance of at least 2,600 feet (792 m) or 20 times the height of the building, whichever is greater.

Exposure C.Exposure C shall apply for all cases where Exposure B or D does not apply.

Exposure D.Exposure D shall apply where the ground surface roughness, as defined by Surface Roughness D, prevails in the upwind direction for a distance of at least 5,000 feet (1524 m) or 20 times the height of the building, whichever is greater. Exposure D shall also apply where the ground surface roughness immediately upwind of the site is B or C, and the site is within a distance of 600 feet (183 m) or 20 times the building height, whichever is greater, from an Exposure D condition as defined in the previous sentence.