The following building permit application checklist is an essential guide on how to apply for a building permit as a licensed contractor in most cities throughout Broward, Miami-Dade & Palm Beach Counties in South Florida.
For property owners who wish to apply for an owner-builder permit, please consult your local county or municipal building department for their specific requirements regarding owner-builder construction permits.
Contact Building Department
Before starting any construction project, it is recommended that you first contact the local municipal or county building department for where the construction project will take place.
Taking this initial step will allow you to inquire about the latest permitting requirements that you will need to follow before commencing the proposed construction project.
The local building department can inform you of all the required documents that you will need to complete in order to apply for the required building permits.
Each construction trade (structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, hvac, roofing, etc.) may have their own unique application requirements.
You must also confirm all of the additional permit forms, engineer drawings, hold-harmless letters and/or easement agreements that you may need in order to satisfy the permitting requirements set for each construction project.
Often times, the required forms may be readily available online for you to print and complete.
Some building departments may also provide an online permitting option where certain types of residential or commercial building permit applications can be submitted electronically.
HOA’s & Special Improvement Districts
Before you submit a permit application to the building department for review, you should first determine whether or not the job site is part of a homeowners association (HOA). If so, you may need to submit an application and copies of the job plans to the HOA’s architectural review board.
In addition, you may also need to determine if the job site is located in a special improvement district, which may also have its own set of rules for reviewing & approving construction projects.
Failure to obtain an approval letter from the HOA or special improvement district before submitting the permit application to the main building department may result in plan processing delays or departmental review holds.
Contractor Registration
Before submitting a permit application, most building departments will require that the contractor/qualifier be registered and up to date with their licensing & company insurance documents.
This can include but is not limited to presenting documents such as the licensed contractor’s:
- State License
- Certificate of Competency
- Certificate of Liability Insurance
- Occupational License / Business Tax Receipt
- Worker’s Compensation Insurance or Exemption
If a proposed project includes additional sub-contractors, the licensed contractors/qualifiers for any sub-permits will also typically need to be registered & up to date with their active state/county licensing & insurance documents.
Failure to ensure that all contractor registration information is up to date before the submission may result in the permit application being rejected or placed on hold until such requirements are met.
Building Permit Application
When completing the building permit application, make sure all relevant sections of each required form is completed. All written entries should also be clearly written & legible.
The Job description must include precise details about the scope of work, any job specific measurements, and the specific location of each proposed work.
Any missing entries on the building permit application may result in processing delays such as pre-screen holds or corrections requests.
Depending on the project, you may also need to complete additional forms for zoning, landscaping, utility easements, or water drainage districts.
Other requirements may include providing signed & sealed engineer letters, product approvals, Notice of Commencements, county reviews, or utility easement agreements that might need to be included in the permit packet at the time of submission.
Finally, all owners/or authorized agents that sign the the permit application documents must typically have the expressed legal right to do so. Most building departments will verify that all owners or authorized agents that sign the permitting forms are indeed legally authorized to do so.
Job Plans
Job plans must be organized and attached before submission.
Most cities will require (2) or more sets of job plans as part of the completed permit application package.
Each permit application should include job plan sets that are both clearly separated & identical.
Permit Fees
Some building departments may charge an upfront fee in addition to a final permit fee once the permit application is approved.
For upfront submission fees or estimated total permit fees, you can contact the building department before submission to ask about their current fee schedule.
Building Codes & Licensing
Each municipality, county, and state has it’s unique set of rules & regulations regarding building codes and professional licensing requirements.
As a licensed contractor, you must stay informed and in full compliance with all applicable building codes and contractor licensing requirements for the region in which you are legally authorized to perform work in.
I hope you found this essential building permit application checklist helpful. If you are a licensed contractor looking for permit expediting services in Broward, Miami-Dade or Palm Beach County, we can help.
Call us at: (954) 543-0417 or request a free quote here.
