Permitting
Permitting services built around real building department requirements.
Every jurisdiction reviews construction differently. CADTRI researches the specific requirements of your building department, then prepares permit-ready drawings and documentation built to that standard, not a generic template.
What Permitting Services Cover
More than a stack of drawings.
A permit application is only as strong as the research behind it. Permitting services cover the full path from raw project scope to an issued permit: confirming what the building department actually requires, producing construction documentationand code compliance documentation to that standard, submitting the package, and responding to plan check comments until the permit is approved.
Coverage
40+ States
Jurisdiction Research
Included Every Project
Plan Check Support
Included Through Approval
How It Works
The building permit process, step by step.
Every jurisdiction has its own checklist and review cadence, but the underlying path a project takes to an issued permit follows the same five stages.
Jurisdiction and Zoning Research
Before anything is drawn, we confirm the applicable code edition, zoning classification, setback and coverage limits, and the specific submission checklist used by the building department with authority over the property.
Drawing Preparation and Code Compliance
Site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, and supporting code compliance documentation are produced to the exact format the reviewing department expects, coordinated across every discipline involved in the project.
Application Submission
The complete package, drawings, forms, and supporting documentation, is assembled and submitted through the jurisdiction's required process, whether that is an online portal, an in-person counter, or a third-party plan review service.
Plan Check Review
A plan reviewer checks the submission against applicable building, zoning, energy, and life safety codes. Projects are approved outright, approved with conditions, or returned with correction comments that must be resolved before approval.
Approval, Issuance, and Inspections
Once corrections are resolved and the application is approved, the permit is issued and construction can begin. Field inspections continue throughout the project to confirm the completed work matches the approved drawings.
Review Tracks Compared
Not every permit moves through the same line.
Most jurisdictions offer more than one path to an issued permit. Knowing which track applies, and which ones are available as options, changes what a realistic timeline actually looks like.
Building Permit Review Tracks
| Review Track | Typical Timeline | Typical Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over-the-Counter | Same day to about 1 week | No added fee | Simple, clearly code-compliant residential scope with no zoning ambiguity. |
| Standard Plan Check | 2 to 4 weeks, often stretching to 4 to 8 | Included in the standard permit fee | Most residential and small commercial projects with no discretionary component. |
| Express / Expedited Plan Check | A few days to about 2 weeks | $200 to $1,000 added fee, where the jurisdiction offers it | Time-sensitive projects where a faster paid review track exists. |
| Discretionary Review | Several weeks to multiple months | Application and public hearing fees | Projects requiring a variance, conditional use permit, or design review board approval. |
Standard plan check is the default track in most jurisdictions and where most projects land. Read more on express versus counter plan check and ministerial versus discretionary review.
Permitting Services We Provide
A permit package for every project type.
From a first-time ADU application to a multi-round correction response, these are the permit-specific services CADTRI delivers most often.
Common Pitfalls
Why permit applications get rejected.
Most correction notices trace back to a handful of recurring issues. Catching these before submission is the difference between a first-pass approval and a multi-round correction cycle.
Incomplete Submission
Missing forms, signatures, or checklist items required by the specific building department can stop an application before a reviewer opens the drawings.
Zoning Non-Conformance
Setback, height, FAR, or lot coverage figures that were not verified against the current zoning ordinance before submission.
Uncoordinated Drawings
Dimensions or references on one sheet that contradict another discipline's drawings, a common structural and architectural coordination gap.
Outdated Code Edition
Plans prepared to a code cycle the jurisdiction no longer enforces, a frequent issue when drawings are reused from an earlier project.
Missing Energy Compliance Documentation
Energy code forms that do not match the specifications shown on the architectural drawings, or are missing from the package entirely.
Incomplete Structural Documentation
Missing engineering calculations, connection details, or an engineer's stamp where the project scope requires one.
Ambiguous Scope of Work
A project description that does not clearly match what the drawings show, which slows review and invites additional scrutiny.
Accessibility Gaps
Missing or incomplete accessibility documentation on commercial, mixed-use, and other public occupancy projects.
Where We Work
Permitting, researched by jurisdiction.
No two building departments review a project the same way. Here is a look at what shapes permitting in our primary markets, and how we handle everywhere else.
Florida
Coastal and high-velocity hurricane zones carry wind load and impact-resistance requirements that affect structural detailing, window and door specifications, and roof design well beyond baseline code minimums.
Structural CoordinationTexas
Permitting authority sits with individual cities and counties rather than a single statewide code, so adopted code editions, energy requirements, and submission formats vary by jurisdiction.
Permit Set PreparationNorth Carolina
Projects are reviewed under the North Carolina State Building Code, with additional local zoning and historic district review layered on top depending on the municipality.
Historic District SubmissionsNationwide
Every jurisdiction outside our primary markets gets the same jurisdiction-specific research before drafting begins. CADTRI supports permitting projects in 40+ states.
About CADTRIGlossary
Permitting terms, defined.
The vocabulary a plan checker, a permit technician, or a correction notice uses without explaining it. Six terms worth knowing before your project reaches review.
- Permit Set
- The complete package of drawings and supporting documentation submitted to a building department for review. Read More
- Plan Check
- The formal review a building department performs to verify a submission against applicable building, zoning, energy, and life safety codes. Read More
- Zoning Clearance
- Confirmation that a proposed use is allowed on the property, checked separately from the building permit review itself. Read More
- Ministerial vs. Discretionary Review
- Ministerial approval is automatic once code compliance is verified. Discretionary review adds planning judgment and, often, a public hearing. Read More
- Correction Notice
- The plan checker's itemized list of what must be resolved before approval, typically using specific language like "provide," "clarify," or "revise." Read More
- Permit-Ready
- A drawing set complete enough to submit for review. Not a regulated term, and not a guarantee of approval on any specific timeline. Read More
Frequently Asked
Permitting services, explained.
- What does a permitting service actually do?
- A permitting service prepares and manages the technical documentation a building department requires to approve construction, including drawings, code compliance forms, and jurisdiction-specific submission materials, and stays engaged through plan check until the permit is issued.
- How long does it take to get a building permit?
- Timelines vary widely by jurisdiction and project scope. Simple residential permits can be issued over the counter in days, while more complex commercial or discretionary projects can take several weeks to a few months. Jurisdiction research at the start of a project gives a realistic estimate specific to the reviewing department.
- Do I need an architect to get a building permit?
- Not always. Many jurisdictions allow non-structural residential permits to be prepared by a qualified drafting service, while others require a licensed architect or engineer's stamp depending on project scope, occupancy, and local regulations. We confirm the requirement for your specific project and jurisdiction before drafting begins.
- What is the difference between permit drafting and permit expediting?
- Permit drafting produces the technical drawings and documentation a building department requires. Permit expediting manages the submission and follow-up process with the department. CADTRI handles both: producing the permit-ready drawing set and remaining available to respond to plan check comments through approval.
- Can you help if a permit application was already rejected?
- Yes. We review the correction notice, identify exactly what the plan checker is requesting, revise the drawings, and prepare a formal response package for resubmission.
- Do you provide permitting services nationwide?
- Yes. CADTRI supports permitting projects across more than 40 states, with concentrated experience in Florida, Texas, and North Carolina. Every project starts with jurisdiction-specific research regardless of location.
- How much do permit drawings cost?
- Most residential permit drawings cost between $500 and $8,000, though the range is wide and depends heavily on project type, jurisdiction, and scope. A quote is only meaningful once we know the specific project.
- Why does plan check take so long?
- Standard plan check typically runs two to four weeks but regularly stretches to four to eight or longer. This is usually a function of department staffing and seasonal submission volume, not a sign of a problem with the application.
- What's the difference between a permit set, construction documents, and a bid set?
- For most residential projects, the terms are used interchangeably. On larger commercial work, a bid set is issued to contractors for pricing before construction documents are finalized, and the permit set may be a subset of the full construction documents.
- Do coastal or hurricane-prone projects cost more to permit?
- Yes, in wind-load jurisdictions. In Florida, hurricane wind-load requirements typically add 20 to 50 percent to permit drawing costs due to the additional structural detailing and impact-resistance documentation required.
From the Blog
Go deeper on permitting.
Why Plan Check Takes Long
The real reasons behind a four-to-eight-week review, and when a delay is actually a red flag.
Read ArticleExpress vs Counter Plan Check: Which One Do You Need?
The honest comparison between a paid expedited review and free informal pre-screening.
Read ArticleMinisterial vs Discretionary Review
How automatic approval differs from a review that adds planning judgment and hearings.
Read ArticleHow to Mark Up Resubmittals
Revision clouds, consistent numbering, and a response letter, the professional standard.
Read Article7 Reasons Building Permits Get Rejected
The recurring correction triggers, and how to avoid them before you submit.
Read ArticleHow Long Does It Take to Get a Building Permit?
Timelines broken down by state and project type, from ADUs to commercial buildouts.
Read Article