The Washington, DC metropolitan area is one of the busiest areas in the nation for development and our permit process has evolved into being one of the most complex (and sometimes cumbersome). Nationally the basic steps are as follows:

Site Plan Approval

Every jurisdiction requires site plan approval. A site plan must be prepared by a certified civil engineer licensed in the appropriate county (or city) and state. A site plan shows the existing conditions plus the proposed improvements - erosion controls, grading changes, site utility connections, stormwater management, landscaping, fencing, sidewalks and paving, etc. as well as pertinent information on the building itself - footprint, use group and zoning. Site plan design and preparation can take from 30 days to six months, depending on the complexity of the project. Once the plan has been submitted, approval usually takes from six to twelve months. The site plan approval process is the critical path in the development project. Many other requirements can be satisfied while this long lead item is in progress.

Building Permit

A building permit is required to build the physical structure on the site. It cannot be released prior to site plan approval. The permit is obtained through submission of the project's architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical drawings, which must be prepared by registered architects and engineers licensed to work in the appropriate county (or city) and state. Preparation of these design documents can take from 30 days to twelve months, depending on the complexity of the project. Approval generally takes half the time of site plan review (three to six months) so often the site plan is submitted first, followed by the building plans.

Bonds

After the site and building plans have been approved, bonds must be posted before construction can begin, to ensure that the project will not be left in a partially finished state that could cause erosion, utility service disruptions or life safety issues. Bonds can be in the form of cash, letter of credit or performance and payment bonds. These instruments take about a week to prepare and another 3 weeks for county (or city) approval.

Visit the appropriate county website to obtain detailed information about obtaining permits for your project

Home | About JBI | Portfolio | Construction Services | Butler Buildings | Getting Permits | Contact Us

© Copyright 2008 Jack Bays, Inc.