Building Permits
A building permit is required by law for most home construction projects, unless your remodeling project is purely cosmetic. For instance, you can replace the sideing on your home without a permit, but building a room addition, garage addition, deck or even a fence requires one.
Types of Permits. That there are three types of permits. The building permit is the “umbrella” permit for construction projects. This permit is always applied for first, and in some instances, can be applied for by the homeowner. If a project includes electrical or plumbing changes, only a licensed electrician or plumber can apply for a separate electrical or plumbing permit.
Timing of Permits. As soon as you have complete architectural drawings, it is wise to begin the permit application process. In the Washington, DC Metro area, permits usually take from one day to six weeks. For instance, if all of the construction work is being done within the existing footprint of your house (if you are not adding a new addition), a permit will probably be issued within a week. In Fairfax and Montgomery Counties, this is known as an “expedited” process, and it can actually go more smoothly if the homeowner personally applies for the permit.
In all other instances, the permit should be applied for by the contractor.
The Architect’s Role in Permitting. The architect never actually applies for a building permit, because the permit holder must be either the homeowner or the contractor. However, we often help our clients expedite the permit process by accompanying them when they apply to answer questions and generally providing clarifications to county review personnel.
Local Permit Offices. Additional information on your local permitting process is available on the country websites below.
- Anne Arundel County
- City of Alexandria
- Arlington County
- Fairfax County
- Montgomery County
- Prince George’s County
NOTE: Incorporated cities such as Rockville, Vienna, Alexandria, Leesburg, etc., have their own building permit processes and regulations. If you live within the limits of an incorporated city’s jurisdiction, you need to apply with the local city building department, rather than the county permitting agency.
