Building Permits and Inspections: The New Electronic Reality

In 15 Steps for a Successful Remodel: How to Survive the Process I spent an entire chapter (10) on permits and inspections. For decades, the process has been stable. As building and planning departments across the country computerized various tasks, the process started changing. More and more things were done with a computer. Two things that haven’t been computerized were the plan review and the inspections.

Plan review is the process by which the plans that have been submitted are looked over by the planners and the plans examiners. The reviewers are looking for violations of the current building codes, and zoning and planning regulations. Examples of zoning and planning regulations might note that there is not enough parking for the proposed work, or the proposed work is too tall. Building code violations might include not enough electrical outlets, no smoke detectors or insufficient insulation.