A building permit is the document issued by the local building department authorizing construction to begin under approved drawings. Permitting starts with submitted drawings, plan review, comment cycles, and finally permit issuance. Permits often come with separate sub-permits for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire sprinkler, and demolition work, each issued and inspected independently.
Permit fees typically run 0.5% to 2% of construction value depending on jurisdiction. Plan-review timelines vary widely: same-day over-the-counter for simple work, 4 to 16 weeks for new commercial construction. Starting work without a permit (or doing scope outside the permit) exposes the contractor to red tags, fines, ordered tear-out, and licensing penalties. The permit must be posted on site and signed off at each milestone inspection.