Applying for a Commercial Permit

 
Permit applications can be submitted during our normal business hours. The intake process for a large commercial building can often take more than an hour. For that reason, we request that you submit these projects no later than 4:30 p.m. 
  
Over-the-Counter Permits  for simple projects such as a commercial re-roof or rooftop heating unit installation may be issued while you wait.  You will need to submit:

• Permit application 
• Two sets of plans/supporting documentation
• Fees 

Trade Permits For electrical, plumbing, or residential mechanical permits that do not require plan review, a complete permit application can be processed in person at the counter while the customer waits or you can apply online through eBuild (Trade permits)               

• Permit application including the job site address and contractor information
• Fees 

Commercial Express Permits Projects that

qualify for the

 

commercial express program can be applied for, reviewed and issued the same day

.

Standard Review All commercial projects must be submitted online through eBuild (with the exception of Commercial Express Permits). Applying online allows you to submit your building permit application documents, pay fees, choose contractors, and schedule inspections. The following information is required at time of plan submittal:

• Application 
• Plans
• Supporting documents (as applicable) - engineering calculations, state energy compliance forms, outdoor lighting standards form, etc., and specifications
• Code Summary and Worksheet - this information can be submitted as a separate attachment or incorporated into the plans
• Plan check fee - A fee based on the value of work (see page 13 of the Commercial/Multi-Family Fee Estimating Guide) will be assessed when your application is accepted for review. Customers often have questions about fees, and, although we do not provide estimates, we offer resources to aid your planning. See our fee estimating guide for a description of fees and tips for calculating your costs.

Review the submittal standards and naming guidelines before preparing your documents for submittal.

Staff will review the application and use a checklist to determine if the plans are complete for intake. Complete plans help make the intake process smoother and faster. If your plans do not contain all required information, you will receive a list of items to bring with you at your next visit.

Project Plan Review
If a project requires our standard plan review, a project coordinator will be assigned to the project. They will perform the plan review, coordinate with other staff (Public Works, Engineering, Land Use, Fire), and act as the primary contact person. When you submit your plans you will receive a log number, which can be used to track your project through the review process.  Plan review timeframes vary depending on the scope of the proposed project.

Plans are reviewed for compliance with State and City regulations, and the following are some examples:
 

Compliance Examples
Land Use	Use of building, development standards, (height, setbacks, etc.), motor vehicle and bike parking, landscaping
Building	Code compliance, structural integrity, fire / life safety, accessibility, mechanical
Public Works	Connections to streets and utilities, stormwater quality, floodplain requirements, SDCs, other site related issues
Fire	Site and building access, firefighting water supply, fire sprinklers, fire alarms, fire protection systems, etc.
Erosion	Construction site management, erosion control measures for anticipated site conditions.

Additional Information
If additional information is submitted for review a supplemental review fee will be applied. After the review is complete and your plans have been approved, your project coordinator will contact you with the total fees due for your permit. The log number will become your permit number once the permit is issued.

For sensitive sites that require an erosion permit, the plans will not be approved and issued until your Construction Site Management Plan has been approved and after the first erosion inspection has taken place. This is to ensure that the site has been stabilized before construction.

Beginning Construction
When you pick up your permits you will receive printouts which identify all required inspections. You will have 360 days from the day the permit is issued to get your first inspection in order to keep your permit active. Each time you request an inspection, your permit expiration date will be extended for another 360 days. You will also be eligible for a one time extension of 180 days at no cost during the life of construction. You can check the status of inspections online with the online permit tracking system.

Contractors and owners often have a need to occupy a building before all inspections have been approved and the final Certificate of Occupancy can be issued. If there are no outstanding life safety issues, you may request a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO), which involves requesting final inspections for most outstanding areas. If you have questions regarding obtaining a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, contact Inspection Support staff at 541-682-5283. After all inspections have been approved, a Certificate of Compliance or Certificate of Occupancy can be printed for your records.