Permit application
Also called application, building permit application
The form and supporting package you file with a building department to request a permit. Most departments will not begin review until the application is complete.
When it applies
In the permitting lifecycle, permit application applies during Preparation and Submission. Documents commonly matter at more than one phase, and this one does.
- Setup: does not usually apply
- Preparation: applies at this phase
- Submission: applies at this phase
- Plan review: does not usually apply
- Permit issued: does not usually apply
- Inspections: does not usually apply
- Closeout: does not usually apply
A permit application is the request you file asking a building department for permission to do work. In practice it is two things: the department's application form, and the package of drawings, calculations, affidavits, and proofs the department requires alongside it.
Applications are filed on paper at a counter, through an online permitting portal, or by email, depending on the jurisdiction. Larger departments have moved almost entirely to portals; small towns often have not.
Why completeness matters more than speed
Most departments will not start reviewing until they consider the application complete. An application missing one required document does not get reviewed and returned with comments. It usually sits at intake, and the review clock does not start. Getting the package right the first time is normally worth more than filing a day earlier.
What is typically required
- The completed application form, signed by whoever is authorized to sign it
- Proof of who owns the property and who is contracted to do the work
- Drawings showing what is being built, at a scale the reviewer can read
- Calculations where the code requires them, such as energy or structural
- Trade sub-applications for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work
- The application or intake fee
Related terms
In the Permit Saige app
Help Center articles require a Permit Saige account.
Rules vary by jurisdiction
This definition is general. How permit application is handled in practice is set by the building department that permits your property. Find yours in our free directory.
Last reviewed September 4, 2026