Subcontractor affidavit
Also called sub affidavit, subcontractor form, sub list
A signed form naming the licensed subcontractor responsible for a trade on a permit. Some jurisdictions want it at intake, others accept it after issuance.
When it applies
In the permitting lifecycle, subcontractor affidavit applies during Submission, Permit issued, and Inspections. Documents commonly matter at more than one phase, and this one does.
- Setup: does not usually apply
- Preparation: does not usually apply
- Submission: applies at this phase
- Plan review: does not usually apply
- Permit issued: applies at this phase
- Inspections: applies at this phase
- Closeout: does not usually apply
A subcontractor affidavit names the licensed contractor who will perform a specific trade under a permit: electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, or gas. It is signed by that subcontractor, and it puts their license behind that scope.
Where it applies in the lifecycle
This one is genuinely jurisdiction-dependent, and it is worth checking rather than assuming:
- Submission. Many departments require the affidavits at intake and will not accept the application without them.
- Permit issued. Others issue the permit with the subs listed as to be determined, and accept affidavits afterward.
- Inspections. In either case, the affidavit must be on file before that trade's first inspection, so the deadline that always binds is the field one.
Note
Which of these applies is a local question. Filing at intake is the safer default when you do not know, because it is never wrong, only sometimes early.
Why it exists
Trade work must be performed by someone holding the license for that trade. The affidavit is the record of who that is, which matters for enforcement, for inspections, and for the department's ability to hold a license responsible if the work is defective.
The scheduling problem it creates
Requiring affidavits at intake means every subcontractor must be selected before the permit is filed, which on a project that has not been bid yet is a real constraint. Where the department allows it, filing the affidavit before that trade's inspection rather than at intake keeps the permit moving while bidding finishes.
Related terms
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Rules vary by jurisdiction
This definition is general. How subcontractor affidavit 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