About this site
An independent, ad-free reference to building permit rules, built from official sources.
Building Permit Requirements answers one question for homeowners, DIYers and small contractors: does this project need a permit here, and how do I get it? We cover 49 large US cities in depth and the building-permit laws of 50 states and DC, with national guides to the permit process.
What makes it different
- Every rule, fee, deadline and code edition is quoted from an official source: a city or county building department, a state statute or agency, or a government-hosted copy of the adopted code.
- Each page lists its sources with the date the source shows and the date we checked it.
- Fees are shown the way the schedule states them. When a fee is a formula, we show the formula and its parts, not a made-up total.
- Building permits and zoning are kept apart, so a project that is exempt from one is not shown as exempt from both.
- Where we have not verified a rule, we say so and give the department to call. We never fill a gap with another city’s rule.
What we are not
We are not a government agency, a permit service or a contractor. We do not issue permits, file applications, sell leads or take payments. The site carries no advertising and no lead forms. A building department can interpret its own code, and rules change, so always confirm with your local building department before you build.
How to use it
- Start with the permit checker or your city page to see the local rule in the department’s own words.
- Read the state page for laws that apply everywhere in the state: owner-builder rules, contractor licensing, permit deadlines and disclosure when you sell.
- Use the guides to understand the process: applications, fees, inspections, expiration and what to do about unpermitted work.
- Call the department with the page open: you will know which rule applies, which office to ask and what the fee schedule says.
Who publishes it
The site is published by the company identified on our privacy page. Contact: [email protected].
See how we research and verify, our source library and corrections policy.