Building permit glossary
Permit and code terms in plain English.
- Building permit
- Written approval from the local building department to do regulated construction work. It comes with inspections. More
- Building code
- The rules for how buildings must be built: structure, fire safety, egress, energy and the trade systems. Usually a model code adopted by the state or city, with amendments. More
- International Residential Code (IRC)
- The model code for one- and two-family homes and townhouses, published every three years and adopted by most states or cities. More
- R105.2
- The IRC section listing work exempt from a permit. States and cities often edit it. More
- Exempt work
- Work a code says needs no permit, usually with size or height limits. It must still meet the code and zoning. More
- Zoning
- Local rules on land use, setbacks, height and lot coverage. Separate from the building code. More
- Zoning permit
- Approval that a structure is allowed where proposed under zoning rules. More
- Setback
- The minimum distance a structure must keep from a property line or another structure. More
- Lot coverage
- The share of a lot that buildings may cover under zoning. More
- Variance
- Permission from a zoning board to depart from a zoning rule on a specific property.
- Valuation
- The value of the work used to calculate many permit fees, set by the department’s method or the contract price. More
- Plan review
- The department’s check of drawings against the code before a permit is issued; often has its own fee. More
- Over-the-counter permit
- A permit issued the same day without full plan review, for simple work. More
- Rough-in inspection
- Inspection of wiring, piping or ductwork before walls and ceilings are closed. More
- Footing inspection
- Inspection of the excavation and reinforcement before concrete is poured. More
- Framing inspection
- Inspection of the structure after framing and before insulation and drywall. More
- Final inspection
- The last inspection; passing it closes the permit. More
- Certificate of occupancy (CO)
- The department’s statement that a building or new space complies and may be occupied. More
- Re-inspection fee
- A charge some cities make when an inspection must be repeated. More
- Permit expiration
- The point at which an unused or inactive permit becomes invalid. More
- Owner-builder
- A property owner who pulls the permit and does or directs the work instead of a licensed contractor. More
- Licensed contractor
- A contractor holding the state or local license required for the type of work. More
- Unpermitted work
- Work that needed a permit and did not get one, or never passed final inspection. More
- After-the-fact (as-built) permit
- A permit obtained for work already done, followed by inspections. More
- Investigation fee
- An extra fee some cities charge when work started before the permit. More
- Stop-work order
- An order from the building official to halt work until a violation is resolved. More
- Seller disclosure
- A state-required statement in which a seller reports known defects, often including unpermitted work. More
- Shot clock
- A legal deadline for a government to decide a permit application. More
- Home rule
- The power of cities to adopt their own rules, including codes, where state law allows. More
- Egress window
- A window large enough and low enough to escape through in an emergency. More
- Guard
- A barrier along an open-sided walking surface, such as a deck, to prevent falls. More
- GFCI
- Ground-fault circuit interrupter: a device that cuts power when current leaks to ground. More
- Accessory dwelling unit (ADU)
- A second, smaller home on the same lot as a house. More
- Pool barrier
- A fence, wall or other barrier around a pool required by code. More