In the United States, building permits are typically managed and stored by local government agencies, primarily at the city or county level. These agencies, often referred to as Building Departments, Planning Departments, or Departments of Building and Safety, are responsible for issuing permits and maintaining records of construction activities within their jurisdictions.
Key Points:
- Local Management: Building permits are generally handled by municipal or county authorities, ensuring that construction projects comply with local building codes and zoning regulations.
- Public Access: These records are usually public and can be accessed by individuals seeking information about specific properties or construction activities. Access methods vary by locality; some offer online databases, while others may require in-person visits or formal requests.
- State and Federal Involvement: While local agencies are the primary custodians of building permits, state and federal entities may collect aggregated data for statistical purposes. For instance, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts the Building Permits Survey to provide national, state, and local statistics on new privately-owned residential construction.
Accessing Building Permit Records:
- Online Portals: Many local governments have digital platforms where you can search for building permits by address or permit number.
- In-Person Requests: If online resources are unavailable, visiting the local Building Department or equivalent office can provide access to physical records.
- Third-Party Services: Some private companies compile building permit data from various jurisdictions, offering searchable databases that can be useful for research or due diligence.
It’s important to note that procedures and availability of records can vary significantly between different municipalities. Therefore, contacting your local building authority is often the most direct way to obtain specific building permit information.
Looking up Old Permits:
Not only are permits important for the homeowners that obtain them but for future homeowners that want to know more about projects that occurred in the house. If you would like to learn more about a house that you recently purchased. You can head to the records office and obtain copies to find building permits issued for the house. You only need to prove that you are the owner of the home and you’ll have access to all that information. Most of the time you’ll have to pay a fee to gain access to these permits, but it will be quick and easy to learn more about the house you’re living in once you know all the changes that were made before you obtained ownership.
Whether you have an upcoming project to plan out or you just bought a new home, it’s good to know The system stores the building permits efficiently and the codes that govern those permits. Once you know those two things you can make changes to your home as needed and figure out other facts about your home that you might not have realized.