What You’ll Need for a California EV Charging Station Permit
The following is an excerpt from our Guide to California EV Charging Station Permitting Guide. Download it here. The State of California recently adopted two bills to help streamline the electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) permit approval process. Specifically, Assembly Bill 1236: Requires all California cities and counties to develop an expedited, streamlined permitting process […]
Where can I find building code information?
Building codes are essential guidelines that provide the minimum requirements for designing, constructing, and maintaining buildings. They ensure that structures are safe, functional, and comply with local regulations. However, building codes are adopted at the state, county, and city levels, meaning no one code applies to all properties. In addition, how and where these […]
Permit Term and Acronym Definitions
As you go through the permitting process, industry professionals and plan review personnel may throw some terms or acronyms your way. You must understand what each means because miscommunications lead to project delays. Below we’ve listed the most common terms you’ll encounter throughout the permitting process and their definitions. Appointment Plan Check (APC): An APC […]
How Long Does a San Jose Building Permit Approval Take?
The time between permit application submittal and approval is a critical detail commercial construction projects need to plan around. In San Jose, California, permit approval times can be as short as 10 weeks or 40+ weeks, depending on several factors. The City of San Jose Building Division offers this approximate plan review timetable document. While […]
Should I Use a Local Architect to Manage My Permits?
Architects are a critical role to any commercial construction project. They are experts in local building codes and design, and are essential in the permit approval process. But should a local architect manage your project’s building permits application? They can, but we believe there is a better option. The odds of a commercial construction project […]
5 Strategies for Faster Permit Approvals
Like many businesses, city and county planning departments throughout the country have struggled during the pandemic. Over that span, their professionals have experienced layoffs, furloughs, early retirement offers and reduced work hours. Permit reviews and approvals have slowed considerably. And, while things have gotten better, limited staff combined with a backlog of applications means […]
What Are Building Codes?
A building code is a set of rules that specify the minimum acceptable level of safety for a building or non-building structure. Building codes ensure that all buildings, including residential, commercial and industrial properties, meet certain structural integrity and safety levels. These codes protect the occupants of a building as well as those who […]
How to Get a Sign Permit
On the surface, sign permitting seems like it’d be pretty straightforward. You have a sign. You want to put it on the wall. Why would anyone have a problem with that? Well, unfortunately, it’s not that easy. There are rules and restrictions that define what is and is not allowed for a location. The […]
How Much is a San Jose Building Permit?
From a permitting cost perspective, the City of San Jose is an expensive city to build in. The combination of plan review fees, inspection fees and high development tax rates make building permit fees some of the highest in the US, let alone California. The City of San Jose outlines its fees in its […]
What are Entitlements?
Usually, before any commercial or large-scale construction project kicks off, a due diligence report is completed. A due diligence report uncovers all the zoning and construction requirements and restrictions for a plot of land, approval timelines and anticipated fees. If what you’re legally allowed to build does not align with what you have planned, you […]