Failing to secure the needed permits for new construction, renovation, or remodeling for projects can prove a costly error, often resulting in municipal fines when such shortcomings are detected by inspectors. Many in the industry see the plethora of building permit requirements as a draconian process, but these compliance guidelines represent safeguards to ensure buildings are safe.

Due to the fact that building permit requirements vary from city to city, builders are strongly urged to contact their city officials to ensure compliance. As our name suggests, Burnham Nationwide prides itself on the breadth of its staff, comprised of professionals knowledgeable in all facets of requirements nationally. Our staff is able to readily assist you in securing needed approvals to meet the most stringent building permit requirements. To that end, we are able to provide insight, not only on various municipalities’ building permit requirements, but also recommend ways of expediting and streamlining the process and adhering to the rigors of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Generally speaking, you can count on having to adhere to building permit requirements for not only new construction, but also demolition and substantive structural alterations to an existing structure. Interior and exterior remodeling also require special permits, as well as electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. Again, building permit requirements vary widely, but there are a few general points to keep in mind to assess the scope of building permit requirements you might need to secure.

Regardless of conditions particular to a specific city, you will invariably be asked to provide basic information related to your project as a precursor to adherence to building permit requirements. Among these requirements are the exact address of the property in question, along with the name of the owner and contact information. Also, the scope or type of work should be specifically detailed. Names and contact information for all contractors, architects, and engineers working on the project should also be at your disposal in your adherence to building permit requirements.

Additionally, it’s important to compose a short narrative and/or description of the type of work being proposed for the project. You should include in that synopsis the total valuation of the project being described. Some cities require even more information in their building permit requirements. Sometimes, information on the dimensions of specific rooms or spaces is required. Other times, you might expect to submit drawn plans that illustrate the type of construction or renovation being proposed.

But wait, there’s more. You should expect to adhere to all manner of permits beyond the scope of actual construction to include mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits. Some cities even require concrete and sign permits covering the peripheral sidewalks and rights-of-ways.

Some of this stuff sounds fundamental and basic, but it might surprise you how often such data is not kept at the ready. You can save yourself headaches and fines by having all the needed information at the ready when dealing with officials at your municipality.

While it may sound like a hyperbole, Burnham Nationwide is comprised of the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry. Having obtained more than 50,000 permits nationwide since our inception, you can be assured of this: we know building permits and building permit requirements! Adherence to rules and regulations is as much a part of our corporate culture as our passion for design. At Burnham Nationwide, our mantra is “your project is our project,” meaning our professionals are as invested in it as you.

In extending that mantra, you’re invited to drop by our offices and consider us your trusted partners. If you’re in the Chicago area, we’re located at 3111 W. Washington St., and our telephone number is (312) 407-7990. Those outside of Chicago can reach us via our website at burnhamnationwide.com or by calling toll free at (800) 407-7990.

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Obtaining the necessary permits for a building project is not only time-consuming, but can also be cumbersome and expensive. What’s worse, the inherent confusion in adhering to the protocols of a city planning department can actually lead to construction delays—making that project all that much more expensive. As any developer or contractor knows, each minute away from the job site comes at a cost—both in money and productivity.

With that in mind, you might want to consider the services of a permit expediter. An expediter essentially acts as your proxy, devoting the seemingly endless hours it often takes waiting to meet with local or county permitting officials and talking to them on the telephone rather than having to devote all that time to such formalities yourself. A good permit expediter should not be just local-specific but should also understand the different permitting regulations at other nearby municipalities and states, as requirements are prone to differ.

However, beware; many permit expediters are folks merely looking to make a little extra money by capitalizing on past City Hall connections. Some folks who previously served on city councils or city planning departments re-invent themselves as permit expediters, hired by law firms as consultants and charging flat fees or steep hourly rates for their insights and services. There’s nothing wrong with reinventing oneself for a second career in this manner, but one wonders if profit motive is the main objective for such individuals in what has becomes something of a cottage industry.

Before engaging a permit expediter, also note the term could be viewed as a partial misnomer. With the right expertise, expediting a project with a smooth navigation through the permit process is a plausible idea. However, more often than not, the term “expediter” refers more to the idea that a project with, say, an 10-month time frame to completion will take 10 months to complete with the help of services from a reputable permit expediter. So, if you consider keeping on schedule—rather than actually speeding up—on a project as a result of timely permit adherence a form of expediting, then there’s no misnomer. It may be a matter of semantics, but what’s clear is that having a permit expediter on your team is crucial.

At Burnham Nationwide, we have seasoned industry professionals that are experienced and available to act as your permit expediters. Additionally, Burnham Nationwide’s variety of projects in different parts of the country yields a deep familiarity in the permit process that is not specific to one or a handful of cities, but nationwide. Permitting regulations vary from state to state, and without a good permit expediter on your side, unfamiliarity also has the potential to cause project delays.

There are many intangibles to running a business and ensuring projects run on schedule, and one of those is peace of mind.  Burnham Nationwide’s systematic approach yields a streamlined approach that ensures clients’ projects are on track, on time and within budget—whether your projects are specific to a municipality or national in scope. The expertise among our experienced team of permit expediters runs the gamut—whether their services are needed for new construction, interior build outs, national rollouts, retail refresh projects, or even cellular facilities.

Our intimate familiarity with the machinations of the permitting process offers you a partner that appreciates the timing, attention to detail, and follow-through that are so very critical to a project’s success. The services of our permit expediter team are all encompassing, providing guidance throughout the entire cumbersome permitting process.  Our level of expertise is such that our team members also are able to anticipate code violations to ensure building safety. Since its inception, Burnham Nationwide has obtained well over 50,000 permits nationwide after assembling together some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the industry to assist you with your projects.

While peace of mind is an important intangible for you, at Burnham, an equally important concept further fuels the desire of our permit expediter team to assist you: at Burnham, your project is our project.

If you’re in the Chicago area and want to stop in for a chat about our permit expediter services, feel free to drop in on the fourth floor of 111 W. Washington Street, and we will be happy to accommodate you. Our telephone number is (312) 407-7990. For those outside the area, feel free to call us toll free at 800-407-7990. Of course, we’re also on Facebook, so don’t forget to “like” us there!

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In saving construction time, the lure of self-certification can often be a strong one. Bowing to industry calls for time efficiency, municipalities across the nation have begun experimenting with online submission tools to streamline the certification process, allowing for quick approval for the permit and plan review process.

Such “e-permit” capabilities are in keeping with a technology-based 21^st century, and can shave months’ worth of time from design to build.  However, unsavory practitioners also can misuse such applications. Availability of these streamlined options, and their tacit promise of savings in precious time, should never pose an invitation to cut corners.

Ever the leader in many areas of American life, New York City was an early proponent of such technology, its Department of Buildings launching a self-certification site in 1995. Quickly after its inception, architects and engineers availed themselves of the service, while authenticating their plans as being code-compliant. However, as with most endeavors, the initiative emerged as something of a Pandora’s Box. Without direct contact with city building officials, some users took advantage of the lax system of checks and balances inherent to the self-certification model.

One architect manipulated the data input into the system to circumvent height requirements, categorizing entire floors as mezzanines. His ruse exposed, a subsequent investigation revealed further transgressions that prompted city officials to shelve more than 50 of his projects.  Digging further, city officials found that nearly 60 percent of all self-certified plans were actually out of compliance with local building codes. The city later moved to restrict repeat-offending architects from self-certification as a result of the scandal.

Why is it that in many endeavors it only takes a few rotten apples to spoil the entire crop? This is a philosophical question to be sure, but the reality highlights not only the potential for abuse, but also the real damage to reputation that results in succumbing to shortcuts.

Despite all of these transgressions, the news is not all bad, with the virtues of the electronic effort spotlighted elsewhere.  Portland and Los Angeles have emerged as big self-certification practitioners with minimal disruptions due to fraud. In Hawaii, officials have inserted a third-party review to their own version as a safeguard against abuse.

For the ethical industry players, e-permit options truly make life easier in meeting crucial deadlines. Such programs allow architects to be issued permits within a week of submitting plans electronically, a process that would take months under old-school methods. As many readers of this blog are aware, these time savings are a welcome development in light of the dizzying number of city codes and ordinances to which one must adhere.

Rising from the ashes of such scandalous behavior, the city of Phoenix has emerged as another bright example of electronic self-certification done right. A February report in the Ahwatukee Foothills News cast a spotlight on the various e-certified success stories, detailing the measurable benefits to those opting for the electronic permitting route. Led by City Councilman Sal DiCiccio, the city long sought to help developers eliminate pesky red tape through self-certification options. So in 2009, the city assembled a committee to explore the idea of self-certification to allow architects to secure needed permits within one to five days of their submissions.

By all accounts, the process is a big success, free of scandal. One local businessman was quoted as saying self-certification allowed him to open his pizza shop 45 days faster than would have been accomplished with conventional methods. Another project would have taken 60 days were it not for self-certification, the newspaper reported.

In our industry, as in so many other areas of human endeavor, it’s a brave new world. With or without the simplicity and ease of technology, it’s still a jungle out there, what with deadlines and all. However, in doing the right thing, one might heed the words of Albert Camus: “A man [or woman] without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world.”

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Of all permits needed prior to construction, the construction general permit is arguably the one that inspires the greatest anxiety and sense of foreboding. Centered on storm water discharges related to construction activities, the permit is under purview of the EPA—an agency that doesn’t mess around with its enforcement and penalties.

Storm water discharges originating from construction—resulting from grading, excavation, stockpiling, and the like—that disturb the environment on one or more acres that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale, are regulated under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm water program. Before discharging, construction operators must first obtain coverage under an NPDES permit.

Some in the construction industry view a construction general permit as a draconian measure, but it is an important safeguard to protect the environment. The main compliance issue inherent to a construction general permit centers on effluent limits and related permit requirements. Contractors seeking coverage under the EPA’s construction general permit requirements must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) that certifies they have not only met the permit’s eligibility conditions but intend to adhere to established effluent limits and other requirements. In seeking a permit, operators are required to use the EPA’s electronic NOI system.

In March, the EPA hosted two webinars designed to provide members of the public an overview of the revamped construction general permit updated for 2012 that included a Q&A session to ask questions of EPA officials. If you missed it, it’s available for download at the EPA website.

Not to add to the pressure, but there are also a series of deadlines associated for submitting a NOI and dates of permit coverage. For a new project, for example, the deadline to submit is at least 14 days prior to the beginning of construction. The accompanying date of permit coverage is 14 calendar days after the EPA has acknowledged receipt of a NOI. This assumes, however, that the EPA has not notified that an authorization has been delayed or denied. The same deadline timelines exist for a new operator of a new or existing project. For an existing project (defined as one that began before Feb. 16, 2012), the deadline to submit is no later than May 16. There’s also a deadline related to emergency-related projects, required no later than 30 days after construction start. For such projects, permit coverage is offered provisionally on an immediate basis.

In seeking information related to a construction general permit, a visit to the EPA website is highly advisable. Contractors can reach the site at www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/cgpnoisearch.

A plethora of information on the construction general permit can be found at the website, including information on states, Indian country, and territories where such requirements apply. Also, you can find a primer on the type of operator that would need such coverage. Storm water pollution prevention plans and other helpful resources are also available, as well as a review on the Endangered Species Act. There’s even a nifty portion designed to help find a construction site’s latitude and longitude coordinates.

To be sure, dealing with federal agencies can be somewhat anxiety-inducing. However, at Burnham Nationwide, a seasoned array of professionals are well accustomed to dealing with regulators at the highest levels and are happy to help you navigate these regulatory waters. Our professionals are not only conversant in the nomenclature of the federal government, but are familiar to regulators given their many encounters on behalf of our clients. We would be happy to lend that expertise toward the end of achieving a comfort level in obtaining a construction general permit for your next project. Burnham can be reached toll-free at 800-407-7990. For those of you engaged in social media, we can be reached via Facebook as well. Once you find our page, we’re hopeful you’ll hit the “like” button.

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By David Anderson, Licensed Architect, LEED AP

Did you know…

If you are a senior citizen getting renovations or alterations done on your residence or condo in the City of Chicago, you may qualify for a partial or full permit fee waiver!

To qualify, you must have lived in or owned the residence for at least 10 years and be a senior citizen, 65 years or older. The scope of work sought under the permit must be a repair, renovation, alteration or addition to a building with three or less dwelling units. Permit fee discounts are also dependent on income level and some permits may qualify for a full fee waiver. Income level of the building owner can be no more than 80% of the Chicago area median family income as calculated by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The full permit fee is calculated and then a deduction or full waiver is figured based on individual status. Seniors relocating to another property may not qualify, i.e. seniors moving into a residence with family members.

Let your architect or permit consultant know that you may qualify and are interested in getting a permit fee discount.

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By Bradd Hout

The NYC Department of Buildings is proposing changes to help improve the permit renewal process for stalled developments. Previously, the Department of Buildings would void permits on sites that had not begun construction work within one year of a permits issuance. under the new program, a developer is allowed 4 years of no activity before the permit will expire.

The city estimates that there are roughly 541 stalled construction sites across the five boroughs. Through this action, the department intends to help ease and speed the recovery of the construction and real estate industries in NYC.

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By: Arelis Batista

With the implementation of the NYC Construction Codes of 2008 Special Inspections replaced most Controlled Inspections for all construction projects approved on or after July 1, 2008. The scope of Special Inspections is similar to Controlled Inspections, defined in Chapter 17  of the 2008 Building Code and the Department’s Special Inspections Rule. The new code mandated that Special Inspections only be performed by Special Inspectors working for a Buildings Department-registered Special Inspection Agency.

In addition, the NYC Construction Codes of 2008 implemented similar requirements for Progress Inspections. Progress Inspection Agencies must be qualified to perform inspections required by the Rules of the Department, Title 28 of the Administrative Code, and/or the new NYC Building Code (Chapter 1 – BC 109). Inspections must be performed by a registered design professional with relevant experience, or a person under their direct supervision. Progress inspectors must also verify that Special Inspections, required prior to the Progress Inspection, have been completed and documented.

As part of the first phase of the implementation of the New York City Construction Codes., Special and Progress Inspectors and agencies had one (1) year to become certified by July 1, 2009. Qualifications inspectors are specific to trade and building code. (See Qualifications) In addition, inspectors and agencies must have the following insurance coverage:
Professional liability/errors and omissions insurance for a minimum of $500,000 for the term of the registration
General Liability insurance for a minimum of $1,000,000
Insurance required by the provisions of the New York State Workers’ Compensation and Disability Law.

The Department of Buildings has extended the period for compliance until December 31, 2009. in the interim, inspections are currently submitted on TR-1′s and applicants attest to compliance with the current requirements of the code. Projects filed prior to June 30, 2008 use the old TR-1 and projects filed after must use the new TR-1.

Registration as a Special Inspection Agency will be introduced later in 2009, allowing electronic registration for agencies performing Special Inspections. Currently, individuals meeting the qualifications and insurance requirements may certify inspections.

Note: No registration is required at this time. When a Special Inspector signs and submits the TR1, they’re certifying that they meet the qualifications under Appendix A.

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Written by Mike Foley

Although generally viewed as merely a national headcount, the census actually compiles a surprising amount of manufacturing and construction data. It also offers detailed data on residential building permits.

The site offers a host of national and state categories. You can even search by municipality. Permit data can be downloaded in both excel and PDF formats. It’s a handy tool for those seeking recent and historical data on building permits.

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Written by Arelis Batista

Many professionals are wondering what is/isn’t permitted (from the 1968 Building Code of the City of New York) with the onset of the new NYC Building Code which was effective July 1, 2008 and will be fully implemented July 1, 2009.

New building application filed before July 1, 2009 may use the pre 1968, 1968 or 2008 Construction code. Any application filed utilizing this code must comply with 2008 Codes requirements for administration*, enforcement* and safety*. The application cannot be filed to “lock in” the older code and then abandoned, rather, the work must commence within 12 months of the issuance of a permit and diligently carried out to completion.

New building applications filed after July 1, 2009 must comply with the 2008 Construction Code. Alteration applications may use the pre-1968, 1968 or 2008 Construction Code. These applications are precluded from using the 2008 Building Codes where the provisions applied to the specific building would result in a reduction of fire safety or structural safety. In these situations, the entire bulding may be made compliant with the 2008 Building Code in order to apply the standards.

Alteration filed using the pre-1968 or 1968 Code must comply with the 2008 Codes requirements for administration*, enforcement*, safety* operations during construction, plumbing, fuel gas, mechanical, fire protection, elevators, handicap accessibility in the event of renovations encompassing over 50% of the structure or changing the dominant use or occupancy of a structure and encroachments. As previously established, the application must be filed and diligently pursued through approval, permit and sign off.

The NYC Department of Buildings has a code compass fact sheet regarding details fo the filing requirements.

• *administration – fees, construction document approval, permit issuance, certificate of occupancy, special inspections, use of materials.
• *enforcement – violations, fines and penalties.
• *safety – 2008 building code, chapter 33.

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