This particular jurisdiction will sometimes issue just a land use permit and the applicant will apply at a later date for the building permit.

Not the case here, though, because the client was anxious to move into their new building as the lease had run out on the current office building where they were housed.

The client submitted construction drawings, site plans, and all the documents required for a building and land use permit. At the intake appointment for the permit, the mechanical reviewer was present, the structural reviewer was present as well as building codes reviewer. These people would not have been present at a land use only permit intake.

The contractor began work on the site and had installed the concrete forms for the footings and called for inspection.

The contractor gave the permit number to the inspector and was then told to his surprise that a inspection could not be done because the permit number was for a land use permit only!

This costly internal oversight has seriously delayed the building project until it can be straightened out by department staff. This may be one of those things that gets buried in a big beauracracy. However, the department heads are doing everything they can for the client and have promised an expedited solution.

The lesson to be learned here is to check and make sure the permit you have been issued allows you to do everything you had planned for your project.

Make sure to check the permit you have been issued before you leave the permit counter!