Explore Permitting

Building starts with understanding. Ask anything about permits, zoning, and land use.

Popular topics

• Building Permit — An official authorization issued by a local government that allows construction, renovation, or demolition of a building or structure after verifying that the proposed work complies with applicable building codes, zoning regulations, and other local requirements.
• Certificate of Occupancy — An official document issued by a building department certifying that a building complies with all applicable building codes and is approved for occupancy and use for its designated purpose.
• Conditional Use Permit — A discretionary land use approval that allows a specific use in a zoning district where it is not permitted by right, subject to conditions designed to mitigate potential impacts on surrounding properties.
• CEQA — The California Environmental Quality Act, a state law requiring government agencies to evaluate and disclose the environmental impacts of proposed projects before approving them, and to mitigate significant impacts where feasible.
• Floor Area Ratio — The ratio of a building's total floor area to the size of the lot it occupies, used as a zoning tool to control building density and bulk.
• Plan Check — An alternate term for plan review, commonly used in California and western states, referring to the building department's examination of construction documents for code compliance.

Courses

• Permitting Basics — The core workflow — from application to certificate of occupancy.
• Zoning & Land Use — How cities regulate what gets built where.
• Environmental Review — CEQA, NEPA, and the environmental approvals process.
• Construction Documents — Reading and managing the drawing sets that drive permit submissions.
• Building Codes & Safety — IBC, fire code, structural requirements, and occupancy rules.
• Entitlements & Approvals — Navigating discretionary hearings, design review, and conditions.