Find your local
building department.
Official permit portals, inspection scheduling, and contacts for the office that actually serves your property, checked against government sources.
How to find the right office
Check the jurisdiction
Your mailing address doesn’t decide who issues the permit. City limits and unincorporated areas do. Learn how to check.
Confirm what needs a permit
Read our project guides, then confirm local rules with the department before you start work.
Apply and schedule inspections
Use the official portal links on each department guide to apply, track your permit, and book inspections.
Does your project need a permit?
Most US building departments start from the International Residential Code, which requires a permit for almost all construction and lists a short set of exemptions. This is that baseline. Cities and counties can add to it, so treat it as a starting point and confirm with your local office.
| Project | Model-code baseline (2021 IRC) |
|---|---|
| Deck | Permit required unless the deck is 200 sq ft or less, no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to the house, and not serving a required exit door. |
| Fence | Fences up to 7 feet tall are exempt from a building permit, but many cities require a fence or zoning permit at any height, and pool barriers almost always need review. |
| Shed or playhouse | One-story detached accessory structures up to 200 sq ft are exempt. Some jurisdictions use 120 sq ft, and wiring or plumbing needs its own permit. |
| Garage or carport | Permit required. Even a one-car detached garage is larger than the 200 sq ft exemption, and attached garages are never exempt. |
| Retaining wall | Permit required when the wall is over 4 feet from the bottom of the footing to the top, or when it holds back a driveway, slope, or building. |
| Driveway or sidewalk | Exempt from a building permit, but a new curb cut or work in the street right-of-way usually needs a separate public-works permit. |
| Roof replacement | Full replacement usually needs a permit. Small repairs often do not, and each jurisdiction sets where a repair ends and a reroof begins. |
| Water heater | Usually a plumbing permit, often with gas or electrical, even for a same-size swap, because venting and the relief valve are safety items. |
| Furnace, AC, or heat pump | Replacement usually needs a mechanical permit and often an electrical permit. Portable units and minor repairs with like parts are exempt. |
| Electrical work | New circuits, outlets, fixtures, panel upgrades, and service changes need a permit. Replacing lamps or plugging equipment into existing outlets does not. |
| Plumbing work | Only stopping leaks, clearing stoppages, and resetting a toilet are exempt. New or relocated lines and water or sewer service work need a permit. |
| Paint, flooring, cabinets, countertops | Exempt as finish work. Moving walls, plumbing, wiring, gas, or ventilation during a remodel brings it back into permit territory. |
| Swimming pool | Only prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep are exempt. In-ground pools also need electrical, plumbing, and barrier approvals. |
What a building permit covers, and what it doesn’t
A “building permit” is often several approvals. The building permit covers structure, fire safety, and energy code. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and gas work usually need their own trade permits, sometimes from the same office and sometimes pulled separately by each licensed contractor. Each permit comes with inspections that must pass before work is covered up.
Other approvals sit outside the building department and are easy to miss:
- Zoning decides whether the project is allowed on your lot at all: setbacks, height, lot coverage, and use. Many departments won’t issue a building permit until zoning signs off.
- Right-of-way permits from public works cover curb cuts, driveway aprons, and work in the street.
- Floodplain, historic district, and septic or well approvals apply in specific areas and can add weeks.
- Utility approvals are separate. Solar and generators need the utility’s interconnection or service sign-off.
- HOA approval is a private contract, not a permit. Getting one never replaces the other.
The process guides explain each step: applying, inspections, timelines, and the certificate of occupancy.
Do I need a permit for…
Every project guide gives the short answer, the code sections behind it, how real cities differ, and a checklist for your application.
- Deck
- Fence
- Shed
- Replace a Roof
- Replace a Water Heater
- Replace HVAC
- Electrical Work
- Replace Windows
- Solar Panels
- Kitchen Remodel
- Bathroom Remodel
- Finish a Basement
- Swimming Pool
- ADU
- Garage or Carport
- Driveway
- Retaining Wall
- Pergola or Patio Cover
- Replace Siding
- Plumbing Work
- Gas Line
- Generator
- EV Charger
- Egress Window
- Home Addition
- Foundation Repair
- Demolish a House
- All guides
Browse by state
Who writes the code and who enforces it differs by state. Some adopt one code statewide, others leave it to cities, and a few run state permit programs where no local department exists. Each state page covers its code edition, contractor licensing, and rules for unincorporated areas.
- Alabama, 11 guides
- Alaska, 8 guides
- Arizona, 8 guides
- Arkansas, 8 guides
- California, 8 guides
- Colorado, 8 guides
- Connecticut, 8 guides
- Delaware, 8 guides
- Florida, 8 guides
- Georgia, 8 guides
- Hawaii, 8 guides
- Idaho, 8 guides
- Illinois, 8 guides
- Indiana, 8 guides
- Iowa, 8 guides
- Kansas, 8 guides
- Kentucky, 8 guides
- Louisiana, 8 guides
- Maine, 8 guides
- Maryland, 8 guides
- Massachusetts, 8 guides
- Michigan, 8 guides
- Minnesota, 8 guides
- Mississippi, 8 guides
- Missouri, 8 guides
- Montana, 8 guides
- Nebraska, 8 guides
- Nevada, 8 guides
- New Hampshire, 8 guides
- New Jersey, 8 guides
- New Mexico, 8 guides
- New York, 8 guides
- North Carolina, 8 guides
- North Dakota, 8 guides
- Ohio, 8 guides
- Oklahoma, 8 guides
- Oregon, 8 guides
- Pennsylvania, 8 guides
- Rhode Island, 8 guides
- South Carolina, 8 guides
- South Dakota, 8 guides
- Tennessee, 8 guides
- Texas, 8 guides
- Utah, 8 guides
- Vermont, 8 guides
- Virginia, 8 guides
- Washington, 8 guides
- West Virginia, 8 guides
- Wisconsin, 8 guides
- Wyoming, 7 guides
Popular department guides
- Chicago building department
- Houston building department
- San Antonio building department
- Austin building department
- Denver building department
- Boston building department
- Portland building department
- Louisville building department
- Memphis building department
- Las Vegas building department
- Albuquerque building department
- Minneapolis building department
What’s in each department guide
Each department guide is written from that office’s own website and documents. It covers which permits it issues and its published exemptions, how to apply, where the fee schedule is, the adopted code edition, how to book inspections, and which neighboring offices handle zoning, fire, or septic. The contact panel lists the phone number, address, and direct links to online services, and every guide shows its sources and the date they were checked.
- Department guides
- 402
- County or regional offices
- 91
- Online application portals
- 328
- Online permit search
- 313
- Online inspection requests
- 313
- Accela / Tyler EnerGov portals
- 68 / 63
Frequently asked questions
Is US Building Department a government website?
No. We are an independent directory. We do not issue permits, take applications, or collect fees. Every department guide links to the official city, county, or state office and its online portal, which is where you apply.
How are the department listings checked?
Each department guide is researched from the office’s own website, published forms, and fee schedules. The sources are listed at the bottom of every guide along with the date they were last checked, so you can confirm anything before you rely on it.
My city isn’t listed. Where do I start?
Open your state page and then your county page. They explain who issues permits in that state and link to the county government website. If your property is inside city or town limits, the municipality usually issues permits; in unincorporated areas the county or the state usually does.
Can a homeowner pull a permit without a contractor?
Usually, for a home you own and live in. The model code lets the owner or an authorized agent apply, and most state licensing laws exempt owners working on their own residence. Many departments still require licensed trades for electrical, plumbing, or gas work, and rentals usually need a licensed contractor.
How much does a building permit cost?
There is no national price. Most departments charge by construction valuation, a flat fee for simple jobs, or square footage, plus plan review. Under Denver’s published schedule, for example, a $100,000 remodel costs about $1,155 in permit and plan review fees.
How long is a building permit valid?
Under the model International Residential Code (R105.5), a permit expires if work does not start within 180 days or if more than 180 days pass between inspections. The building official can grant extensions, and many cities set their own limits.
What happens if work was done without a permit?
The department can issue a stop-work order, charge an investigation fee on top of the normal permit fee, and require walls or finishes to be opened for inspection. Unpermitted work can also cause problems with insurance, refinancing, or a sale. Most departments let you apply after the fact to legalize it.