How to find your permits
- Logon with your homeowner web account
- Click the "Details" menu above the list of properties. If you have more than one property, click on one of the rows first to select it. This will show all permits for your property address. If applicable, there will be a link to related plans or to older permit cards (if the structure was built prior to the early 1980's). For newer properties, there may be a Certificate of Occupancy date and a link to view that in PDF form. Elevation, if known, will also be displayed. To view the details of any of the permits listed, click the Permit # link, double-click the row, or single-click the row and click the Details menu.
- Alternately, under the Permits menu, select List of permits. By default, this will show all open permits for all of your properties. The View menu can be used to go back to look at older permits. To view the details of any of the permits listed, click the Permit # link, double-click the row, or single-click the row and click the Details menu.
- See also How to lookup permits
How to monitor activity on your permits
- Logon with your web account
- Under the Permit menu go to Recent Activity
- This page will display all open inspection requests for all permits at your properties. It will also display all recent inspection results (by default, past 30 days). Use the View menu to go back further.
How to sign up for email notifications when your permits are inspected
- Logon with your web account
- When you are scheduling an inspection online, you can choose a notification option:
- No Notification -- By default no emails are sent. Inspection Notifications need to be explicitly opted into.
- Send email notification for this Inspection only -- You will receive an email notification when this individual inspection is complete, using the email addresses you specify here.
- Send email notifications for this permit only -- You will receive an email notification each time there is an inspection performed for this permit, using the email addresses you specify here. You can optionally limit this to just final inspections and/or expand it to include work done by any contractor. The default is to receive a notification for all of your own inspection results.
- Send email notifications for all my permits -- Use this option if you want to receive notifications for all of your permits, rather than opting into each permit or inspection individually. This option uses the current email from your Profile when an inspection is performed. This option can be managed from your Profile (see below).
- Notification options can be viewed/updated from Permit Details:
- Go to the Permit Details page for the permit (see How to find your permits and About Permit Details)
- Under the Details menu for Permit Attachments select Inspection Notification. This option will only be present when looking at one of your own permits. The current notification options for this permit will be displayed, and can be updated from here, or when making an inspection request.
- No Notification -- By default no emails are sent. Inspection Notifications need to be explicitly opted into.
- Send email notification for single Inspection only -- Disabled from here. This can only be set at the time the inspection is requested.
- Send email notifications for this permit only -- You will receive an email notification each time there is an inspection performed for this permit, using the email addresses you specify here. You can optionally limit this to just final inspections and/or expand it to include work done by any contractor. The default is to receive a notification for all of your own inspection results.
- Send email notifications for all my permits -- Use this option if you want to receive notifications for all of your permits, rather than opting into each permit or inspection individually. This option uses the current email from your Profile when an inspection is performed. This option can be managed from your Profile (see below).
- You can manage your desired notification options from your Profile.
- Under the My Account menu select Edit Profile
- Selected the desired notification on the Options tab.
- The default is to not receive any notifications. To receive notifications, check the "YES. Send notification emails" box. You can receive notifications for only final inspections (that will close the permit if they pass) or for all inspections. You also have the option to receive notifications only for the work you perform, or receive notifications when any other contractor on one of your permits gets an inspection. You can receive notifications for all of your permits, or only for selected permits (see above to request a notification for an individual permit).
- If you choose the "All my permits" option, the notifications will be sent to the current email address from your Profile at the time of the inspection. So if you update your email address in your profile, you will automatically receive all future notifications at the new address. Similarly, if you uncheck the option to receive notifications and save again, this will immediately stop all future notifications. To update your email address see How to update your password, email, or other contact information. If you choose the "Only selected permits" option, we will use the contact email addresses entered at the time the request was made, so updates to your profile will not impact any existing notification requests for a specific permit or inspection.
- If you only want to receive notifications for selected permits/inspections (specified when you enter the request), either uncheck the box to receive notifications or choose "Only selected permits" to specify your default notification preferences for the selected permits.
- For Homeowners, if you want to receive a notification when a contractor's work is inspected for a permit at your property, use the Work Done by Anyone option.
- If you don't receive these emails (or stop receiving them), please check your Junk Mail or Spam folder.
How to request an Inspection online
Note: Inspection requests can also be made by phone by calling the main Building Department number.
- Logon with your web account
- Go to the Permit Details page for the permit (see How to find your permits and About Permit Details)
- Click Request Inspection on the top right side of the screen.
- Specify the desired inspection date, inspection type and an optional comment to the inspector (such as a call ahead number).
- Click the Request this Inspection button. A message will display at the top of the page detailing either success or error.
- If the inspection is scheduled, it will now show up on the Permit Details page under Inspection Requests when you click the Back menu.
- Inspections scheduled after the cutoff time in the morning will be done the following business day. There is sometimes a backlog of Reroof inspections, so those may be several weeks out.
- To cancel an already scheduled inspection online, select the row under Inspection Requests and use the Cancel Request option on the Inspection menu.
How to view a Permit receipt online
- Logon with your web account
- Go to the Permit Details page for the permit (see How to find your permits and About Permit Details)
- Under the Details menu for Permit Attachments select Attachment Receipt. This option will only be present when looking at one of your own permits.
- You can also get to your Use Tax receipt from here by selecting Use Tax Receipt under the Details menu for Permit Attachments. Use Tax Receipt (if available) shows all the fees and use tax paid for this permit only, so can be used to separately document the payments for an individual permit when more than one permit was paid for on a single receipt.
- See also How to view Receipts online
How to view the current status of an Inspector
- Go to the Recent Activity page
- Select an inspection that is scheduled for today by clicking that row
- Click the Inspector Status menu above. If available, this will display how many inspections your inspector has today and what number they are on currently.
- This information is also available for individual permits from the Permit Details page (see How to find your permits and About Permit Details)
How to get a new Permit
Note: Over the counter permits can be obtained online with this web account or over the phone by calling the main Building Department number. They can also be obtained in person at the Building Department office. Most construction projects (either new or remodel) require a plan review prior to issuing the permit (the exceptions are Reroof, Stucco, Siding, Glazing, Woodstove). See Residential Plan Check, Commercial Plan Check or How to submit plans for review.
To get a permit online: (Your primary address only)
- Logon with your homeowner web account
- Add the address of your primary residence if you have not already done so (see section on Properties )
- Click the New Permit menu above the list of properties. If you have multiple properties, select your primary address first.
- When getting a permit for the first time, you will be prompted to confirm that this is your primary residence.
- Your address, name and phone number are pre-filled.
- Select the type of project from the dropdown list and enter the total cost of materials. Some projects will have multiple different options displayed (e.g. "Replace Water Heater" and "Replace Water Heater (w/vent)"), so be sure to select the best project description. For some types of work, such as Electrical, you will be prompted for a description. Click the Calculate fee button.
- (Note: If your type of project is not listed it may be possible to get this permit over the phone if no plan review is required. Call the main number for the building department.)
- Click the Submit button to add this permit to your checkout queue. If applicable, multiple permits can be added to the checkout queue prior to paying for them.
How to pay for Permits in the Checkout queue
- To get to the Checkout queue, under the Permits menu select Permit Checkout. You are directed here automatically each time you add a permit to the checkout queue.
- Permits in the checkout queue will not be issued until paid for. Multiple permits can be added to the checkout queue prior to paying for all of them. When you checkout, you will pay for all permits currently in the queue.
- Prior to checking out, review the list of permits in your queue. If there are any permits listed that you no longer need (or have already purchased over the phone), you can delete them from the queue.
- Read the instructions on the checkout queue page carefully. You may be asked to select options that will determine your total fees.
- When ready, click the Checkout menu above the list of permits in the checkout queue. If there is a problem checking out, a red error message will display at the top of the page.
- You will be prompted to enter your payment account information (either credit or bank account). Verify the total amount that will be charged to your account and click Process Transaction when ready.
- If the transaction is successful, you will receive an email confirmation and get a link directly to your new permit. To find this permit later, see How to find your permits and How to view Receipts online.
- If the transaction fails, double-check your payment information. If the payment account is being declined, it will be necessary to contact your financial institution directly, because we will not have any details on why it was declined.
How to delete a Permit from the Checkout queue without paying for it
- To get to the Checkout queue, under the Permits menu select Permit Checkout. You are directed here automatically each time you add a permit to the checkout queue.
- Select the row for the item you no longer need (or have already purchased) by clicking it. Click the Delete menu above.
- This will remove this item from the checkout queue and recalculate the total amount in the queue.