Permits & pricing, answered.

Permit questions

What is a building permit?

A building permit is official authorization from your local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to begin construction, alteration, or demolition that affects structure, life-safety, or utilities.

Do I really need a permit for small projects?

Most jurisdictions waive permits for cosmetic work — paint, flooring, like-for-like fixtures. Anything that touches structure, gas, electrical, plumbing, or the building envelope almost always needs one.

How long does a permit take?

From 24 hours for over-the-counter permits to 6–12 weeks for plan-reviewed commercial projects. PermitJunkie's Municipality Intelligence tracks live processing times for every jurisdiction in our network.

How much does a permit cost?

Fees are usually a percentage of project valuation plus per-trade base fees. Expect $50–$500 for small residential work and several thousand for commercial TIs.

What happens if I do unpermitted work?

You can face stop-work orders, double permit fees, forced removal of work, sale-of-home complications, and insurance denial if a loss occurs.

Can I pull my own permit as a homeowner?

In most U.S. jurisdictions, owner-occupants can pull permits for their own primary residence — but you assume all contractor liability and may not be able to hire unlicensed help.

What is plan review?

Plan review is the technical check of submitted drawings against adopted codes. It typically produces a correction letter you must address before issuance.

What is a correction letter?

A list of plan-review comments — code references, missing details, or clarifications — that must be resolved before a permit is approved.

What inspections will I need?

Typical residential remodels need rough-in (framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical), insulation, and final inspections. Commercial projects add fire and accessibility.

Do I need a licensed contractor?

Most jurisdictions require licensed trades for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and structural work. PermitJunkie's Marketplace lists vetted, license-verified professionals.

What is a Certificate of Occupancy?

The final document confirming a building or tenant space is legal to occupy. It is issued after all final inspections pass.

What is zoning?

Zoning regulates land use — what you can build, how big, and how far from property lines. It is distinct from building code, which governs how you build.

What is a setback?

The minimum distance a structure must sit from property lines. Setbacks vary by zoning district and structure type.

What is a variance?

A discretionary approval that waives a zoning rule for a specific property — typically requiring a public hearing.

What is a conditional use permit?

A discretionary approval allowing a use that is permitted in a zone only under specific conditions.

What is an ADU?

An accessory dwelling unit — a secondary, self-contained living unit on a single-family lot. Many states (CA, OR, WA, etc.) have streamlined ADU permitting.

What is Title 24?

California's building energy efficiency standards, required for nearly all new construction and additions in California.

What is the IECC?

The International Energy Conservation Code — the model energy code most U.S. states adopt.

What is the IRC?

The International Residential Code — the model code for one- and two-family dwellings adopted by most U.S. jurisdictions.

What is the IBC?

The International Building Code — the model code for commercial and multifamily construction.

What is the NEC?

The National Electrical Code, governing electrical installations in the U.S.

What is an occupancy classification?

The category (A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R, S, U) that determines code requirements for a building's intended use.

What is a change of use?

A permit triggered when an existing space switches to a different occupancy — for example, retail to restaurant.

What is a tenant improvement?

Build-out work inside an existing commercial shell, usually to fit a new tenant.

Do I need a permit for a fence?

Most jurisdictions require permits for fences over 6 feet, fences in front yards, or any fence enclosing a pool. Material and height limits also apply.

Do I need a permit for a deck?

Decks over 30 inches above grade, or attached to the house, almost always require permits.

Do I need a permit for a water heater?

Yes — water-heater replacement is permitted in most jurisdictions because of seismic, venting, and T&P requirements.

Do I need a permit for a roof replacement?

Yes in most jurisdictions, especially for overlays, fire-zone material changes, or structural repair.

Do I need a permit for solar?

Yes. Solar PV requires building, electrical, and often utility-interconnection approvals.

Do I need a permit for an EV charger?

Yes. Level 2 chargers require an electrical permit and often a load calculation.

Do I need a permit for a shed?

Most jurisdictions exempt sheds under 120 sq ft from a building permit, but zoning setbacks and HOA rules still apply.

What is a stop-work order?

An official order halting all construction until violations are resolved. Issued for unpermitted work, life-safety hazards, or major correction failures.

What is grandfathering?

Legal status that lets a pre-existing condition continue under older rules even after the code changes. It usually ends when you alter the condition.

What is a permit expeditor?

A professional who walks permits through agencies, manages corrections, and accelerates approval. PermitJunkie is an AI-powered permit expeditor available 24/7.

How does PermitJunkie work?

Tell PermitPal about your project, upload your documents, and our Compliance Engine generates a checklist, flags missing items, and (optionally) submits on your behalf.

Is PermitJunkie a government agency?

No. PermitJunkie is an AI concierge that helps you prepare and understand permit applications. Final approval is up to your local AHJ.

Does PermitJunkie guarantee approval?

No tool can guarantee approval. PermitJunkie dramatically reduces the most common rejection reasons — missing documents, code-edition mismatches, and accessibility oversights.

Is my data secure with PermitJunkie?

Yes. Documents are stored in project-isolated buckets with row-level security, accessed via short-lived signed URLs, and protected under SOC 2 Type II controls.

How much does PermitJunkie cost?

Free to get started. Pay-per-use AI credits, project unlocks, monthly plans, and enterprise seat-based billing are all available — see our pricing page.

Can PermitJunkie help my municipality?

Yes — our Municipality Intelligence Platform offers AI plan review (APRIE), autonomous workflows (AWE), and a citizen-facing concierge that replaces or sits on top of Accela, BS&A, or Tyler EnerGov.

Pricing & billing

How Permit Credits, subscriptions, Concierge fees, and Marketplace commissions work.

How much does PermitJunkie cost?

PermitJunkie uses a hybrid pricing model. Most users start free with limited AI requests, then either pay per use with Permit Credits (Carfax-style, no subscription), bundle credits at a discount, or upgrade to an unlimited monthly subscription. Teams and enterprises can purchase seat-based plans similar to ChatGPT Teams.

Is there a free plan?

Yes. Every account includes a free tier with limited AI requests, sample document scans, and read-only access to the Compliance Engine. You can run a full Restaurant Opening or homeowner project end-to-end on the free tier before deciding whether to upgrade.

What is a Permit Credit?

Permit Credits are the unit of measurement for AI work in PermitJunkie. One credit roughly equals one document scan, one compliance analysis, or one PermitPal conversation. Bundles start at $20 for 25 credits with volume discounts up to 40% off.

Do credits expire?

Pay-per-use credits never expire. Bundled credits expire 12 months after purchase. Subscription credits reset monthly and do not roll over.

What's included in the monthly subscription?

The Pro subscription ($29/month) includes unlimited PermitPal conversations, unlimited document scans, the full Permit Intelligence Engine, priority support, and one free Permit Filing Concierge submission per quarter.

How does the Permit Filing Concierge fee work?

Concierge submissions are billed separately from credits. The flat fee covers final AI review, expert case assignment, e-filing with your jurisdiction, and submission tracking. Pricing varies by permit complexity and is shown before you confirm.

Do you charge commission on Marketplace bookings?

Yes. PermitJunkie takes a configurable platform fee (default 10%) on successful Marketplace bookings between you and a licensed professional. Vendors see the fee transparently before accepting a lead.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. Subscriptions cancel at the end of the current billing period — no proration, no penalty. Pay-per-use credits remain yours forever. We never charge cancellation fees.

Do you offer refunds?

Yes. Unused credits are refundable within 30 days of purchase. Concierge fees are refundable until your case is assigned to an expert. Subscriptions are refundable on a pro-rated basis within 14 days of renewal.

Is there a discount for nonprofits or municipalities?

Yes. Verified 501(c)(3) nonprofits receive 30% off all subscription tiers. Municipalities and government agencies have a dedicated pricing program — contact sales for a quote.

What payment methods do you accept?

All major credit cards via Stripe, ACH bank transfer for annual enterprise plans, and purchase orders for verified municipalities. We do not store card numbers — Stripe is PCI DSS Level 1 certified.

Will my AI usage costs be transparent?

Yes. Every PermitPal conversation, document scan, and Concierge action shows the credit cost before you confirm. The Permit Wallet dashboard breaks down spend by project, agent, and time period in real time.