Congratulations, you’ve finally made the decision to undertake that renovation project you’ve always dreamed about. You’ve invested time, money, and energy in making sure that everything is perfect. However, there’s a little bump on the road that’s preventing you from beginning your work: your permit drawings have been rejected by the building department. We know that this can be a frustrating and confusing experience, but there’s no need to lose hope!
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps you need to take when your permit is rejected, so you can get back to focusing on bringing your renovation dreams to life.
Here are 5 steps to get your building permit back on track.
1. Get Feedback from the Building Department.
Receiving feedback from the building department can be a great way to improve your permit application. Schedule a consultation with the department officials to receive feedback on why your drawings were rejected. Understanding the reason for the rejection will help you know what you need to do and avoid making the same mistake during the next review. And if you hired an architect, they would be the best person to help you with this step.
2. Review Your Permit Drawing and Condition Checklist.
When you meet with the building department official, ask to see the permit condition checklist that shows what they are looking for when they review your application. Assess your drawings against these conditions to make sure that you have carefully followed them before submitting them for re-review.
3. Make the Necessary Adjustments.
With feedback from the department officer and checklist in hand, you’ll be in a better position to make the proper amendments. It could be a small mistake or a significant one that wasn’t considered; either way, it can be corrected. Make sure you have all the needed details and comply with the condition checklist before submitting the corrected permit application for processing.
4. Prepare for Re-submission.
Polishing your permit drawings is the key to its re-submission. It pays to double-check every single element on your permit application and make sure that you have included all the necessary information. Consider having an experienced engineer or architects collaborate or consult with you to verify that the drawings are technically sound and completed to the building code and permit conditions set by the department.
5. Follow-up with the Building Department.
Take note of the projected timeframe by the department on when they will reconsider your permit application. Ensure that you have appropriately provided all supporting documents, including the revised drawings and building code assessment report, for the department to review. Follow up with the department to see if there has been any progress with your permit re-consideration and ask for any additional steps or information required.
We all want and hope for a hassle-free permit application and construction project, but sometimes errors or revisions are inevitable. It requires patience and careful planning to re-submit the corrected permit application, but the effort is worth it when you have your approved permit. Getting professional technical assistance from firms with experienced engineers and architects in preparing and submitting permit applications is also one way of ensuring the minimal likelihood of permit rejection in any construction project.
Keep a positive mindset during the process, and you’ll finally end up on the other side, ready to begin your renovation project with newfound wisdom and better preparation.
Having permitting issues? Schedule a call with our team of experts today and let us help you you get through this difficult process. Trust us, we know a thing or two about home design and construction, especially in New Jersey.
