Recent content by chasnr

All new Permit Platforms should not require any separate forms to be filled out. Everything should be integrated in the portal. It drives me crazy when you have to fill out a separate permit application and have to then upload it to the portal. The only thing that should be required to be...

Thank you for your response. It's kind of funny when jurisdictions ask for site plans when all work is interior. Some will ask for a site plan no matter what. In those cases, what you did is sufficient. Otherwise, when there is exterior work, an actual survey is required. This is helpful...

I deal with many pool companies that I pull permits for there in-ground pool projects. On these jobs, the most important part of the project is the site plan/survey. Noting to scale the location/size of the pool and the setbacks to all pertinent property lines and/or septic, well, septic...

I understand the point of having the homeowner on the permit communication, but, in my experience, it causes unnecessary stress for them as they are sometimes receiving miscellaneous emails that they do not need to be bogged down with. My job is to keep them in the loop of important aspects of...

Was the scope of work for the contractor to include the boiler originally? Sounds like he was doing a favor by putting the heater in the house. Did the contractor fix the boiler? This is certainly a tricky one.

Expediting is really an old title used for our services. Kind of like "Permit Runner". Who Runs permits to the individual jurisdictions anymore? I mean, yes, there are still some antiquated jurisdictions requiring in person plans to be dropped off. Quite inconvenient these days. When I'm...

Baltimore City unveiled a horrendous new permit portal at the beginning of February, 2025. It seems as though no one has a clue nor looked at surrounding area permit systems. They should have gone to the permit expediters for input. With that being said, when you re-sign in with the new...

I deal with many contractors who will only pull permits if the homeowner insists. Otherwise, they just risk getting caught and potentially losing there home improvement license. I bet this happens more often than not. I have run into a project where they were getting the basement...

This rings very true. For some of us fairly new to the industry(Nearly 5 year, so, not so new), it is a continuing learning process. Some projects can be quite daunting. Variances, Floodplains, etc...I never like to turn anything down, so, I learn as I am actually doing it. If it is...

In some counties in MD, the State Dept of Assessments and Taxation contacts me to find out if the project that was permitted for is complete. Usually it's for a deck or finishing a basement. They are pro-active in updating there records to be able to assess the improvement to the property...

This is as good of a complex question there is with regards to your situation. I had a similar circumstance where the homeowner decided to come clean and obtain a building permit after the fact of finishing his basement and all associated trade work. This happens quite often per the...

I cover mainly MD-DC-VA and depending on who your clients are will depend on the the applications being submitted. I originally was mainly pulling permits for basement waterproofing companies and they certainly slow down come Thanksgiving thru mid January. They also slow down if it is very dry...

Even though there may be some scopes of work that even a permit expediter like myself seems unnecessary, I always like to advise that if you get caught doing non-permitting work, you could be subject to fines and stop work orders. Fines vary obviously by jurisdiction, but, in Washington, DC...

I like that. Prince William County in Virginia charges for all revisions, even as silly it may be. They are one of the toughest when enforcing code and always requests an ICC report with basically any product being used. They will match up your plans/drawings to see if it coincides with...

Always be upfront with their specific jurisdiction if you are able. As a permit expediter, I tell my clients...I may not be able to get the permit much quicker than someone else, but, I will not let the permit sit around and not move along. That's the nature of our business. Follow up with...