Building construction permits are required for any home improvement project that adds to or modifies a building’s structure. Building permits are needed to prove that the new construction is up to local, state and federal building codes, and they usually require an inspection during and after construction.

Most homeowners have a limited understanding of building construction permits, making applying for new building permits a frustrating and tedious process. Some states don’t even allow homeowners to apply for new building permits in their own names. Instead, any building construction permits must be applied for by the home improvement contractor or the home architect.

Do Architects Need to Apply for New Building Permits?

The short answer is no. Unless the home architect contract specifically states that the architect applies for building construction permits, he or she is under no legal obligation to do so. A home architect whose part in the building process ends with the building design is unlikely to help obtain building permits.

Many architects, however, oversee home improvement projects from the design blueprint to the completed structure. In such cases, the home architect helps homeowners pick suitable materials, recommends and supervises contractors, and in many cases, applies for new building permits.

Advantages of Having Architects Apply for New Building Permits

Homeowners can gain peace of mind by having their home architect apply for the necessary building construction permits. Architects possess a knowledge of building permits only an industry insider can attain. As such, it takes the architect far less time to obtain building permits than it would the homeowner.

Speed isn’t the only consideration. Building construction permits and building code requirements are extremely complex. Mistakes made when applying for new building permits can, in a worst case scenario, result in litigation against homeowners. (For example, if a contractor was injured on a work site that lacked the proper building permits, the homeowner could be sued).

If your home is a historical landmark or heritage building, it becomes even more important that the architect applies for all building construction permits. Rules governing what can and cannot be altered in a heritage home are both strict and complicated: often, renovations must be approved by a historical commission. You want to be absolutely certain that your home improvement project meets all historical building requirements.

Having a home architect file documents and obtain building permits keeps homeowners safe, and ensures that applying for new building permits doesn’t hold up the project’s construction schedule.