Tips for a Successful Plan Submittal

To avoid potential delays in the Commercial permitting process, follow the tips below:

1. Permit Portal – Monitor submittals on your dashboard in the online Permit and Development Portal.
2. Permit Acceptance – Applications for the project types listed below are only accepted by email at CommercialBuilding@raleighnc.gov. These projects cannot be submitted using the Permit and Development Portal:
   1. Change of use
   2. Canopies
   3. Pools
   4. Plan Revisions
   5. Shop Drawings
   6. Accessory Structures (Mail Kiosks, Dumpster Enclosures, Trash Compactors, Fences exceeding 6 ft. in height, Ice Makers)
   7. Standalone sub-permits (projects not associated with a building permit)
3. Complete Application – Complete Non-Residential Permit Application in its entirety. Please provide a detailed description of the work.
4. Application Details – Provide a detailed scope of work in the Description field. Be sure to add Site Permit Review case numbers, when applicable. Clearly distinguish between renovation square footage and add both the current and proposed uses, where indicated.
5. Drawings – Submit a single set of Building Permit Drawings, including Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Fire Alarm, and Fire Sprinkler engineered drawings. Sheets should be a minimum size of 18"x24" and not to exceed 36"x48".
6. Permit Resubmittals – Submit one complete permit set to include revisions and a separate response to the comments sheet. Contact the Customer Service Center at 919-996-2500 if additional file categories are unavailable in the portal.
7. Contractors – Pony Express projects require all contractor information at the time of submittal. Contractor documentation should be submitted as early as possible for all other projects.
8. Changes between SPR and Building Permit - The items listed below occasionally change between the SPR and Building Permit submittal. Although code-compliant adjustments are typically permitted, applicants are strongly encouraged to provide the highest level of detail possible within the SPR plan set to minimize delays during Building Permit review:
   1. Exact distances from buildings and structures to adjacent buildings, streets, and property lines.
   2. Location and dimensions of minor features and improvements, e.g., HVAC, walkways, and accessory structures.
   3. Vertical and horizontal building features encroachments, e.g., porches, decks, chimneys, roof accesses, etc.
   4. Addresses and/or unit number labels for all buildings.
   5. Plan number and book/page for any newly recorded map/recombination.
   6. Building elevation labels (cardinal direction and primary street).
   7. Building lighting.
   8. Gross floor area measurements for the final building design/envelope.
   9. Blank wall and transparency measurements for the final building design/envelope.
   10. Detailed grade information for the final building design/envelope.