How to Get a Permit | dob

How to Get a Permit | dob
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How to Get a Permit
DOB offers permitting services for residents and businesses in the District of Columbia. Find information about the permitting and plan review process, apply and pay for permits online, and use our carefully-crafted resources found at the Homeowner's Center.
What Projects Require a Permit?
New buildings, additions, and structures
Interior alterations (including finished basements)
Porches and decks (including alterations to existing)
Changes of occupancy or use
Layout of interior space in new or existing commercial buildings (e.g. changing the floor plan of a building from six one-bedroom apartments to three two-bedroom apartments)
Construction of retaining walls, fences, sheds, garages, or vault construction
Erection of signs or awnings
New and replacement gas appliances
New and replacement HVAC equipment
New plumbing fixtures
New electric appliances
Sheds and playhouses over 50 square feet
Swimming pools
except
those meeting all of the following: above ground, 1,000 gallons capacity or less, 24 inches deep or less
R-3 building
Retaining walls over 4 feet from bottom of footing to top of the wall, with less than 50 sq ft of land disturbance
Demolition and razing of buildings and structures
Sump pumps
Tents over 900 square feet
Electric car charging equipment
What Projects Do Not Require a Permit?
Unless you are in a
historic district
, the following work does not require a building permit:
Brick pointing
Caulking, patching and plaster repair of non-rated assemblies
Installation of window screens and storm windows
Repair of existing fences with in-kind materials
Painting other than fire-retardant paint
Papering, tiling, carpeting, floor covering, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
Replacement in-kind of one of the items listed hereafter. For the purpose of this section, “replacement in-kind,” means replacement with a feature of like material that replicates the existing feature in proportion, appearance, texture, design, detail and dimensions
Roofing and coping
Siding
Gutters and downspouts and fascia
Private sidewalks and driveways
Patios
Nonrated suspended ceiling tile
Not more than 160 square feet (14.9 m2) of gypsum board excluding the installation of fire-rated gypsum wallboard or shaft liner
Single garden storage shed that does not exceed 50 square feet (4.65 m2) in area, is less than 10 feet (3048 mm) in overall height, is an accessory structure to a building of Use Group R-3 or to a building under the jurisdiction of the Residential Code and is erected on a lot with no other exempted storage shed
Prefabricated pools, accessory to a Use Group R-3 occupancy, or accessory to buildings under the jurisdiction of the Residential Code, which are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep, do not exceed 1,000 gallons (3785.41 L), are installed entirely above ground and are not designed or manufactured to be connected to a circulation system
Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, for one- and two-family dwellings only where the area of land disturbance is less than 50 square feet (4.65 m2)
Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems
Swings and other playground equipment accessory to one- and two-family dwellings
Movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches (1753 mm) in height
What About Other Types of Permits?
Trade Permits:
Your project may require additional permits such as
Systems Installation
( for example, A/C, electric, plumbing) and Water or Sewer Excavation (for example, pipe installation, water main connections). Only licensed DC contractors for the specific trade may apply for these permits.
A public space permit
: is required to use or install structures in public space. For more information, see the public space permit section under
Permit Types
below.
The Permit Process
Step 1: Learn About Your Property Restrictions and Status
Find out if development restrictions apply to your project. Learn your zoning district and if you are in a zoning overlay. Overlay districts have additional zoning regulations that are combined with the underlying zoning district. Other development restrictions are administered by other agencies, such as Historic Preservation, the National Capital Planning Commission, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, and other preliminary review organizations. For more information and a complete list of overlays, visit the
DC Office of Zoning
Are you within a historically designated area? Are you within a Flood Hazard Area or Special Flood Hazard designated area? Find this and other useful information about your property on
Scout
Step 2: Determine Your Full Scope of Work
This will determine the type of permits and additional documents. For any exterior construction, a surveyor’s plat may be needed to detail all existing and proposed structures and must be drawn to scale. A building plat is a scaled drawing of a lot, showing lot lines and record dimensions. Plats that only consist of interior work, such as bathroom remodeling, are not required for jobs. To learn about DOB's permit and plan review timelines, please read this
document
Step 3: Permit Application
For one- and two-family residential projects, use the
DOB Permit Wizard
online permit application.
For commercial projects, solar, demolition, raze and after-hours permits, use the
Citizen Access Portal
. The portal will allow applicants the ability to apply, pay and receive construction permits online. Also:
Check out our required checklists for
commercial
and
residential
projects that are processed through
ProjectDox
and
template
cover sheets.
Select Building and Request a Building Permit Shop Drawing Approval, or Surveyor Plat
Select your permit type. When you submit your permit application, ensure your scope matches the permit type (e.g. a one-story addition – addition, alteration, and repair). You can view all permit types and definitions to determine which permit matches your description.
Complete all required fields and confirm that information is accurate.
Consult
DOB's Building Permit Fee Schedule
so you are aware of the costs associated with the permitting process.
When you have fully submitted your application, you will be notified whether it has been accepted before the next steps.
Step 4: Pre-Screening and Plan Review
When your application is received by DOB, it will be reviewed to ensure it is complete and that it meets the basic requirements for plan review. Pre-screen review occurs at the beginning phase to determine the type of plan reviews required for your project.
Digital Walk-Through
For small-scale projects, you must complete the process online. With our Digital Walk-Through, all plans and supporting documents are accepted through ProjectDox for a completed review in 1 business day. This includes simultaneous DOB plan reviews and digital routing to select sister agencies (Historic Preservation, District Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and DDOT. DOB Plan Reviews Disciplines: Structural, Zoning, Fire, Elevator Mechanical/Plumbing, Electrical, Green and Energy.
ProjectDox Plan Review
ProjectDox
is an online platform for electronic plan submission and plan review. Applications are for more complex scopes of work that require more than 1 or 2 business days for review. When your application is accepted, you will receive a separate email that includes a link for you to create a username and password to upload your plans and supporting documents to begin the review.
Note
: Required documents will include checklists for
commercial
and
residential
projects.
After plans are uploaded, they are pre-screened for the basic requirements and assigned to necessary plan review disciplines within DOB and applicable sister agencies. Please refer to the Plan Review section to learn about different plan review assignments and when they are required.
Other agency reviews may be required depending on your scope of work. See Review by Other Agencies section below.
Step 5: Payment and Permit Issuance
Once your plans are approved by all assigned plan review disciplines and applicable review agencies, you can complete payment and your permit(s) will be issued.
For Walk-Through applications, you will receive an invoice of the permitting fees by our Issuance Counter to pay at our Cashier’s Office or to make the payment online to have your permit issued.
For ProjectDox, you will receive an email notification that final fees are ready for payment. You can make payment online, or take your invoice and pay at the Office of Tax and Revenue at 1101 4th Street SW.
All check payments should be made payable to the DC Treasurer.
Review by Other Agencies
During the plan review process, reviews by other agencies may be required depending on your scope of work. While the process requires the usage of DOB's permitting and plan review platforms to manage the permitting process, each agency operates independently and has their own service level agreements and requirements. In some cases, these timelines differ from those of DOB.
While not exhaustive, examples of reviews by other agencies include:
DC Water: New water connections
DDOT: For impact of the public alleys, sidewalks or streets
Historic Preservation Review Board and Commission of Fine Arts: Properties located within a historically designated area or deemed an area commissioned by the fine arts. You can view PIVS to confirm your properties status.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA): Must review and approve all construction projects adjacent to WMATA-owned properties to ensure that Metro facilities, operations and riders are not negatively impacted in the short or long term.
DC Health: All new construction and/or major renovations to a food establishment or hygiene facility
DOEE: Projects involving soil disturbance, flood plains and lead abatement.
Replacement with In-Kind Materials
“Replacement in kind,” means replacement with a feature of like material that replicates the existing feature in proportion, appearance, texture, design, detail and dimensions. Examples include:
Roofing and coping
Siding
Gutters and downspouts and fascia
Private sidewalks and driveways
Patios
Nonrated suspended ceiling tile
Not more than 160 square feet (14.9 m2) of gypsum board excluding installation of fire rated gypsum wall board or shaft liner.
A single garden storage shed that does not exceed 50 square feet (4.65 m2) in area, is less than 10 feet (3048 mm) in overall height, is an accessory structure to a building of Use Group R-3 or to a building under the jurisdiction of the Residential Code and is erected on a lot with no other exempted storage shed.
Prefabricated pools, accessory to a Use Group R-3 occupancy, or accessory to buildings under the jurisdiction of the Residential Code, which are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep, do not exceed 1,000 gallons (3785.41 L), are installed entirely above ground and are not designed or manufactured to be connected to a circulation system.
Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, for one- and two-family dwellings only where the area of land disturbance is less than 50 square feet (4.65 m2).
Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems.
Swings and other playground equipment accessory to one- and two-family dwellings.
Movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches (1753 mm) in height.
Permit Types
Construction Permits
If you are submitting an application for a one- or two-family residential project, please use the
DOB Permit Wizard
For commercial projects, solar, demolition, raze and after-hours permits, please select from the following options:
Addition, Alteration, and Repair Permit
Alteration & Repair Permit
After Hours Permit
Awning Permit
Building Permit Extension
Capacity Placard Permit
Christmas Tree Stand Permits
Deck Permit
Demolition Permit
Excavation Only Permit
Fence Permit
Foundation Permit
Fireworks Stand Permits
Garage Permit
Historic Property - Special Permit
New Building Permit
Instant Permits for Simple Scopes of Work
Retaining Wall Permit
Raze Permit
Scaffolding Permit
Shed Permit
Sheeting and Shoring Permit
Sign Permit
Soil Boring Permit
Solar Panel
Special Sign Permit
Swimming Pool Permit
Tenant Layout Permit
Tent Permit
Tower Crane Permit
Underground Storage Tank Permit
Occupancy Permits
Certificate of Occupancy Permit
Pop-Up Permits (PUPs)
Certificate of Use
Home Occupation Permit
Trade and Specialty Permits
Antenna Permit
Boiler Permits
Electrical Permit
Elevator Permits
Mechanical Permit
Plumbing and Gas Permit
Shop Drawings Application
Public Space Permits
A public space permit is required to use or install structures on public space—the area between the building or property line and the curb (for example, many front yards). Examples of work that requires public space permits include:
Dumpsters in public space
Sidewalk construction and repair
Sidewalk cafes
Front patios
Flag poles, planter boxes, retaining walls, and fences in public space
DDOT manages and oversees the use and occupancy of public space. Learn more about public space permits at
DDOT's website
How Long Is a Permit Valid?
A permit will become invalid if the authorized work: (1) has not received an approved inspection within 12 months after permit issuance; or (2) is suspended or abandoned for one year after the date work began.
Permit Refund and Cancellation Policy
Here is an overview of how to cancel permits and process refunds (e.g., permit application filing fees).
Permit Cancellation Only (No Refund Requested)
: Submit a completed, notarized Cancellation Form at the link below.
Refunds:
May be considered due to overpayment, duplicate payment, erroneous filing, or work has not begun on a valid (unexpired) application or permit and is no longer being pursued. Eligibility criteria includes:
Submitted within six months of permit issuance date.
Permit must be valid and unexpired at the time of request.
No work has started, and no inspections were scheduled or completed.
Request submitted before the application is deemed abandoned under 12A DCMR § 105.3.5.
Fee Deductions and Refund Costs:
If the permit has been issued, only the filing fee is refundable. Permit fees are non-refundable as they are considered earned upon issuance.
Refunds are subject to a $36.30 administrative processing fee (waived for overpayment).
Processing Timeline:
10–15 business days for DOB review and validation.
Up to 60 business days for the Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) to issue payment following approval.
Submit all refund and cancellation requests below:
Permit Refund Request Form
Apply and Pay for Permits Online
For one- and two-family residential projects, use the
DOB Permit Wizard
online permit application. For commercial projects, solar, demolition, raze and after-hours permits, use the
Citizen Access Portal
Permit Wizard
Citizen Access
Resources
FAQs
Permit Resources
DOB has many online tools to make your permitting and plan review process quick and easy. Check out checklists for
commercial
and
residential
projects that are processed through
ProjectDox
and
template
and
sample
cover sheets to help get your application on the right path. We also offer resources and information to guide you through the process. Still have questions? Check out our
frequently asked questions
. If you don't find what you're looking for,
Get a Permit
Find information about the permitting and plan review process, apply and pay for permits online, and use our carefully-crafted resources on the website.
Get a Permit
Plan Review
Learn about our Accelerated Plan Review Program, schedule a digital walk-through if your project meets specific requirements, and easily submit plan drawings online using ProjectDox.
Plan Review