Permit Requirements by State
Requirements vary by region, code cycle, seismic zone, and wind or snow load. Pick your state to see what drives design there.
West Coast & Pacific
Southern & Gulf States
Northeast & Mid-Atlantic
What changes from one state to the next
Every state starts from the same model codes, but each one adopts its own edition, on its own schedule, with its own changes. Four things decide what your drawings need to show.
- ✓ The code edition. One state may enforce the 2021 residential code while its neighbour is still on an older edition. Some, such as Colorado and Nevada, leave the choice to each county or city.
- ✓ Local amendments. Cities and counties add their own rules on top, so two addresses in the same state can need different sheets.
- ✓ Climate loads. Earthquake design in the West, hurricane wind along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, snow and frost depth in the North and the mountains.
- ✓ Who reviews and who seals. Most reviews happen at the city or county building department, and engineering sheets are sealed by an engineer licensed in that state.
How to read these pages: 28 states have verified detail, with the code edition in force and the date we last checked it. The others give regional guidance, and for every project we confirm the exact requirements for your address before drafting.
Frequently asked questions about state requirements
Which states do you cover?
We prepare permit drawings for projects in 48 states. Requirements change from state to state and often from city to city, so we confirm what your building department asks for before drafting.
Requirements by state →Can an engineer from another state stamp my drawings?
Generally no. Engineers are licensed state by state, and a license in one state does not carry over to another. The engineer who seals your drawings should be licensed in the state where the project will be built.
Read: out-of-state engineers →How long does the city take to review my permit?
That depends on the building department, the time of year and how complete the submittal is, and it is outside our control. Plan review is separate from, and usually longer than, the time it takes to prepare the drawings.
How Long Does a Building Permit Take? →Do you guarantee my permit will be approved?
No, and you should be cautious of anyone who does. Final permit acceptance is always at the discretion of the local jurisdiction. What we control is the quality of the engineering and documentation: we prepare sealed, code-compliant plans and respond to correction comments on work we produced.
Who seals my drawings, and can I check their license?
Each project is matched to a professional licensed in your project's state and in the discipline the work needs. The engineer's name and license number are shared on request before you approve the quote, and you can check any license on the state licensing board's public lookup.
About our engineers →