Planning permission

One57, a skyscraper in New York City, under construction. Such a development would have gone through stringent checks against the local building code before planning permission was granted.

Planning permission or building permit refers to the approval needed for construction or expansion (including significant renovation), and sometimes for demolition, in some jurisdictions.[1][2]

House building permits, for example, are subject to building codes. There is also a "plan check" (PLCK) to check compliance with plans for the area, if any.[3] For example, one cannot obtain permission to build a nightclub in an area where it is inappropriate such as a high-density suburb.[4][5] The criteria for planning permission are a part of urban planning and construction law, and are usually managed by town planners employed by local governments.[6][7]

Failure to obtain a permit can result in fines, penalties, and demolition of unauthorized construction if it cannot be made to meet code. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance with national, regional, and local building codes. Since building permits usually precede outlays for construction, employment, financing and furnishings, they are often used as a leading indicator for developments in other areas of the economy.

The number of building permits issued per year varies by country.[8] By-right approval processes can be faster than discretionary approval processes.[9]

  1. ^ Harwood, Richard (24 September 2015). Planning Permission. International Specialized Book Services. ISBN 9781780434919. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  2. ^ "Planning permission - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. UK Government. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  3. ^ "Demolition Plan Check/Permit Application" (PDF). Santa Monica. 2017-06-05. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
  4. ^ "How Do I Get Planning Permission in NSW? - The Design Partnership". thedesignpartnership.com.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Planning permissions and liquor licences". www.vcglr.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  6. ^ Portal, Planning. "Do you need permission? | Planning Portal". www.planningportal.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  7. ^ Planning, Department of Environment, Land, Water and. "Planning applications". www.dtpli.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 18 February 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Building permits - annual data, Eurostat, accessed 2024
  9. ^ Manville, Michael; Monkkonen, Paavo; Gray, Nolan; Phillips, Shane (2023). "Does Discretion Delay Development?: The Impact of Approval Pathways on Multifamily Housing's Time to Permit". Journal of the American Planning Association. 89 (3): 336–347. doi:10.1080/01944363.2022.2106291. ISSN 0194-4363.