Fees, required documents, and turnaround posted before you start — so a contractor can bid a job and a homeowner can plan a weekend without a trip to the counter.
| Permit | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Valuation-based · Fee schedule posted | Plan check 10 — 15 business days |
| Encroachment permit | $180 base · Deposit varies | 5 business days |
| Business license | $85 — $400 annually by category | Issued in 3 business days |
| Special event permit | $120 — $650 by size | Apply 45 days ahead |
| Planning & zoning applications | Deposit-based · Actual cost billed | 30 — 90 days by application type |
| Sign permit | $95 per sign | 7 business days |
New construction, additions, remodels, and structural work. Over-the-counter approval is available for simple projects like water heaters, re-siding, and like-for-like window swaps.
Any work in the public right of way — sidewalk, curb, gutter, driveway approach, utility trenching, or a dumpster placed in the street.
Required for any business operating inside city limits, including home-based and out-of-town contractors working locally. Renewal opens 30 days before expiration.
Street fairs, races, parades, block parties, and any event expecting more than 100 people or closing a street. Small block parties use a simplified one-page form.
Design review, conditional use permits, variances, lot line adjustments, and pre-application meetings. A free 30-minute pre-application meeting is the cheapest hour in the process.
Wall signs, monument signs, awnings, and temporary banners. The downtown design overlay has its own standards, illustrated with photos rather than described in code language.
A free thirty-minute pre-application meeting with planning and building staff surfaces zoning, parking, and design issues while changes still cost a pencil instead of a redesign.
Bring a rough sketch and the address. You'll leave knowing which permits apply, what the fees will be, and whether a hearing is in your future.
Inspections requested before 3pm are typically scheduled for the next business day, with a morning or afternoon window.
Pass, correction notice, or re-inspection is posted to the permit record the same afternoon, with the inspector's notes attached.
Every correction cites the code section and states exactly what must change, so a re-inspection isn't a guessing game.
Permits are mandatory for additions, new construction, structural modifications, and electrical or plumbing upgrades. While some items like water heaters or simple window replacements can be approved over the counter, major renovation work requires full review.
The initial review takes 10 to 15 business days for most residential projects. Resubmittals are processed faster, and simple over-the-counter items are handled the same day at our permit counter.
Building permits are valuation-based against a posted fee schedule, encroachment permits start at $180, sign permits are $95, and planning applications are deposit-based and billed at actual cost.
Yes, any activity in the public right-of-way requires an encroachment permit. This includes installing a new driveway approach, trenching for utilities, or placing a temporary dumpster on a city street.
45 days for anything closing a street or expecting more than 100 people. Small residential block parties use a simplified one-page form with two weeks' notice.
Yes. Inspections requested by 3pm are typically scheduled for the next business day. Results are posted directly to the permit record the same afternoon the inspection occurs.
We offer a free 30-minute pre-application meeting with our building and planning teams. This session helps identify potential zoning, parking, or design hurdles while it is still cost-effective to adjust your plans.
Send the address and a sentence about the project. Staff will tell you which permits apply and what to bring before you spend a dollar.