Frequently asked questions
What PermitRoadmap does, how the checker and Permit Prep Pack work, and how we keep our guidance accurate.
Is PermitRoadmap a government agency?
No. We are an independent informational service. We are not a city, county, or state agency, not a building department, and not a law firm. Only your local building department can officially confirm requirements and issue a permit. We help you show up prepared.
Is the permit checker free?
Yes. The guided permit checker, our state exemption tools (Florida's $7,500 exemption and North Carolina's $40,000 exemption), and the Permit Prep Pack are free, and you do not need an account.
How accurate is the guidance?
Every permit rule we publish traces to an official source (the building code each state has adopted, its statutes, or the county and city departments) and carries a last-verified date. Where a rule is unclear we default to telling you a permit may be required and to confirm with your department. Requirements still change and vary by property, so always confirm with the authority having jurisdiction before you start work.
Which areas do you cover?
We cover 38 states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin, including their counties, cities, and unincorporated areas where we have published data. We started in Florida and have built deepest in the largest metros first, where we can verify department contacts, portals, and project rules directly, and we work outward from there. Coverage depth varies by place. Where a specific local rule cannot be verified, we say so and point you to your building department.
What is Florida's $7,500 exemption?
Florida's HB 803, effective July 1, 2026, exempts certain single-family residential work valued under $7,500 from the building permit. It does not apply to electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work, or to property in a flood-hazard area, and the work still has to meet the Florida Building Code. Our exemption tool walks you through whether it applies to your project.
What is in the Permit Prep Pack?
The Permit Prep Pack is a personalized, printable report: your permit checklist, the documents and inspections for your project and jurisdiction, your department's official contacts and portal link, the questions to ask before you start, and a clean PDF plus an online copy. Every requirement is dated and linked to its source.
What if my Permit Prep Pack has a problem?
The Permit Prep Pack is free. If it did not arrive, did not generate correctly, or did not match your project and jurisdiction, contact us and we will fix it or send a corrected Pack.
Do you guarantee my permit will be approved?
No. We give you a well-sourced starting point and help you prepare, but only your building department decides your permit.
Still have a question?
Run a free check to see your project's requirements, or send us a note through our contact form.