Permit Research & Acquisition
Navigating permitting can be a challenge. Let Gable be your guide.
Gable Takes the Pain Out of the Permitting Process
Securing a building or electrical permit for your project can be a complicated and frustrating part of any project. It can also be costly. Apart from the application fees, potential fines for non-compliance, and the time you’ll have to spend can add up quickly.
At Gable, we’ve been navigating the permit waters for over 40 years and have a team that is well-versed in working with local counties, townships, and jurisdictions. Let our permit team take on the research and acquisition burden for you. We can anticipate potential issues and streamline the process, freeing you up from these important yet time-consuming logistics.
What Sets Gable’s Permitting & Acquisition Services Apart?
Dedicated Permit Department
- Bureaucratic Delays & Dated Processes
- Complex Documentation
- Changing Regulations
- Strict Aesthetic Requirements
- Size and Placement Limitations
- Fees & Fines
- Inconsistencies Between Jurisdictions
- Arbitrary Code Regulations
- Negotiating with Policy Makers
- Variances
AV Industry Perspective
While permit acquisition in the sign industry is routine, it’s less common in the AV sector. Our audio-visual capabilities will meet the stringent municipal requirements related to NEC, FCC, and safety (UL).
Nationwide Expertise
Variance Assistance
Facing unique hardships, such as obstructed signage due to new construction? We’re proficient in helping clients with variance requests. This involves not just seeking permission to deviate slightly from standard codes but also providing comprehensive support, including document preparation, aerial photographs, and testimonials. Our approach is unique and is a testament to our Client Services model.
Structural Design Team
Most installations require professional engineering certifications that assure the product is being manufactured and installed to meet or exceed building codes. Gable’s in-house structural specialists design every attachment detail and then collaborate with licensed engineering groups throughout the US to receive appropriate engineering stamps and seals. By utilizing our structural design team, we’re able to assist not only with projects we’ve engineered for you but also with products on structures that were provided by others, further reducing the variables you have to worry about.
Nothing is More Valuable Than Safety & Time
Permits and special use zones have a lot of subjectivity and can be interpreted differently. Let our experienced permit experts work closely with local municipalities to keep your relationships favorable. Trying to cut corners or expedite the process can put you and your reputation in jeopardy and potentially harm your relationship with inspectors.
When you choose Gable, you’re not just selecting a service provider; you’re partnering with a team deeply committed to ensuring every aspect of your project is seamlessly managed. When it comes to permits and the overall client services experience at Gable, you can expect to get peace of mind.
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FAQs:
Beginning a project without the necessary permits can lead to fines, stop-work orders, compromise to licenses, and the potential requirement to undo or redo work. It can also impact insurance claims.
Yes, prior to signing an agreement with Gable, we typically conduct initial permit research to determine whether a proposed solution is likely to be permitted in a given jurisdiction. However, we cannot guarantee total accuracy in our initial inquiries due to the varying degree to which each State, City, County, and Townships, interpret their own code, and also the disparity in how each Government entity maintains and distributes the code for public review and use. Obtaining Government issued Building Permits is one of the most complicated parts of any project.
The duration can vary based on the complexity of the project and the jurisdiction’s workload. It could be anywhere from a few days to several months or even longer for more involved projects.
Documentation required when applying for a permit typically includes:
- Business license and federal tax ID
- Scaled site plans showing property lines, buildings, and adjacent structures
- Scaled drawings of the proposed work
- Detailed installation and attachment methods
- Property owner information and signed affidavit
- Engineering plans if required by code
The cost to acquire a permit is a combination of two factors. The first is the labor of our team or agents to obtain the permits, and the second is the actual fees charged by each government agency that issued the permits. Labor includes the time to fill out all necessary applications, obtain notary and professional stamps, and deliver the permit package to the permit office for review and then to pick up the actual permits. The Fees charged by the Permit office for the permits themselves vary widely depending on location, type of work, and project size. Some direct permit fees can be a few hundred dollars for simple projects, while complex commercial projects may require permit fees in the thousands of dollars. The Gable estimating process provides as accurate a labor estimate as possible for obtaining the permits and detailed on our proposal. The actual fees charged by the jurisdiction are a pass through to you. We only charge you what we were charged. There is no mark up on this service.
Whether a project requires engineering typically depends on the requirements of the local jurisdiction where the work will be performed. In general, if there are any life safety concerns related to a structure’s ability to withstand expected loads and stresses, an engineered design stamped by a licensed professional engineer may be required by building codes. Any free-standing structure will require engineering.
No, you cannot skip the permitting process even if reusing existing structures. The permitting process may actually be more complicated in this case, as Gable would need to validate the existing foundation and supports are adequate for the new installation. Without existing engineered drawings stamped by the county, Gable may need to do testing such as ground-penetrating radar to confirm the existing structures match assumptions.
If your project requires working in an area like a sidewalk where there is pedestrian traffic, it may be considered in the public right-of-way. Projects in the right-of-way often require additional permits and fees to allow for things like temporarily closing off portions of the sidewalk for safety during installation work. It would be best to check with your local permitting office to determine if your specific project location is considered a right-of-way.
Start Your Hassle-Free Permit Journey Today
Let us handle the permit processes and paperwork so you can focus on your goals.
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