Permits & Fees

Applying for Permit Online

Building Permit Fee Schedule

Zoning

A Certificate of Zoning Compliance is required to be obtained whenever the use of land or a building is changed, when a new business moves into a building/land, before operating a business out of a home, and before using vacant land. Contact the Building and Zoning Administrator for a permit.

All permit documents

Building Permits

Contact the Building and Zoning Administrator for a permit.

Building permits are required for all work unless exempted. Portions of work that involve plumbing, electricity, fences, signs, sidewalks, driveways, and demolition, are required by separate permits.  The building code and the permit requirements of Mt. Pleasant help to ensure the safety of buildings in Mt. Pleasant.

All unattached garages, sheds, carports, and any other types of accessory buildings, that are over 120 square feet need a building permit before buildings can be installed. This applies to pre-built structures as well as site-built structures. All unattached accessory buildings need to be installed in rear yards, not in side yards or front yards. Call for more information. Special rules apply to corner lots.

New Projects – Most new projects require permits. This includes new buildings, fences, sheds, and garages over 200 sq/ft, decks, additions, retaining walls, sidewalks, parking lots, swimming pools, antennas, and satellite dishes in the downtown area.

New commercial projects, housing projects of three or more families, and significant extensions to commercial projects require site plans to be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council. Depending on the project, this process can take 2-6 weeks.

Changing Use (Occupancy) of Buildings – Building permits are required when the use of a building is changed. For example, if a retail store is changed to a restaurant, if a house is changed to a daycare, or if any other change of use is made, a building permit is required. This requirement is because different uses present different safety hazards. Therefore, building permits are required when the use of a building is changed in order to ensure that the new use meets safety standards. This requirement is strictly enforced.

Existing Houses, Single and Two-Family – Any additions, including attached decks, exterior steps, and porches, require building permits. Permits are not required for interior remodeling, windows, siding, doors, and roofing. Plumbing and electric permits are required.

Commercial Remodeling – Building permits are required for all interior and exterior work on existing commercial buildings, except minor or routine maintenance, minor repairs, and work involving interior finishes. For example, minor or routine maintenance such as tuckpointing bricks, minor roof repairs, etc., does not require a building permit. Replacing or updating carpet, cabinets, trim work, wallpaper, etc would not require a building permit. Most work other than what is listed here does require a building permit. Replacing doors or changing hardware types (levers to knobs, push bars to latches, etc.) requires permits.

Architects/Engineers

“Design Professionals” are required to design projects when mandated by state law. The state law is complex and has many circumstances when design professionals are and are not required. Design professionals are also required when building methods are used which are not prescribed by the building code.

Plumbing

Contact the Building and Zoning Administrator for a permit.

Plumbing permits and inspections are required for all new work, alterations to plumbing systems, and for the replacement of major appliances and equipment such as water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, mini-split units, and grease traps. Plumbing permits are not required when equipment such as toilets, sinks, etc. are simply replaced. If the plumbing system is altered (for example – if a sink is moved to a different location when a kitchen is remodeled), a permit is required.

Electrical

Contact the Building and Zoning Administrator for a permit.

The City of Mt. Pleasant enforces the State electrical code and permit requirements. Non-licensed homeowners must obtain an electrical permit and inspection for all maintenance, new work, extensions to circuits, modifications to circuits, repair work, and any work that involves work inside a panel. Licensed electrical contractors need permits for new work, but do not need permits for routine maintenance, extensions, alterations, or modifications to existing equipment if the work does not involve work inside a panel, is on a circuit of fewer than 30 amps, and is on a circuit of fewer than 277 volts.

Sidewalks

Contact the Director of Public Works for questions at 319-385-1480

All work on sidewalks, whether new or repairs, requires a sidewalk permit.

Sidewalk Permit ROW 

Driveways

All work on driveways in the right-of-way requires a driveway permit. Driveways installed on private property must comply with zoning ordinances and require prior approval from the Building and Zoning Administrator. Driveways may cover no more than 40% of front yards and must be 2 feet away from property lines unless adjacent property owners consent to closer placement.

Driveway Permit – ROW

Work in the right-of-way/ Excavation

All work in the right-of-way requires an Excavation Permit.

Excavation Permit – ROW

Signs

Contact the Building and Zoning Administrator for a permit.

Most signs require sign permits before signs are installed. Temporary signs installed on the site for which they advertise do not require sign permits,  but the total size is limited. Temporary signs cannot be located in the right-of-way. See Sign Regulations below.

Demolition

Contact the Building and Zoning Administrator for a permit.

Before any structure or part of any structure is demolished, a Demolition Permit is required.

Sewer Tap

A Sewer Tap Permit is required before connecting to any sewer. Contact the Director of Public Works for a permit.

Trees in the right-of-way

A permit is required before planting, trimming, or removing any tree in the right-of-way. Contact the Director of Public Works for a permit.