construction

Permit

A permit is official authorization from local government authorities that allows specific construction, renovation, or alteration work to proceed on a property. Permits ensure that planned work complies with building codes, zoning regulations, and safety standards.

Example

“The homeowner obtained a building permit before starting the kitchen renovation project.”

Memory Tip

Think 'per-MIT' - you need permission to MIT (commit) to building projects.

Why It Matters

Proper permits protect property owners from legal issues, ensure work meets safety standards, and prevent problems during property sales or insurance claims.

Common Misconception

Many homeowners believe small projects don't require permits, but even minor electrical, plumbing, or structural changes often need official approval.

In Practice

A homeowner discovers during a sale that their previous kitchen renovation was done without permits, requiring them to either obtain retroactive permits and inspections or reduce their asking price to account for the unpermitted work.

Etymology

From Latin 'permittere' meaning 'to let through' or 'allow to pass,' originally used for allowing passage through territories.

Common Misspellings

premitpermittpermtpermit

More in construction

Other construction terms you should know

Buildable AreaBuildable area refers to the portion of a lot where construc…Building CodeBuilding codes are local regulations that establish minimum …Building EnvelopeThe building envelope refers to the physical barrier between…Building InspectorA building inspector is a certified professional who examine…Building PermitA building permit is official authorization from a local gov…Certificate of OccupancyA Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is an official document issu…

Also from the same team

Need financial definitions?

Clear definitions for 2,500+ finance, insurance, and investing terms.

MoneyTerms.app