May is Building Safety Month! In a world where wildfires, floods, and other hazards are becoming more common and intense (ICCSafe.org), it’s more important than ever to ensure safe, sustainable spaces. Occupant safety starts long before construction--it starts with the permitting process.
It might seem like just tedious paperwork, but a quality permitting process ensures compliance review by professionals and protection for both the building occupants and surrounding community.
The permitting process requires trained professionals, including architects, engineers, government plan reviewers, and inspectors, to formally review building plans before construction begins. It serves as a critical double check—by having multiple experts review the same plans, the permitting process helps catch and correct errors that could endanger occupants.
The permitting process requires trained professionals, including architects, engineers, government plan reviewers, and inspectors, to formally review building plans before construction begins. It serves as a critical double check—by having multiple experts review the same plans, the permitting process helps catch and correct errors that could endanger occupants.
Building codes cover a wide range of design factors, including structural integrity, plumbing/sewer systems, air quality, and electrical systems. High-quality permitting ensures that a building design is “up to code” and thus safe for occupants in that area.
Many modern building codes have been shaped by past disasters. Tragic events—like structural collapses, deadly fires, or natural disasters—often reveal critical gaps in existing standards. In response, local or national governments update codes to prevent similar tragedies. For example, earthquakes prompted California to include seismic design requirements (2022 Cailfornia Building Code, Chapter 16). Wildfires from the past few years in the western United States and Australia are larger and longer-lasting than in decades past, spurring governments to include climate science in their fire-resistance codes (ICCSafe.org).
Permits protect not only a building’s occupants, but also the local community. For example, a house not built to code could start a fire that spreads to its neighbors. An office building built without proper flooding safety measures worsens flood risk for nearby buildings. Local governments also use the data from permitting to plan and improve infrastructure, such as sewer and water line maintenance or road repair frequency. High-quality permitting gives governments estimates of how many resources a growing community needs.
In short, building codes serve as community safeguards, shaped by hard lessons and designed to prevent the next disaster before it happens.
At CivCheck, we simplify the permitting process to help cities, designers, and applicants build safely. Our software guides users through the nitty gritty of local codes, ensuring that building safety is considered early on in plan development. We help applicants check plan documents for code compliance and assist reviewers with plan checks and flagging errors, reducing delays, errors, and costly revisions for everyone involved.
Let’s use Building Safety Month as a reminder that safe buildings start with smart planning, design, and permitting processes. Together, we can sustain communities that are not only functional, but safe and resilient for all.
