ICC Residential Electrical Inspectors Practice Exam

Who has the authority to issue a permit for a part of a building before complete construction documents are filed?

1. Building inspector

2. City planner

3. Building official

4. Architect

The correct answer is: Building official

The authority to issue a permit for a part of a building before complete construction documents are filed typically lies with the building official. This individual is responsible for ensuring that all construction projects comply with local building codes and regulations. Building officials have the expertise to review plans and determine whether a permit can be issued based on the information available, even if those plans are not fully completed. This authority often extends to allowing partial permits, which facilitate the construction process by enabling work to begin on certain aspects of a project while waiting for the finalization of all construction documents. This can be essential in managing workloads and timelines effectively, allowing for work to proceed on foundational or site preparations, for instance, while other parts of the project are still being designed or finalized. Other individuals, such as building inspectors or architects, might play crucial roles in the construction process or oversight, but they do not hold the same level of authority to issue permits as the building official. City planners are more involved in land use and zoning considerations rather than issuing specific construction permits.