Plans Examiner Customer Walk-in Hours
To better assist our customers, Plans Examiners will have customer walk-in hours daily, Monday through Friday, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please feel free to come in during that time to ask questions or discuss details about your projects.
Blower Door Test Update
Effective July 1, 2017, mandatory blower door testing for residential buildings or dwelling units will be required. This is a state mandated code provision and includes detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) as well as Group R-2, R-3 and R-4 buildings three stories or less in height above grade plane. Construction permitted before July 1, 2017 will not require blower door testing.
A written report of the results of the test shall be signed by the 3rd party conducting the test and provided to the Building Department. Testing shall be performed at any time after creation of all penetrations of the building thermal envelope.
The following 3rd party entities may perform the required blower door test.
F.S. 553.993 (5) “Energy auditor” means a trained and certified professional who conducts energy evaluations of an existing building and uses tools to identify the building’s current energy usage and the condition of the building and equipment.
F.S. 553.993 (7) “Energy rater” means an individual certified by a building energy-efficiency rating system to perform building energy-efficiency ratings for the building type and in the rating class for which the rater is certified.
F.S. 489.105(3)(f) “Class A air-conditioning contractor”
F.S. 489.105(3)(g) “Class B air-conditioning contractor”
F.S. 489.105(3)(i) “Mechanical contractor”
Envelope Leakage Test Reports are available in the Permit Forms section.
Electronic Plans Review is Available
As noted on our ePlan Review page, the City of Gainesville now has the ability to accept permit applications via Citizen Access, and to review plans electronically. The electronic permitting and plan review capability allows plans to be uploaded from anywhere, which will help in reducing the need to travel to the Thomas Center to apply for a permit or to deliver plans. The ePlan review system is anticipated to reduce paper, printing, fuel, storage, and disposal costs, and to improve turnaround times for permits requiring collaborative reviews. At this time, the use of the ePlan review system is the recommended method for submitting plans for permit review. As of May 1st, 2017, use of the ePlan review system will be required for all permit submittals. Please see our ePlan review page for information on the ePlan review system.
We need your help. Take our sidewalk survey!
The City of Gainesville and its partners are assessing and inventorying the Gainesville sidewalk network. The project team is conducting a public survey designed to better understand the mobility goals of Gainesville residents and workers. If you live or work in Gainesville, please take this 15-20 minute survey about your walking habits, perceptions of the current walking environment and your priorities for sidewalk improvements. The city plans to use your survey input to help prioritize sidewalk repairs and new sidewalk construction projects in Gainesville. The survey is available at http://sidewalks.ce.gatech.edu/
New Hours for Permit Counter at Building Inspection Department
Effective January 30, 2017, the permit counter at the Building Inspection Department will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Permit applications will be accepted in the office from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
New Permitting Policy for One- and Two-family Dwellings
Effective December 1, 2016, remodel permits for one- and two-family dwellings will be able to include the subcontractors (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, & roofing) on the primary permit instead of having separate permits pulled. From this date forward, a subcontractor form listing the subs working with the general contractor will be required before the remodel permit will be issued, or it must be stated during the application process that the subs will not be covered under this permit and must pull their own permits.
The subcontractor form is available on our website at: http://www.cityofgainesville.org/BuildingInspection/PermitForms.aspx