14 Permit Technician Exam Prep

14 Permit Technician Study Guide

Exam Overview

Permit Technician (14)

• Questions: 60 multiple-choice
• Time Limit: 2 hours (120 minutes)
• Format: Open book
• Cost: $320
• Code Books: 2021 IZC, 2021 IBC (Ch. 1-3, 6, 12, 17), Legal Aspects of Code Administration (2017), Basic Code Enforcement (2nd Ed.)
• Passing Score: 75% (45 of 60 questions)

Exam Content Breakdown

1. General Administration – 39% (23 questions)
2. Legal Aspects – 22% (13 questions)
3. Plans and Documents – 25% (15 questions)
4. Zoning and Site Development – 14% (9 questions)

1. General Administration (39% – 23 questions)

Customer Service (7%, ~4 questions)

• Professional communication with permit applicants
• Handling difficult customers diplomatically
• Providing accurate code information to the public
• Phone and in-person customer interaction skills
• Knowing when to refer questions to inspectors or plans examiners
• Maintaining confidentiality of records as required

Project Applications (9%, ~5 questions)

• Types of permits: building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, demolition
• Permit application forms and required information
• Determining when permits are required
• IBC 105.1: Work requiring a building permit
• IBC 105.2: Work exempt from permits (minor repairs, ordinary maintenance)
• Application review for completeness
• Routing applications to appropriate department

Basic Building Concepts (8%, ~5 questions)

• IBC Chapter 3: Use and Occupancy Classification
• Group A (Assembly), B (Business), E (Educational), F (Factory)
• Group H (High-Hazard), I (Institutional), M (Mercantile)
• Group R (Residential), S (Storage), U (Utility)
• IBC Chapter 6: Types of Construction (Types I-V)
• Understanding fire-resistance rating basics
• IBC Table 601: Fire-resistance requirements
• Basic understanding of building height and area limitations
• IBC Chapter 12: Interior Environment (light, ventilation, room dimensions)

Permit Issuance and Fees (8%, ~5 questions)

• Conditions for permit issuance
• IBC 105.3: Application for permit
• IBC 105.5: Expiration of permit
• Fee calculation methods (valuation-based, flat fee, square footage)
• Collecting fees and issuing receipts
• Permit conditions and special provisions
• Extension of permits
• Permit revocation grounds

Inspections and Certificate of Occupancy (7%, ~4 questions)

• Types of inspections: foundation, framing, final
• IBC 110: Inspections
• IBC 111: Certificate of Occupancy
• When required (new buildings, change of occupancy, additions)
• Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
• Scheduling inspections
• Tracking inspection status
• Understanding inspection reports

2. Legal Aspects (22% – 13 questions)

Public Information and Legal (10%, ~6 questions)

• Public records and access to information
• FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) basics
• What constitutes a public record
• Confidential vs. public information
• Right-to-know laws
• Legal liability of code officials
• Governmental immunity concepts
• Due process requirements

Records Management (4%, ~2 questions)

• Record retention requirements
• Document filing and retrieval systems
• Permit tracking systems and databases
• Maintaining accurate records
• Electronic vs. paper records
• Record destruction policies

Record Research (5%, ~3 questions)

• Researching property history
• Finding previous permits and inspections
• Using property databases
• Providing historical information to applicants
• Chain of ownership research
• Previous violations and compliance history

Appeals and Revocation (3%, ~2 questions)

• IBC 113: Board of Appeals
• Composition and authority
• Filing an appeal
• Limitations on authority
• Conditions for permit revocation
• Due process in revocation proceedings
• Appeal procedures and timelines

3. Plans and Documents (25% – 15 questions)

Review Related Documents (9%, ~5 questions)

• Types of construction documents
• Site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, details
• Structural drawings, MEP drawings
• Understanding scale and dimensions
• Reading architectural symbols and abbreviations
• Material specifications on plans
• Document review for completeness (not code compliance — that's the plans examiner's job)
• Routing documents to appropriate reviewers

Occupancy Group and Type of Construction (6%, ~4 questions)

• IBC Chapter 3: Determining occupancy classification from plans
• Identifying use groups from building descriptions
• Mixed occupancy identification
• IBC Chapter 6: Determining construction type from plans
• Reading structural specifications for construction type
• Understanding fire-resistance ratings on plans
• Using IBC Table 504.3/504.4: Height and area limitations
• Allowable height by construction type and occupancy
• Allowable area by construction type and occupancy

Read Maps (5%, ~3 questions)

• Reading site maps and survey drawings
• Understanding property boundaries and setbacks
• Interpreting contour lines and grades
• Reading utility maps and easements
• Understanding map scales and legends
• GIS and digital mapping basics