Free contractor beta · partial research
Big plans.
Fewer unknowns.
Organize your project, review source-checked permit answers, and download a preparation packet. Missing research stays clearly marked.
Check my projectFree to use. No account or payment required. Browse available guides.
Your project, with a clearer plan.
Choose your location to see checked answers and open questions.
For contractors, remodelers & homeowners
What are you working on?
Choose a location and project. See verified permit requirements, fees, documents, filing steps, inspections, and deadlines across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Your saved projects
Each job has its own preparation checklist. Start a project above, or continue a saved one below.
Your project checklist
- Potential permits to confirm
- Documents to prepare
- Clear next steps
How it works
Move forward with a plan.
Tell us what’s changing.
Start with your city or county and project. Describe the changes that could affect your permits.
See what needs attention.
Review the available permit answers and missing topics. Confirm open questions with your permit office.
Get your next steps together.
Gather the required plans and supporting documents. Save your preparation checklist and return to your next task.
Founding contractor beta
Use PermitSide on a real project.
We are inviting residential contractors in DC, Maryland, and Virginia to try PermitSide on active jobs. Tell us where you work and which permit checklist would save your team time.
- Review one live project with the PermitSide team.
- Help us choose which cities, counties, and jobs to research next.
- See every verified answer and every answer still missing.
Joining the request list does not create a subscription or charge. Pilot pricing is confirmed only after enough answers for your project are available.
Questions about the beta or your saved project? Email contact@optivasolutions.com.
Built for clear decisions
Permit answers you can check
Official sources
Every published answer links to archived government evidence and the exact supporting passage.
Checked before display
We hide an answer until a separate review confirms that it matches the source.
DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Search 158 counties, independent cities, and the District of Columbia across Maryland and Virginia.
Common questions
About residential building permits
Is PermitSide a government service?
No. PermitSide is independent. Your local authority decides what your project requires and issues permits.
Does preparation complete mean my permit is approved?
No. The seven preparation tasks record work you report doing. They do not verify approval or submit an application. Your permit office makes the final decision.
Does PermitSide submit my application?
No. Use the permit office’s official submission process. You can review available sources, organize your preparation, and print or share your permit research here.
How do I find permit requirements for my city or county?
Choose the city or county where the property is located, then select the closest project type. PermitSide shows verified answers and clearly lists anything still being researched.
Where does PermitSide get fee and filing information?
Research comes from official local government pages, fee schedules, forms, and permit portals. Each verified result includes a link to its source, the supporting passage, and the date it was retrieved.
Does a preview mean my checklist is finished?
No. A preview may still be missing required answers. The progress count and “still being researched” list show exactly what remains.
What residential projects are covered?
The catalog includes decks, additions, basement finishes, kitchen and bathroom remodels, roofs, HVAC replacements, electrical panels, fences, sheds, garages, pools, solar installations, accessory dwelling units, and other common home projects.
Local rules. Clearer answers.
Your project has a place.
So do its requirements.
Start with the city or county that handles your permits. Available research varies by location and project.
Planned pricing
Options we expect to test after beta
The contractor beta is free, and PermitSide is not accepting payments yet. These planned options apply only after every required answer for a location and project has been verified.
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