New construction permits are combination permits based on the square footage of the structure(s).  The Building Official, Utility Director, Public Works Director or the Community Development Director may schedule a preconstruction meeting. A plan review fee and a Design Review Committee Fee will be charged in addition to the permit fees.

For any construction in the I-35 corridor, which is roughly 1000' on each side of Interstate 35, a site plan review application must first be requested, which consists of filling out a site plan review application form (fee required), and submitting a site plan and a preliminary set of prints for review by the Planning and Zoning Commission for compliance with the I-35 Development Corridor Ordinance. Final Approval is by the City Council.

Gainesville has it's own sign code. ALL Signs, to include construction site signs require a separate permit.

Fire suppression / alarm / fire sprinkler systems require separate permits and plans that are to be submitted to and reviewed by the Fire Marshal.  All commercial occupancies over 6,000 square feet require a fire sprinkler system.

The Health Officer shall also review construction involving cooking equipment and a Health Certificate shall be required prior to the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy at the conclusion of the project.

All public toilets are required to be Handicap accessible, have elongated bowls; open front seats and a 3" minimum floor drain with a trap primer.

All hose bibbs to include existing fixtures shall be the vacuum breaker type or have a vacuum breaker attached.

All water hammer arresters / air chambers shall be of the manufactured type and be accessible.

Air conditioning condensate drains may be connected to P-traps, floor drains, or run to the exterior of the structure in a flowerbed or similar arrangement.

We have a lot of expansive soil in this area, so plan for a decent foundation system. The cheapest system that you can dream up will probably result in cracked floors and walls within a year.

Main wind force resisting systems are to be designed for 110 mile per hour wind speeds and equivalent loading. Use a 5-psi snow load. We have a lot of severe storms in this area. Signs shall be designed for the same loads.

Dumpsters, trash areas and outside storage shall be screened from public view. Doors are no longer required on dumpster enclosures as the Sanitation Department is now using front end loading trucks.

Roof top units shall be screened from view by parapet walls or similar arrangements.

Fire lanes shall be a minimum of 24' wide and capable of supporting the fire apparatus, and are to be designed in accordance with NTCOG specifications as adapted and amended by the City of Gainesville.

Landscaping in accordance with the City of Gainesville Landscape Ordinance in areas outside the I-35 Corridor is now required.

Parking shall be in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance or the I-35 Development Standards depending on the location.

No construction shall be permitted in a floodplain without compliance with the City's and FEMA floodplain regulations.

Be sure to check and see if rezoning is needed. There is also an Ordinance that prohibits certain types of business operations in the I-35 Development Corridor, no matter what the zoning is.

Privacy fences or approved screening is required between residential areas and commercial areas.

No aluminum wiring is permitted on the customer side of the meter socket. All new electrical services are to be underground. All commercial buildings are required to be wired with conduit. Apartments and churches are considered to be commercial.

Grounding shall be as required by the 1999 NEC, with a minimum of two separate grounding sources (such as building steel and water service pipes).

Details are required on the plans for all firewall penetrations.

Engineer stamped truss drawings are required. Truss repair methods are required.

Energy Code calculations by an engineer are required.