Permit Statuses
Understanding permit status values and what they mean for your projects.
Permit statuses indicate where a permit is in the review and approval process. Understanding statuses helps you take appropriate action and set priorities.
Status Categories
Plotwise organizes permit statuses into three categories for easy understanding:
Needs Attention (Orange)
These statuses require action from you or your client:
| Status | Meaning | Action Required |
|---|---|---|
| Awaiting Client Reply | Jurisdiction waiting for response | Respond to comments |
| Fee Payment | Fees due before processing | Pay outstanding fees |
| Corrections Required | Plans need revision | Submit corrected documents |
| Hold | Permit paused for various reasons | Contact jurisdiction |
| Revisions Requested | Changes needed to application | Address requested changes |
Important: Permits in "Needs Attention" status may have deadlines. Failure to respond can result in permit expiration or denial.
In Progress (Blue)
These statuses indicate the jurisdiction is actively working on the permit:
| Status | Meaning | Your Action |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | Initial submission received | Wait for review |
| In Review | Under examination | Monitor for updates |
| Plans Submitted | Documents under review | Wait for feedback |
| Plan Check | Technical review in progress | Monitor for corrections |
| Under Review | Active processing | Check for updates |
| Scheduled | Inspection scheduled | Prepare for inspection |
| Inspection Pending | Awaiting inspection | Ensure site is ready |
Completed (Muted)
These statuses indicate final or terminal states:
| Status | Meaning | Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Approved | Permit granted | May proceed with work |
| Issued | Permit officially issued | Work can begin |
| Final | All inspections passed | Project complete |
| Closed | Permit closed by jurisdiction | No further action |
| Withdrawn | Applicant withdrew permit | N/A |
| Expired | Permit time limit exceeded | May need to reapply |
| Denied | Permit was rejected | Review denial reasons |
| Cancelled | Permit cancelled | N/A |
Status Flow
Typical Permit Lifecycle
Submitted → Pending → In Review → Corrections →
Resubmitted → Approved → Issued → Inspections → Final
Common Status Transitions
Happy Path: Pending → In Review → Approved → Issued → Final
With Corrections: Pending → In Review → Corrections → In Review → Approved
Problematic: Pending → In Review → Hold → (varies)
Status by Permit Type
Building Permits
Typically follow full review process:
- Plan check phase
- Multiple review cycles possible
- Multiple inspections required
Trade Permits (Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical)
Often simpler process:
- Faster initial review
- Fewer correction cycles
- Specific trade inspections
Minor Permits (Fence, Roof, etc.)
Streamlined process:
- Quick approval possible
- Minimal corrections
- Single inspection often
Jurisdiction Variations
Status Name Differences
Different jurisdictions use different terms:
| Common Term | Variations |
|---|---|
| In Review | Under Review, Plan Review, Processing |
| Corrections | Corrections Required, Revisions, Comments |
| Approved | Permit Ready, Ready for Pickup |
| Issued | Active, Finaled for Issuance |
Plotwise Normalization
We normalize statuses for consistency:
- Map jurisdiction-specific terms
- Group into three categories
- Maintain original status for reference
Using Status Information
Setting Priorities
Use status to prioritize your attention:
- High Priority: Needs Attention statuses
- Monitor: In Progress statuses
- Archive: Completed statuses
Notification Setup
Configure notifications by status:
- Get alerts when status changes
- Focus on transitions to "Needs Attention"
- Optionally notify on any change
Filtering by Status
In your Watchlist:
- Use status filter dropdown
- Select category or specific status
- View focused list
Status Timeline
Change History
Each permit tracks status changes:
- Date and time of change
- Previous status
- New status
- Duration in each status
Analyzing Progress
Use history to:
- Identify bottlenecks
- Predict completion timeline
- Compare to typical durations