AHJ-100AHJ Research
Code & Jurisdiction Research
Know Who Reviews the Project and What Rules Apply Before the Drawings Are Finished
One of the most expensive drafting mistakes is beginning with the wrong assumptions.
FirstPass researches available project-specific jurisdiction information to help establish the regulatory framework for the drawing set.
Quick Answer · AHJ-100.QA
Code and jurisdiction research identifies which agencies review a project and which rules apply to it: the building department, planning authority, adopted code editions, local amendments and submission requirements. It is useful before drafting begins, when the reviewing authority or the applicable codes are uncertain. FirstPass compiles the findings from available official sources into a project-specific summary that supports the drawing set.
For
Owners, contractors and designers starting a project in an unfamiliar jurisdiction
You receive
A written jurisdiction and code summary with official source links
Research can include:
- Authority having jurisdiction
- Building department
- Planning or zoning authority
- Adopted building code editions
- Electrical code
- Plumbing code
- Mechanical code
- Energy requirements
- Fire-code considerations
- Local amendments
- Permit submission requirements
- Electronic submittal procedures
- Drawing-format requirements
- Professional seal requirements from available official guidance
- Other agencies identified during research
NoteNot every project needs every item. The research scope is defined around the project and its jurisdiction.
AHJ-101Authorities
Why Jurisdiction Matters
A project address may be associated with:
FirstPass begins by identifying the applicable agencies rather than assuming the nearest city controls the project.
AHJ-102 · General Note
Research Supports Drafting. It Does Not Replace the Authority
Codes and official guidance can change. Reviewers can also interpret project-specific conditions.
Our research is intended to improve the accuracy of the project basis and drafting process, not to claim control over the final determination of a building or planning department.
Whenever practical, jurisdiction-specific research should rely on current official sources.
AHJ-103Deliverables
Research Deliverables Can Include
Findings are compiled into a concise, project-specific summary.
Submission checklists get a deeper treatment in Permit Requirements Research, land-use rules in Zoning Research, and finished drawings can be checked against the findings through Code Compliance Review.
- Jurisdiction summary
- Applicable code summary
- Permit checklist
- Official source links
- Identified submission portal
- Known local amendments
- Drawing requirements
- Open questions requiring agency confirmation
RFIClarifications
Code & Jurisdiction Research FAQs
Response
That is a primary purpose of jurisdiction research.
Response
No. Code adoption, amendments and administrative requirements vary.
Response
We can research available requirements, but professional-practice laws and project-specific determinations must be treated carefully and verified where necessary.
Response
Agency contact can be part of an expanded scope when appropriate. Basic research can often begin with official published sources.
SUB-001Submittal
Start With the Project, Not a Package
- –Send the address and a description of the work.
- –We help define the drafting scope before work begins.