Permit Revisions

In Permit Arlington, a customer may need to

• Revise the application itself,
• Provide a missing application document or upload a revised application document, or
• Upload a revised plan or drawing

Step 1 
A customer learns that revisions are needed by receipt of an email notification indicating that revisions or additional information is required.

Staff comments on the application will appear either in the text of the email or in an attached letter.

A customer can also find out about the need for revisions by viewing the My Records screen in his/her Permit Arlington account. If the customer needs to make a revision, s/he will see “Revisions Required” in the Status column and “Edit” in the Action column.

Clicking either “this link” in the email or the word “Edit” on the My Records screen takes the customer to the Review page for the application in need of revision.

Step 2
The next step(s) vary depending on which part of an application needs revision.

a. Revise the application itself: From the Review page, the customer can edit the application.

b. Edit an application document: If the revision pertains to an application document, the customer can click “Continue Application” at the bottom of the Review page. The customer then proceeds to Plan Review. There, s/he can upload an application document or a revised version of an existing application document. Documents should not be deleted between review cycles unless the specific document is being permanently deleted from the submission.

c. Edit plans and drawings: If the revision pertains to a plan or drawing, the customer can click “Continue Application” at the bottom of the Review page. The customer then proceeds to the Plan Review page. There, s/he can upload revised plan sheets.

i. Comment response letter: When resubmitting a plan or drawing, the customer must include a comment response letter (PDF or Microsoft Word document). The letter should describe how outstanding County comments have been addressed and should identify any additional changes made to the plan or drawing file since the last review cycle.

ii. Uploading and naming revised plans and drawings: There are two options available, but Option 1 (not changing the file name) is easier and preferred by the Arlington County staff who review the files.

Option 1: If the file name has not changed, click the “Browse…” button above the list of files. (The button appears above the Name column on the left.)

Option 2: If the file name has changed, click the file’s “Browse” button. (An individual file’s “Browse” button appears in the row for that file, as the second icon [paper and upward arrow] in the Actions column when reading the row from left to right.)

Navigate to the revised file(s) you want to upload and click “Open.” The row will be updated to indicate that the existing file will be revised using the new file name.

Once a building permit has been issued, plan revisions can only be submitted through the online system. If you need to change the permit holder or take other actions not related to changing the plans, see directions below on this page.

• The applicant must submit revised plans by clicking on “amendment” next to the permit number.
• There will be several options available for why the amendment is needed, such as “roof trusses” or “revisions to approved plan sheets”, select the option that applies.
• The applicant will be prompted to upload plans – if you're replacing existing files, remember to use the exact same file names. Do not delete any files. Use new file names for new sheets, for new files such as a roof truss or wall check submission.

The process for revising a mechanical, electrical, or plumbing/gas permit varies depending on whether the trade permit varies is associated with a building permit that will be affected by revisions to the trade permit.

If a Building Permit is Affected 

• If the trade permit is associated with a building permit and revisions to the trade permit will affect the approved plans, the applicant must revise the building permit plans first. Revisions to the building permit must be approved before the applicant can revise the trade permit.
• After approval of the revisions to the building permit, the applicant must submit an amended application for the trade permit by clicking on “amendment” text to the permit number
• To update the quantity of fixtures or appliances, select the option to “Change in the quantity or type of fixtures and equipment.” The system will then show the previously approved quantities, update the tables to the current total quantities. Do not make updates to any quantities that are not changing.
• To provide a vent certification for mechanical or plumbing permits, select “The inspector required a certification letter or report to be uploaded” and upload a PDF of the completed form for review
• Note: for fire protection systems permits there will not be any options to identify the purpose of the revision you will be provided with the option to change the quantities of fixtures and then directed to upload plans to reflect the changes associated with the change in the quantity of fixtures.
• Remember to use the exact same file names if you want to replace any existing files. Do not delete any files. Use new files names for new sheets, such as new files names if it is a roof truss or wall check submission.

If a Building Permit is NOT Affected 

• If the trade permit is not associated with a building permit, or revisions to the trade permit will not affect an associated building permit, the applicant must submit an amended application for the trade permit by clicking on "amendment" text to the permit number.
• To update the quantity of fixtures or appliances, select the option to “Change in the quantity or type of fixtures and equipment.” The system will then show the previously approved quantities, update the tables to the current total quantities. Do not make updates to any quantities that are not changing.
• To provide a vent certification for mechanical or plumbing permits, select “The inspector required a certification letter or report to be uploaded” and upload a PDF of the completed form for review.
• If the Inspector required plan revisions or the plans to be reviewed by an Inspection Services Division Plan Reviewer and there is not a building permit associated with the project, select “The inspector required plans to be submitted and reviewed” and upload the plans that must be reviewed.
• Note: for fire protection systems permits there will not be any options to identify the purpose of the revision you will be provided with the option to change the quantities of fixtures and then directed to upload plans to reflect the changes associated with the change in the quantity of fixtures.
• Remember to use the exact same file names if you want to replace any existing files. Do not delete any files. Use new files names for new sheets, such as new files names if it is a roof truss or wall check submission.

Building Permit Affected

• If the elevator permit is associated with a building permit and revisions to the permit will affect the approved building permit plans, the applicant must revise the building permit plans first. These revisions must be approved before the applicant can revise the elevator permit.
• After approval of the revisions to the building permit, the applicant must submit an amended application for the elevator permit by clicking on “amendment” link next to the permit number. 
• To decrease the quantity or modify the equipment approved on the application, select the option to “Change in the quantity or type of equipment.” The system will then show the previously approved quantities, update the tables to the current total quantities. Do not make updates to any quantities that are not changing.
• To increase the quantity or add new equipment you must submit a new application.  You can not add equipment to the existing application.
• If the Inspector requested revisions to the plans that must be reviewed by the Plan Reviewer and there is not a building permit associated with the project, select “The inspector required plans to be submitted and reviewed” and upload the plans that must be reviewed
• Remember to use the exact same file names if you want to replace any existing files. Do not delete any files.

No Building Permit / Building Permit Not Affected

• If the elevator permit is not associated with a building permit, or revisions to the permit will not affect an associated building permit, the applicant must submit an amended application for the elevator permit by clicking on “amendment” link next to the permit number.
• To decrease the quantity or modify the equipment approved on the application, select the option to “Change in the quantity or type of equipment.” The system will then show the previously approved quantities, update the tables to the current total quantities. Do not make updates to any quantities that are not changing.
• To increase the quantity or add new equipment you must submit a new application.  You can not add equipment to the existing application.
• If the Inspector requested revisions to the plans that must be reviewed by the Plan Reviewer and there is not a building permit associated with the project, select “The inspector required plans to be submitted and reviewed” and upload the plans that must be reviewed
• Remember to use the exact same file names if you want to replace any existing files. Do not delete any files.

Sometimes, staff changes within a company, a change in contractor, or other situations arise that necessitate changing the individual who is the permit holder.

To transfer or change the holder of a building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing/gas, fire protection, demolition, fence/retaining wall, asbestos, amusement, or elevator permit:

If the new permit holder will be a different individual employed by the same company or contractor...

The company can send an email from the company email address, or a letter on company letterhead (attached to an email as a scanned PDF), explaining the need to change the permit holder. Staff will update the records for the permit in question.

If the new permit holder is employed by a different company or contractor, or if the current permit holder is an individual and the new holder will be a different individual (such as the property owner)...

If the Permit Has Not Yet Been Issued

If the permit holder is “Contractor TBD” the permit application will be returned to provide the contractor information once the permit is approved by plan review. Otherwise, the permit applicant must email ISDTradePermits@arlingtonva.us the following:

• The permit number
• The type of permit holder: contractor, property owner, tenant, or registered design professional (RDP)
• If a contractor or RDP the company name, DPOR license number and Arlington County business license number must be provided.

If a property owner or tenant, refer to the information about the Permit Authorization Affidavit and proof of permission.

Once the permit is issued, only the permit holder has ownership of the permit and the approved plans. After the permit is issued, any transfer from one holder to another would require written permission from the permit holder.

After the Permit Is Issued

The Permit Arlington Center must receive a letter on company letterhead (attached to an email as a scanned PDF) from the current permit holder authorizing the transfer of the project.

The letter from the current permit holder must include:

• The permit number
• The project address
• A statement requesting to transfer the permit
• A statement waiving the right to a refund

The new permit holder must also provide a letter on his/her company letterhead (attached to an email as a scanned PDF). The letter from the new permit holder must include:

• The permit number
• The project address
• The scope of work of the permit
• A statement requesting to transfer the permit
• If the new permit holder is a contractor, the letter should include their DPOR contractor license number and their Arlington County business license number.

If either the new or the old permit holder is the property owner, s/he needs to provide only a signed letter with the required information.

If the permit holder does not waive the right to a refund OR if the permit holder will not provide a letter authorizing the transfer, the person desired as the new permit holder must apply for a new permit. Once a permit is issued, the permit holder has ownership of the permit and the approved plans associated with it. Arlington County cannot give access to, or transfer ownership of, someone’s permit without his/her written permission.

If the new permit holder wants to use the same plan set, s/he must receive permission from the plan owner (the contractor or designer named on the plans) to use the plans.

To transfer, or change the holder of, a permit issued by the Zoning Division or the Department of Environmental Services, call the relevant office for specific instructions.

• Zoning Division: 703-228-3883
• Department of Environmental Services (DES): 703-228-3629