Quick answer
A pre-submittal meeting is a short session with the building or planning department before you apply. It is worth it for variances, changes of use, difficult sites and unclear code questions, because a few answers up front can prevent a full redesign later.
A pre-submittal meeting, also called a pre-application meeting, is a short session with the building or planning department before you submit. You describe the project and ask questions, and staff tell you what they will require. For the right projects it is the cheapest way to avoid a redesign.
When a pre-submittal meeting is worth it
- Projects that need zoning relief, such as a variance or a special use
- Changes of use, for example a garage to a dwelling unit or a house to an office
- Sites with steep slopes, flood zones, wetlands or easements
- Additions to older or historic buildings
- Any project where the code requirement is unclear and a wrong guess means redrawing
For a simple deck or interior remodel, the department’s written checklist is usually enough.
What to bring
- The property address and parcel number
- A short written description of the work
- A site plan or survey, even a marked-up one
- Preliminary floor plans or sketches
- Your list of questions, in order of importance
Questions that save the most time
- Which code editions and local amendments apply?
- Which disciplines will review the project, and does it need engineering, a soils report or a drainage study?
- Are there zoning limits we should design around now?
- What submittal format does the portal require?
- What is the current review time, and can anything be reviewed in parallel?
After the meeting
Write a short summary of what was agreed and email it to the staff member, asking them to confirm. Keep that record with your project files. If a later reviewer asks for something different, the summary helps resolve it quickly.
How Residential PE helps
We can prepare the preliminary site plan and sketches for your meeting, list the technical questions, and then produce the engineered drawings to match what the department told you. Tell us about your project.
Common questions
Is there a fee for a pre-submittal meeting?
Some departments offer them free, others charge a fee that is sometimes credited against the permit. Check your department’s website.
Is advice from the meeting binding?
Usually not. The formal plan review decides, which is why a written summary of the meeting is useful.
Can my engineer attend?
Yes, and for technical projects it helps. Many meetings are now held by video call.