Commercial Tenant Improvement Process
This page is intended help business property owners and tenants navigate the building and planning requirements when making improvements or changes to their commercial/tenant space.
Section 105 of the OSSC requires a building permit to be obtained when:
"Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, change the character or use of occupancy, or change the occupancy of a building or structure which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the building official and obtain the required permit."
Examples of Commercial Tenant Improvements include but are not limited to:
- Change to existing floor plan to increase/decrease occupant seating
- Alteration of customer areas/counters
- Install hanging fixtures or racking
- Change in use of building: day spa to retail space
- Change in character of tenant: burger restaurant to ice cream shop
What is required for a Tenant Improvement Application?
- All permit application forms can be accessed from our Permits, Licenses & Forms Page
- Applications should include Commercial Submittal Requirements/Checklist
- Mechanical Permit
- Plumbing Permit
- Electrical Permit
- Site Design Review
- Applications should show total value of the tenant improvement project, existing and proposed occupancy type, and construction type
- Floor plan showing existing and proposed changes with room/space labels
- Structural and Mechanical drawing details
- ADA information and dimensions
- Structural calculations stamped by an engineer or design professional
- A Deferred Submittal Agreement for any work to be deferred
- Three (3) copies of all documents; one (1) copy of all applications/forms