Q: When is a building permit required?
A: In general, projects in the City of Fairbanks that involve new or changed uses or occupancy, construction or alteration of a building or structure, even if you can't see the alterations from the outside, usually require a permit from the building department.
| A building permit is not required for the types of work listed below. However, the work still may be subject to other applicable codes and development standards. |
A building permit shall not be required for the following:
- One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses,
provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet. - Fences.
- Oil derricks.
- Moveable cases, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high.
- Retaining walls which are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of
the wall, unless supporting surcharge or impounding flammable liquids. - Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diamter or width does not exceed 2:1.
- Platforms, walks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below.
- Painting, papering and similar finish work.
- Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery.
- Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of Group R-3 and Group U Occupancies in when projecting not more than 54 inches.
- Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons.
Unless otherwise exempted by the City of Fairbanks Administrative Code, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for the above exempted items.
- Ordinary maintenance on a single family or duplex structure (R-3 and U Occupancy). Ordinary
maintenance of a building or structure shall not include the cutting away or addition of any wall, partition
or portion thereof, the removal of any structural beam or bearing support, or the removal of any required means of egress, or rearrangement of parts of a structure; nor shall ordinary maintenance include additions of replacement or relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage drain leader, gas, waste vent or similar piping electrical work wiring, mechanical or other work affecting other technical codes as adopted by the City of Fairbanks. - Storage racks not over six (6) feet in height.
** If your work meets one of the exemptions as described above, a building permit is not required. **
Please Note: This list should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations.
The applicant is responsible for compliance with all code and rule requirements.
Q: When is an electrical permit required?
A: In general, projects in the City of Fairbanks that involve new or changed uses or occupancy, construction or alteration of a building or structure, even if you can't see the alterations from the outside, usually require a permit from the building department.
| An electrical permit is not required for the types of work listed below. However, the work still may be subject to other applicable codes and development standards. |
An electrical permit shall not be required for the following:
- Portable motors or other portable appliances energized by means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug end to be connected to an approved receptacle when that cord or cable is permitted by the
Electrical Code. - Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers or fixed approved appliances of the same type and rating in the same location.
- Temporary decorative lighting.
- Repair or replacement of current-carrying parts of any switch, contactor or control device.
- Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets therefore.
- Repair or replacement of any over current device of the required capacity in the same location.
- Repair or replacement of electrodes or transformers of the same size and capacity for signs or gas tube systems.
- Taping joints.
- Removal of electrical wiring.
- Temporary wiring for experimental purposes in suitable experimental laboratories.
- The wiring for temporary theater, motion picture or television stage sets.
- Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy.
- Low-energy power, control and signal circuits of Class II and Class III as defined in the Electrical Code.
- A permit shall not be required for the installation, alteration or repair of electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment or the generation, transmission, distribution or metering of electrical energy or in the operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence by a public or private utility in the exercise of its function as a serving utility.
** If your work meets one of the exemptions as described above, an electrical permit is not required. **
Please Note: This list should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations.
The applicant is responsible for compliance with all code and rule requirements.
Q: When is a mechanical permit required?
A: In general, projects in the City of Fairbanks that involve new or changed uses or occupancy, construction or alteration of a building or structure, even if you can't see the alterations from the outside, usually require a permit from the building department.
| A mechanical permit is not required for the types of work listed below. However, the work still may be subject to other applicable codes and development standards. |
A mechanical permit shall not be required for the following:
- A portable heating appliance.
- Portable ventilating equipment.
- A portable cooling unit.
- A portable evaporative cooler.
- A closed system of steam, hot or chilled water piping within heating or cooling equipment regulated by the Mechanical Code.
- Replacement of any component part of assembly of an appliance which does not alter its original approval and complies with other applicable requirements of the technical code.
- Refrigerating equipment which is part of the equipment for which a permit has been issued pursuant to the requirements of the technical codes.
- A self-contained refrigerating system as defined in the Mechanical Code, that contains 10 pounds or less of refrigerant, or that is actuated by a motor of 1 horsepower or less.
** If your work meets one of the exemptions as described above, a mechanical permit is not required. **
Q: Do I need to get a permit to replace my boiler?
A: Yes. Replacement is one of the actions listed as requiring a permit (IMC 106.1) and replacing a piece of equipment (boiler, furnace, condenser unit, HRV, etc.) is not a "minor part" so not included in the list of exceptions to this requirement (IMC 106.2)
Please Note: This list should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations.
The applicant is responsible for compliance with all code and rule requirements.
Q: When is a plumbing permit required?
A: In general, projects in the City of Fairbanks that involve new or changed uses or occupancy, construction or alteration of a building or structure, even if you can't see the alterations from the outside, usually require a permit from the building department.
| A plumbing permit is not required for the types of work listed below. However, the work still may be subject to other applicable codes and development standards. |
A plumbing permit shall not be required for the following:
- The stopping of leaks in drains, soil, waste or vent pipe, provided however that should any concealed trap, drain, pipe, soil, waste or vent pipe become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be procured and inspection made as provided in the City of Fairbanks Administrative Code.
- The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, nor for the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.
** If your work meets one of the exemptions as described above, a plumbing permit is not required. **
Please Note: This list should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations.
The applicant is responsible for compliance with all code and rule requirements.
Q: When is a fire sprinkler and alarm permit required?
A: Fire sprinkler and alarm permits shall be coordinated directly with the City Fire Marshal. A fire sprinkler permits, or alarm permit is required for the following:
- Installation of a new sprinkler or fire alarm system.
- Modification or alteration of an existing sprinkler system or fire alarm system.
| A Fire Sprinkler and Alarm permit is not required for the types of work listed below. However, the work still may be subject to other applicable codes and development standards. |
A fire sprinkler and alarm permit shall not be required for the following:
- Relocation or alteration of not more than 6 sprinkler heads.
- Routine maintenance not requiring a change to the design system.
- Changing or replacing of components of an alarm system.
** If your work meets one of the exemptions as described above, a fire sprinkler and alarm permit is not required. **
Please Note: This list should not be used as a substitute for codes and regulations.
The applicant is responsible for compliance with all code and rule requirements.