Researching your project

Written By Kevin Ruth

Last updated 20 days ago

Know Before You Apply helps you understand what's involved in your project before you start filling out forms. Enter your address, describe what you want to build, and it shows you which permits you need, what documents to gather, and what conditions on your property might affect the process.

Navigating to Know Before You Apply

After you log in, you can click “My Applications” in the top right corner of the screen to get to the Know Before You Apply Portal

Looking up your property

  1. Type your address in the search bar or click “create project” on the My Projects page

  2. Confirm the map shows the right property

  3. The system loads your property information — zoning, lot size, and any special conditions

If your address doesn't come up, try the full street address with city and state. If it's still not found, see Troubleshooting.

Reading the map

Once your address loads, you'll see an interactive map of your property. The map shows:

  • Your parcel boundary — the legal outline of your lot

  • Zoning designation — what the property is zoned for (residential, commercial, etc.)

  • Site conditions — overlays that highlight things like steep slopes, flood zones, or environmentally sensitive areas

You can toggle overlays on and off to see different layers. If you're not sure what a particular overlay means, see Understanding your property's site conditions.

Describing what you want to build

Select on of the chips, or type in what you are trying to build. The chat assistant asks you a few questions to understand your project: What are you building? How big is it? Is it attached to the existing structure or freestanding?

You don't need technical language. Say what you'd say to a friend:

  • "I want to build a deck off the back of my house, about 12 by 16 feet"

  • "I'm replacing all the windows on the second floor"

  • "I want to convert my garage into a living space"

The system figures out the permit type and requirements from there.

Your document checklist

Based on your property and project description, the system generates a checklist of documents you'll likely need — site plans, structural drawings, contractor information, special reports.

The checklist updates as you add details. If your property is in a flood zone, for example, you might see additional requirements appear that wouldn't show up for a property on flat ground.

Alerts and additional requirements

Beyond the checklist itself, the system may also flag things that need separate attention:

  • Separate applications required — Some projects need more than one permit. If you're adding a bathroom to a backyard cottage, you might need a building permit and a separate plumbing permit.

  • Special reviews — Properties in certain areas may trigger extra review steps, like environmental review or design review.

  • Timeline notes — If your project involves something that typically adds processing time, you'll see a note about it on your checklist. For example: "Properties in this flood zone require an elevation certificate, which can add 2–3 weeks."

Saving your progress

Everything you enter is saved automatically to your account. You can close the browser and come back later — your property info, project description, and checklist will still be there.

If you've started uploading preliminary documents (like rough sketches or photos), those are saved too.

Starting an application

When you're ready to move from research to the actual application, click Start application. Your property info and project details carry over — no re-entering anything.

You don't have to start an application right away. Some people use Know Before You Apply just to understand what's involved and come back weeks later when they've gathered their documents.

Good to know

  • You can come back and update your project description anytime — the checklist adjusts automatically

  • The document checklist is a guide, not a final answer — city staff have will let you know if you need anything else when they review your submission

  • If you're not sure whether you need a permit at all, just describe what you want to do — the chat will tell you what applies