Pre-requisites and options

Submittal Prerequisites

Prior to submittal for commercial plan review, there are a number of site specific prerequisites that should be verified by the developer or design professional:

Building Permits Requiring Commercial Zoning Review

Certain scopes of work may require approval by Commercial Zoning that is conducted outside of the City Land Development plan review process. These projects either do not trigger other city review agencies (ie. the installation of a new rooftop HVAC unit), or they require additional detailed review that typically only becomes available at the time of building permit application (ie. specific unit configurations in a residential townhome building). Projects requiring review by any other Land Development review agency outside of Commercial Zoning will follow the standard Land Development Construction Plan review process. 

Projects that require Commercial Zoning review will need to submit a “Commercial Zoning Only Review” (CLTZR) application through the City of Charlotte’s Accela portal. The CLTZR carries a 3-business day gateway along with 5-business day review cycles and must be approved before a building permit can be issued. Any major changes to the permit documents after CLTZR approval may trigger additional City of Charlotte review. Please note that this does not affect any existing Land Development Individual Residential Lot (LDIRL) requirements. 

Common project types that may require CLTZR review*:

  • EV Charger Work
  • Change of Use Permits
  • Ground Mounted Solar Panels
  • Outdoor Lighting Changes
  • Existing Cell Tower Work
  • Utility Work (Meters, HVACs, Generators, Backflow)
  • Changes to Approved Building Elevations
  • Tenant Upfits
  • Exterior Building and/or Site Work
  • Retaining Walls
  • Any attached style dwelling with more than two units located on a lot in an approved subdivision (prior LD approval required)
  • Any attached style dwelling located on a lot that is shared with other residential buildings (prior LD approval required)

*If confirmed that no further land development review is triggered.

Need Help Determining Your Review Path?

Submit a detailed Required Submittal Verification Application (RSVA) through the City’s Accela portal. This free application helps confirm what type of review your project will need before beginning construction.

Meckpermit.com is a the source for information on the Mecklenburg County building permit process.

Code Information & Resource Center (CIRC) can help with technical assistance in relation to commercial and residential building codes.

 

NEXT arrow Applications and Fees Applications and Fees

Navigation

  1. Commercial Plan Review Process Overview
  2. Pre-submittal Meeting
  3. Prerequisites and Options
  4. Applications and Fees
  5. Gateway Review
  6. Detailed Plan Review
  7. Plan Approval and Archiving
  8. Driveway Permits
  9. Building Permits
  10. Construction Phase
  11. Certificate of Occupancy
Back to top