--- title: "Building Permit & Construction Glossary for Contractors — PermitVector" source: https://permitvector.com/glossary description: "Plain-English definitions of the permit and construction terms contractors run into — AHJ, parcel, zoning, certificate of occupancy, permit types, and more." --- # Building Permit & Construction Glossary for Contractors > Plain-English definitions of the permit and construction terms contractors run into — AHJ, parcel, zoning, certificate of occupancy, permit types, and more. 1. [Home](/) / 2. Permit Glossary Permit Glossary # The contractor's guide to permit & construction terms. 31 plain-English definitions — what each term means, and why it matters when you're working permit data for leads. Built by the team behind PermitVector's daily Texas feed. ## Land Use [ Easement A legal right granted to a party (such as a utility or neighbor) to use a portion of another's property for a specific purpose. ](/glossary/easement)[ Impervious Cover Any surface that prevents rainwater from percolating into the ground, such as rooftops, driveways, and paved areas; regulated by zoning and watershed rules. ](/glossary/impervious-cover)[ Setback The minimum required distance between a structure and a property line, road, or other boundary, set by zoning or building code. ](/glossary/setback)[ Variance An official exception granted by a local zoning board allowing a property owner to deviate from a specific zoning or code requirement. ](/glossary/variance)[ Zoning Local government regulations that divide land into districts and specify what types of buildings and uses are permitted on each parcel. ](/glossary/zoning) ## Licensing [ TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation) The Texas state agency that licenses and regulates contractors in HVAC, electrical, plumbing, elevators, and dozens of other trades. ](/glossary/tdlr-texas-department-of-licensing-regulation) ## Permitting [ Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) The agency or official legally empowered to enforce building codes and approve permits in a given area. ](/glossary/authority-having-jurisdiction-ahj)[ Building Permit Official government authorization required before starting most construction, renovation, or demolition work on a structure. ](/glossary/building-permit)[ Certificate of Occupancy A document issued by the AHJ certifying that a completed building meets code and is safe and legal to occupy. ](/glossary/certificate-of-occupancy)[ Certificate of Occupancy vs. Permit A permit authorizes construction to begin; a Certificate of Occupancy confirms it was completed correctly and the building is legal to occupy. ](/glossary/certificate-of-occupancy-vs-permit)[ Contractor of Record The licensed contractor who pulls a permit and assumes legal responsibility for the permitted work meeting code requirements. ](/glossary/contractor-of-record)[ Demolition Permit A permit required before demolishing all or part of an existing structure, ensuring safe removal and proper disposal of materials including hazardous waste. ](/glossary/demolition-permit)[ Electrical Permit A permit required before installing, altering, or expanding electrical systems in a structure. ](/glossary/electrical-permit)[ EV Charger Permit A permit required for the installation of a Level 2 or DC fast-charging electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) unit. ](/glossary/ev-charger-permit)[ Inspection An on-site review by a building department inspector to verify that construction work complies with approved plans and building code requirements. ](/glossary/inspection)[ Mechanical Permit A permit required for the installation, replacement, or modification of HVAC systems and related mechanical equipment. ](/glossary/mechanical-permit)[ New Construction Permit A building permit issued for a structure being built from the ground up on a previously unimproved or cleared lot. ](/glossary/new-construction-permit)[ Panel Upgrade Permit An electrical permit for replacing or upgrading the main electrical service panel, typically to increase amperage capacity. ](/glossary/panel-upgrade-permit)[ Permit Expediter A specialist hired to navigate the permit application process, accelerate approvals, and resolve correction notices on behalf of an owner or contractor. ](/glossary/permit-expediter)[ Permit Status A field in a permit record indicating the current stage of the permit in its lifecycle (e.g., applied, under review, issued, active, finaled, expired). ](/glossary/permit-status)[ Permit Valuation The estimated total cost of construction declared on a permit application, used to calculate permit fees and as a proxy for project size. ](/glossary/permit-valuation)[ Plan Review The AHJ's examination of submitted construction drawings to verify compliance with building codes before a permit is issued. ](/glossary/plan-review)[ Plumbing Permit A permit required for the installation, repair, or modification of water supply, drain, waste, and vent plumbing systems. ](/glossary/plumbing-permit)[ Pool Permit A permit required for the construction of an in-ground or above-ground swimming pool, spa, or hot tub on a residential or commercial property. ](/glossary/pool-permit)[ Re-Roof Permit A permit required in many jurisdictions before replacing or recovering an existing roof covering. ](/glossary/re-roof-permit)[ Remodel / Addition Permit A permit covering interior remodels, structural alterations, or square-footage additions to an existing building. ](/glossary/remodel-addition-permit)[ Solar Permit A permit required for the installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, covering both structural and electrical work. ](/glossary/solar-permit)[ Work Class A standardized classification field in a permit record that describes the nature of the permitted work (e.g., new construction, remodel, re-roof). ](/glossary/work-class) ## Real Estate [ APN (Assessor's Parcel Number) A unique numeric or alphanumeric identifier assigned by the county assessor or appraisal district to each distinct parcel of land. ](/glossary/apn-assessor-parcel-number)[ Parcel A legally defined unit of land with a unique government-assigned identifier used in property records and permit applications. ](/glossary/parcel) ## Regulation [ Building Code A set of regulations establishing minimum standards for the design, construction, and occupancy of buildings, adopted and enforced by the AHJ. ](/glossary/building-code) ## The first one to the job site wins. Turn Texas's daily permits into your earliest, freshest pipeline. Start free — see your first feed tomorrow morning. [Start 14-day free trial →](/#trial) No credit card · Cancel anytime · Updated daily ~6 AM CT. --- _Source: https://permitvector.com/glossary · PermitVector — daily Texas building-permit intelligence._