MEP Permits
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits for residential and commercial projects.
What a MEP Permits Covers
MEP stands for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. In most DMV jurisdictions these are filed as separate trade permits alongside the building permit rather than folded into it, which surprises people who assumed one application covered the whole job. Each trade has its own reviewer, its own code chapter, and its own inspection sequence. Energy compliance documentation is the single most common thing missing from an MEP submission, and it is also the easiest correction to avoid.
Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP) related permits on residential and commercial projects. Our licensed engineers ensure all MEP documentation meets current code requirements.
When You Need One
- Installing, replacing, or relocating HVAC equipment, ductwork, or a heat pump
- Any new electrical service, panel upgrade, or added circuits beyond a like-for-like swap
- Moving or adding plumbing fixtures, water heaters, or gas piping
- Restaurant and food service work: hoods, grease interception, make-up air
- Generator, EV charger, and solar interconnection work
- Any commercial fit-out, where MEP trade permits generally run alongside the building permit
What PermitCare Handles
- MEP drawings prepared and sealed by our licensed professional engineers
- Load calculations and equipment schedules sized to the actual scope
- Energy compliance documentation, ResCheck or COMcheck as the scope requires
- Separate trade permit applications filed and tracked per jurisdiction practice
- Coordination so the trade permits and the building permit do not fall out of sequence
- Comment responses and inspection scheduling through final approval
Documents Usually Required
Exact requirements are set by the jurisdiction you file in. This is the package most submissions are built from.
- Mechanical drawings with equipment schedules and duct layouts
- Electrical drawings with panel schedules and load calculations
- Plumbing drawings with fixture counts and riser diagrams
- Energy compliance documentation for the affected systems
- Manufacturer cut sheets for specified equipment
- Trade contractor licenses for the jurisdiction being filed in
Common Questions
Do MEP permits get filed separately from the building permit?
In most DMV jurisdictions, yes. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing are typically separate trade applications reviewed by separate reviewers, even when they belong to one project. They also have to stay in sequence with the building permit, which is where projects most often trip.
Do I need a permit to replace an HVAC system?
Usually yes. A like-for-like equipment swap is permitted work in most jurisdictions, and a change in capacity, fuel type, or duct configuration certainly is. The inspection at the end is also what protects you if the equipment fails while under warranty.
What is ResCheck and COMcheck and why do reviewers ask for them?
They are the standard compliance reports showing a building meets the energy code, ResCheck for residential and COMcheck for commercial. Most DMV jurisdictions require one with any MEP submission that affects the thermal envelope or system efficiency. Missing energy documentation is one of the most common triggers for a correction cycle.
Can one company handle all three trades?
Yes. PermitCare prepares mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings in house and files them together, which avoids the coordination gap that appears when three separate parties submit against slightly different versions of the same plan set.
MEP Permits by Jurisdiction
Fees, portals, and review timelines differ by county. These pages cover the specifics where we work most.
Ready to get started?
Free consultation, no obligation. We serve Virginia, Maryland, and D.C.