Oct 31, 2025
Steel Warehouses and Garages for Smooth Truck and Trailer Access
Steel Building Permit Packages
A steel building that stretches a hundred thousand square feet is no small job. You’re talking about something meant for big operations like major warehousing, manufacturing, or large-scale distribution. These aren’t the kind of projects you just sketch out and send to the county.
For something this size, the permit package is everything. It’s the binder of drawings, reports, and engineering documents that prove your building meets every rule in the book. With it, you’ve got a clear path from planning to pouring concrete. Without it, the project sits still.
Understanding Building Permit Packages
A building permit package is basically your project’s ticket to start. It’s the paperwork that tells local officials your building is safe and meets all the codes.
Inside the package, there are all the design and compliance details. This is the proof that your project lines up with IBC permit documentation and ASCE 7 engineering requirements. That’s how the reviewers know the structure can handle the loads, stay safe in the weather, and fit the site you’re building on.
Usually, these packages are pulled together by licensed engineers, architects, or full design-build firms. For something in the 100,000-square-foot range, the review won’t just happen at the city level. The state will want eyes on it, too. It takes time, but the process keeps your build legal and structurally sound from day one.
Key Documents Required for Large-Scale Steel Buildings
Every big project runs on paper, and for something this size, there’s a lot of it. Each document tells a piece of the story, from layout to structure to energy use.
The biggest ones you’ll want to be aware of include:
• Site Plans
Site plans dictate where the building sits, how it drains, and how trucks or people access it.
• Architectural Drawings
Architectural drawings feature the full layout of your structure, including walls, doors, rooflines, and finishes.
• Structural Drawings
How the frame fits together and what supports what.
• Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing Plans
All the behind-the-scenes systems that involve electrical and plumbing.
• Fire Safety Plans
Fire safety precautions cover sprinklers, exits, alarms, and how they all tie to code.
• Energy Compliance Reports
Energy reports are proof that your design meets local energy standards.
• Engineering Certifications
These are the stamped and signed documents that show it meets ASCE 7 and AISC standards.
Structural and Engineering Requirements
When you’re building something this big, engineering runs the show. Wind loads, snow loads, and seismic zones all have to be calculated and approved before fabrication begins. Every number traces back to ASCE 7, IBC, or AISC design standards, and all rules descend from these platforms.
For 100,000-square-foot steel buildings, the small details add up fast. Engineers have to plan for expansion joints, roof load spread, and deflection limits. Foundations get special attention too, with anchor bolts designed to handle serious weight. Fire resistance ratings come into play, and everything must hold up over years of shifting temperatures and use.
Zoning and Environmental Approvals
Before the steel shows up, you’ll have to clear zoning and environmental checks. This process confirms the land’s zoning matches the building’s use and that your plans meet local development rules.
Then come the environmental steps, such as stormwater and drainage layouts, traffic impact studies, and even environmental assessments in some cases. Larger industrial projects can pull in multiple departments, from public works to environmental protection.
The trick is to start early. Talking with local offices before submission can save months down the line. Most delays happen when something small, like a drainage calculation, holds up the whole review.
The Inspection and Approval Process
Once your steel building permit package is submitted, the process moves in clear stages. It’s not fast, but it’s steady if you keep your documents tight. You can expect the process to look something like this:
1. Application Review
The city checks that all your files are included, that all the information is correct, and that everything is above board.
2. Plan Review
In this phase, engineers go through drawings for code compliance and make sure that the structure’s design is up to snuff and safe.
3. Revisions
After the review, corrections are made and resubmitted as needed until the plans are good to go.
4. Permit Issued
Once everything is approved, you’re clear to start work under the permit conditions.
5. Inspections
At this point, inspectors visit during key points of the construction process to assess foundation, framing, and fire systems.
6. Final Approval
Once everything checks out and your project passes inspection, you get your occupancy certificate.
LongStar Steel is Your Premier Partner for Steel Buildings, Large and Small
At LongStar Steel Buildings, we’ve seen how much time a solid permit package can save. Our team works directly with licensed engineers and code specialists to deliver complete, stamped plans that meet IBC and ASCE 7 standards right out of the gate.
Our structures are engineered for the average wind, snow, and seismic loads in your area from the get-go, which makes the permitting process easy and hassle-free.Want to know more about our range of metal buildings? Call us at ☎ (678) 304-4388 for a full tour of our design process. We’ll walk you through each step, answer all your questions, and deliver a structure that looks good and passes the permitting process with flying colors.
