{"id":28607,"date":"2025-01-08T18:32:29","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T18:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.speedrackwest.com\/?post_type=service&#038;p=28607"},"modified":"2026-01-06T16:06:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T16:06:28","slug":"permits","status":"publish","type":"service","link":"https:\/\/www.speedrackwest.com\/services\/permits","title":{"rendered":"Permits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Do I need pallet rack permits?<\/strong>&nbsp;It is a question we hear a lot during the course of our work. The answer is:&nbsp;<strong>Probably<\/strong>. Most cities require permits on any racking over 5\u2032 9\u2033 tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obtaining permits may not be fun, but we can help! We assist many customers with the permit process. We take care of most of the challenging aspects of securing pallet rack permits so you can focus on your business. That means you get your job done and begin using your new pallet racking system as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you choose to get permits yourself, or you want us to help, you\u2019ll want to keep reading to understand what is involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Required Permits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What permits are actually required? There\u2019s two: Building Permits and Fire Permits. Some cities automatically include the Fire Permits in their permitting process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Building Permits<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Most cities require building permits for industrial storage racks that are over 5\u2019 9\u201d high. That means almost all pallet rack and most shelving should be permitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Fire Permits<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Product stored above 12\u2019 have a specific designation. For highly flammable products, anything over 6\u2032 may be deemed High Piled Storage. A High Piled Storage permit requires more involvement from the Fire Marshal who will assess the flammability of the product being stored, and the adequacy of the fire sprinkler system. If the top of your product will be above 12ft from the ground, we definitely recommend you\u00a0<a href=\"\/blog\/what-is-high-piled-storage\">read more about High Piled Storage here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Permit Fees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Like many building permit fees, the permit fees for warehouse racking systems are typically a percentage of the total value of the racking project. The fee can vary widely, but we commonly see fees in the range of 10-30% of the racking value and installation cost. Some cities have a permit estimator to help determine the cost. For example, for pallet rack permits in Portland, Oregon there is an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.portland.gov\/bds\/building-permit-estimates\">online permit estimator<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pallet Rack Permit Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several steps to obtaining permits for warehouse storage racking. While the exact steps can vary by county or state, here is an overview of the typical process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. CAD Drawings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>CAD Drawings are prepared to show floor and site plans, including the location of the racking equipment within the building, aisles, ingress, egress, rack dimensions, beam elevations, and more. Many building owners already have an CAD drawing file of the facility that they can send you. This will be very helpful in producing the documents needed for the permit application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether or not you\u2019re getting permits,\u00a0<a href=\"\/services\/cad-warehouse-layout\">CAD Layouts<\/a>\u00a0are an important way to make sure you are optimizing the flow and storage of your facility. We can help with this process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Seismic Calculations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/services\/seismic-calculations\">Seismic calculations<\/a>\u00a0are a required part of the permit process in most states (usually when racking or shelving is 8\u2032 or taller). Our engineers perform the calculations based on the specific configuration of racking in your warehouse, the weight of the loads you intend to place on the racking, and the seismic zone that your facility is located in. Seismic calculations determine the capacity that your racking is rated for at your facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Permit Documents<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll fill out the necessary documentation to pull an initial permit for the racking. You\u2019ll still need to be involved in this process, as there is a lot of information that will be required for the permit (particularly if you are storing above 12ft which triggers\u00a0<a href=\"\/blog\/what-is-high-piled-storage\">high piled storage<\/a>\u00a0requirements). For example: what is the product being stored, how flammable is it, what commodity class is the product, fire sprinkler data, concrete thickness, etc. We\u2019ll help you gather the information, submit the documentation, and then work with the local government to process the initial permit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Installation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the initial permit has been pulled,\u00a0<a href=\"\/services\/installation-tear-down\">pallet rack installation<\/a>\u00a0can begin. Our professional rack installers will install the racking in accordance with all city\/county\/state codes. Racks must be installed to spec, and then permit can be denied if they are not installed properly. For this reason, we recommend using a professional pallet rack installer when obtaining permits for rack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Special Inspection<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The permitting authority often requires an independent testing company to verify the rack was installed and anchored properly (see\u00a0<a href=\"\/services\/seismic-calculations\">seismic calculations<\/a>). This is primarily an anchor inspection to assure that the anchors are installed correctly with the appropriate ft-lbs of torque and adequate embedment. Professional pallet rack installers are familiar with these requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Final Inspection<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The permitting authority performs their final inspection to verify the installation meets all requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Final Permit<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The permit receives a status of \u201cfinaled\u201d after a successful final inspection. Now your racking is ready for use!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does it take to get Pallet Rack Permits?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, plan for 2-3 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gathering the necessary data to submit the initial permit application takes 2-4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the project. Once the application has been submitted, cities often require 4-8 weeks for their review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We highly recommend reading this\u00a0<a href=\"\/blog\/pallet-rack-project-timeline\">pallet rack project timeline<\/a>\u00a0to get a better sense for how long each step takes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I load the rack before I get the permit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No. The city will not allow you to store anything on the rack prior to receiving the final permit. The racks must be empty when the city comes for the final inspection. If an inspector or fire marshall finds that you have loaded the rack prior to obtaining the permit, they could tell you to immediately unload the racking, and potentially issue fines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pallet Rack Permits FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I need permits for my warehouse racking?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes. Any racking 5\u2032 9\u2033 or taller requires permits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is the height requirement set by the County? City? State? Does every county have a different Height?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most counties stick with the 5\u2019 9\u201d standard. However, we haven\u2019t heard of any counties with a different standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do I need in order to get permits for my pallet racking?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CAD Drawings of the racking, building, and site plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Seismic calculations performed by an engineer showing the rated seismic load for each level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If over 12\u2032 top of product, a high-piled storage evaluation form.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proper installation of racking including anchors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Special inspection of the anchors by an independent inspector.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Final inspection of the racking by the city.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you install warehouse racking without a permit?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Can you? Yes. But, should you? No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what could happen if you don\u2019t:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In most jurisdictions, the fire marshal will come around and do inspections of your property (usually every 1-3 years). So, when they see your pallet rack, they will ask to see the permit for it. In other words, if you don\u2019t have one, then the fire marshal reports it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Depending on the fire marshal, and the situation, he could say \u201cyou need to get it permitted\u201d or \u201ctake it down immediately\u201d. That is to say, it just depends on the severity of the situation and how your fire marshal is feeling that day. As a result, more severe situations are likely to elicit a stronger response. For example, tall racking holding highly flammable material with no sprinkler system is a serious fire danger.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In a low-severity situation, he\u2019ll probably just report it to the city or county and tell you to get it permitted within a few months.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In a high-severity situation, he\u2019ll tell you to unload and tear down the racks immediately. Moreover, he could shut down your whole operation until the situation is rectified. As a result, you\u2019ll also be at risk of fines for failing to get the permits.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Let Us Help with Getting a Pallet Rack Permit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Obtaining permits is one of the least exciting of all the steps in a warehouse rack project. It\u2019s a lot of paperwork, communicating with multiple parties, and standing in line at the permit office. Let us handle it for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact us today to\u00a0<a href=\"\/get-quote\">get a quote<\/a>\u00a0on permitting your warehouse racking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We handle the paperwork for you. From application to approval, we manage the complex permit process so you can stay focused on your business.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":28871,"template":"","class_list":["post-28607","service","type-service","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Warehouse Pallet Rack Permits | Permit Guide | Speedrack West<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Need a pallet rack permit? 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