The Permitting Process for Playgrounds and Shade Structures

“Am I required to get a permit for this?”

This is a question that many of our clients ask us when we meet for the first time on-site. 

When it comes to playgrounds and shades the permitting requirements can differ from city to city in both California and Arizona. 

The requirements for a shade are a bit different from a playground when it comes to permitting; let's dig a bit deeper into each product.

When is a Shade Structure Permit Necessary?

When it comes to shade structures, these are almost always classified as freestanding buildings per building code requirements, due to the permanent nature of the structure and the size of the structure. With this kind of classification, the building code requires that the owner obtains a building permit for the shade, which can make the permitting process very tedious and similar to the requirements in place for constructing a new building. 

We always recommend that our clients bring on a professional architect to develop a comprehensive architectural site plan that lays out the new structure in accordance with the requirements on setbacks, ADA access, and other critical aspects of the local building codes. 

We work with a few very reputable architects that we refer our clients to so they can collaborate with them directly and provide property-specific information directly to the architect. This allows our clients to keep the project on track and ensure the site plan is drafted as quickly as possible. 

For every shade structure we sell, we provide our clients with the structural stamped engineered drawings and calculations from our manufacturer, Superior Shade. 

These drawings are developed based on the local zip code of the project location so that our clients can rest assured that the shade structure has been designed for their local building codes. 

With the combination of the stamped structural engineered drawings & calculations and the professional architectural site plan, you are all ready to submit your permit application paperwork with your local city or county. 

When is a Permit to Build a Playground Necessary?

Specific regulations, requirements, and fees for obtaining a playground permit vary from city to city. Your local city will have information about permits, including relevant guidelines or codes specific to your area, as well as the timeline for receiving a permit.

We always recommend that our clients call into their local city to inquire about the requirements that specific city or county has for playground construction, and the steps needed to obtain a permit. 

If required, Zoom Recreation can provide the city with structurally engineered drawings that highlight how the play equipment will meet the local building codes and be structurally sound. These stamped structural drawings come with an engineering fee from our manufacturer, Superior Playgrounds. 

However, we find that a lot of California and Arizona cities will only require the basic shop drawings or installation instructions for a typical playground foundation from the specified manufacturer. This is an easy drawing that we can provide to the city at no additional cost. 

The Playground Permit Process

1. Research local regulations: Your local city will have the necessary information about any specific guidelines, codes, or permits needed for playground/shade projects.
2. Architectural Site Plan: We will collaborate with a professional architect of your choosing to form a site plan that adheres to the local building codes and layout from the start. This allows us to prevent revisions down the line and ensures our design is feasible from the start. 
3. Structural Stamped and Sealed Engineered Drawings & Calculations: For an engineering fee, our manufacturer, Superior, will provide these drawings based on the zip code of the project location, to ensure that the product is engineered per local building codes.
4. Application form: Once you have the sealed drawings and the architectural site plan all ready, it's time to contact the relevant authority responsible for issuing playground/shade permits in your city and request an application form — then submit all of your paperwork and pay the respective permitting fees. 
5. Review and approval: The permit application will go through a review process to assess compliance with regulations and safety standards. If there are any issues, Zoom will be happy to adjust the playground design for no additional fee so it meets the city's corrections. 
6. Time to get to work! Our certified and licensed playground installers will carry out the construction work, adhering to the approved design and safety guidelines. With our Class A contractor license, we can sign off on the permit paperwork as the assigned contractor for the project. 
7. During and after the construction process, our team will manage the various inspections required by the City’s inspectors to ensure compliance with the permit conditions, building codes, and safety standard

Safe Commercial Playground Installation

Here at Zoom Recreation, we will create a detailed site plan for your playground or shade project, considering the size, layout, equipment, and safety measures. 

We will ensure compliance with local building codes, safety standards, and accessibility guidelines, such as those provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA). 

Permitting can be a difficult and tedious process. Our team at Zoom has been able to successfully navigate complex permitting processes while still completing projects on time. Read about our project for YWCA Compton — where we had to adjust the playground and shade structure layout to adhere to the area’s challenging building setback requirements, while still keeping the project on track, and on budget. 

If you have any questions about permits, give us a call at 866-271-4738 or get in touch with us by filling out our contact form.

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