What is a permit project, and how is it different from the architectural design?

14 October 2026 · Kilta Mimarlık

"Permit project" and "architectural design" are often confused. The difference between them directly affects how smoothly the process goes.

One of the questions we hear most from people planning a villa or home in Bodrum is: "What is a permit project, and how is it different from the architectural design?" The two are closely linked but serve different purposes. Here is the difference, and why the permit project matters so much.

1. What a permit project is

A permit project is the set of drawings and documents submitted to the municipality to show that a building complies with the relevant regulations (zoning, earthquake, parking and so on), so that construction can legally begin. It brings together the architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical drawings and the soil survey report. The approved permit project is the basis for issuing the building permit.

2. Architectural design vs permit project

The architectural design defines the building's spaces, plans, sections and elevations: how the living areas are arranged and how materials and facades are handled. The permit project is that design adapted to the zoning and technical regulations and prepared for official submission. In short, the design answers "what kind of house?", and the permit project answers "how can this house be built legally?" In practice, the permit project is the approved design plus the engineering disciplines.

3. Documents in a permit project

A complete permit file usually includes:

• The approved architectural drawings (plans, sections, elevations)
• The structural drawings
• The mechanical drawings (plumbing, heating and cooling)
• The electrical drawings
• The soil survey report
• The zoning certificate and site survey map
• Administrative documents such as the building inspection and designer contracts

If any of these is missing or inconsistent with the others, the municipality returns the file, which can add weeks or even months.

4. Who prepares the permit project?

The architectural design is prepared by an architect, while the full permit file, including the structural, mechanical and electrical drawings, is produced together with engineers in each discipline. For things to go smoothly, these disciplines need to work together from the start. Trying to fit the engineering drawings to the architecture after it's finished is the main cause of most revisions.

5. From design to permit

In summary: find out the zoning status → soil survey → architectural design → coordinated structural, mechanical and electrical drawings → submission of the whole file to the municipality → review and revisions if needed → approval and the building permit. We describe these steps in more detail in our building permit guide.

6. Common mistakes

The most common problems are not establishing the zoning status clearly before the design starts, coordinating the engineering drawings with the architecture too late, and basing the soil survey on incomplete or out-of-date data. Most of these disappear when one team manages the process from the start and thinks about the design and the permit file together.

At Kilta we run the process from architectural design through to a complete permit file, coordinated with the engineering disciplines. See our architectural design services.

Frequently asked questions

This article is for general information and is not formal advice. Contact Kilta for the process and regulations that apply to your project. Regulations and practice can change over time.