Who bears responsibility for permits and fees that are the contractor's responsibility under the contract documents?

• A. The owner
• B. The contractor
• C. The architect
• D. The owner's representative

Answer: (B)

Under the AIA A201 framework, the party who performs the work takes on securing the necessary permits and paying the related fees. This means the contractor must apply for and obtain building permits, submissions for approvals, and cover all permit fees required by authorities having jurisdiction in order to legally proceed with the work. The owner’s role is to provide access, information, and cooperation, but the permit costs themselves stay with the contractor. The architect and the owner’s representative assist with design and submittals, but they do not bear the permit fees or be responsible for obtaining permits unless the contract explicitly states otherwise. This allocation helps align regulatory compliance and scheduling with the party actually executing the work; if delays stem from owner/architect actions or contract changes, the contract may address time extensions or cost adjustments, but absent those circumstances, the contractor bears the permits and fees.