Which statement about procedures for accepting field changes is MOST accurate?

• A. The owner
• B. The planning commission
• C. Field changes require court approval
• D. The authority may rest solely with the fire marshal or building official

Answer: (A)

The key idea is who signs off on changes that come up in the field. Field changes are changes to the approved plan that happen on site, and they must be authorized by the person who has control of the project—typically the owner or the owner’s appointed agent. By signing a field change authorization, the owner approves the deviation from the original plan and contemplates how it will fit within the permit and code requirements. The actual code compliance review and approval still rests with the authority having jurisdiction (such as the fire marshal or building official), but the formal acceptance of the change is initiated and approved by the owner.

This is why the owner is the best answer: they hold the responsibility for authorizing changes in the field and ensuring the change remains within the scope of the permit, with the AHJ providing the necessary review for compliance. Planning commission involvement is not typical for on-site field changes, and court approval is not standard practice. Relying solely on the fire marshal or building official would bypass the owner’s responsibility to authorize deviations.