Before work can begin, you must obtain a building permit from your municipality. The building permit certifies that your home, when completed, will comply with the bylaws and regulations of your municipality (your municipality may stipulate certain restrictions).
In order to grant a building permit, a municipality may require:
Your blueprints
A copy of a survey showing property lines
A site plan showing the proposed location of your home
Other specific documents
Your general contractor will help you with the permitting process, advising you of the needed documents and, often submitting the applications for you.
Once you've got a great home plan, financing, an experienced contractor and all the permits you need, it's time to construct your home.