What does permittee mean?
A permittee is a person or organization that has been officially granted permission to do something. The word is especially common in legal, regulatory, administrative, and property-related contexts, where documents may identify a permittee and specify the conditions attached to the permission. For example, a business might be named as the permittee responsible for maintaining a structure, or an individual might be recorded as the permittee for access to a restricted site. The term distinguishes the recipient of permission from the permit issuer and from an applicant still seeking authorization. It is more precise and formal than “permit holder,” making it especially appropriate for contracts, regulations, notices, and official records. Although “permittee” can refer to either an individual or an organization, it is not a general substitute for “licensee” in every context; the specific legal meaning depends on the kind of permission involved.
nounA person or organization to whom a permit or authorization has been granted. A permittee is the holder of the permission, rather than the authority issuing it.
- A person or organization that has been granted a permit to perform an activity, use property, or operate within an authorized area.
"The construction permittee was required to display the permit at the site entrance."
"The council notified each permittee of the new operating conditions."
"Only the named permittee may enter the restricted research facility."
The regular plural is permittees and is used when referring to multiple people or organizations that have been granted permits.
"All permittees must renew their authorization before the end of the year."
A permittee does not create the permission; they receive it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does permittee come from?
Permittee was formed in English by adding the suffix -ee, meaning “a person who receives or is granted something,” to the base word permit. The suffix is borrowed from French and is related to English words such as employee and trainee. The root permit comes through French from Latin permittere, meaning “to allow” or “to permit.”
How permittee is actually used
Chiefly used in legal, regulatory, and administrative contexts. It is more formal and specialized than the general expression “permit holder,” and it identifies the recipient of an authorization rather than the issuing authority.
Easily confused with permittee
A permittee receives permission from an authority, whereas a permitter is the person or body that grants it.