Delays in obtaining permit approvals can make or break your project. Issues at this stage can impact budgets, schedules, and even Lease commencement dates. With the right project team, however, you can streamline approvals and avoid unnecessary back-and-forth with the local building department.
Here are a few key strategies to keep your project moving forward:
✅ Select the right architect with municipality-specific experience
Each jurisdiction interprets codes a little differently. Choosing an architect who has worked extensively within your project’s municipality ensures they are familiar with local reviewers, preferred documentation formats, and unique code interpretations. Selecting the right architect can help prevent avoidable comments and the need for revisions.
✅ Utilize an experienced submission service
An experienced permit submission service acts as your liaison with the city, tracking your permit application, managing communication, and addressing questions in real time. Their familiarity with internal workflows and municipality portals can help shave weeks off submission and approval timelines.
✅ Consider using a 3rd-party plan reviewer
Many municipalities allow or even encourage independent plan reviews before submission. A 3rd-party review identifies compliance issues, missing details, or inconsistencies in the plans sooner than the building department would via a traditional submission. The use of a 3rd-party plan reviewer may help expedite the receipt of permit.
💡 Bonus Tip: Host a Page-Turn Review Meeting with your full project team and design partners to validate requirements before submission. This proactive session will help eliminate missed details that would otherwise result in future plan revisions, possible re-submissions, and change orders.
At Relofant, our focus is on ensuring that every requirement impacting construction is reflected on the drawings—so your project can move from design to construction without unnecessary delays.