Target Innovation Remodel: 106 Permits Across 6 States
PermitPlace managed 106 simultaneous Target store remodel permits across California, Arizona, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Nevada as part of Target’s Innovation Remodel (IR) program in 2017. This multi-state rollout required coordinating building, health, fire, electrical, and specialty permits through dozens of different jurisdictions — each with its own review timelines, plan check processes, and code requirements.
106Permits Managed
6States
88California Locations
2General Contractors
The Challenge
Target’s Innovation Remodel program was a chain-wide store refresh covering layout changes, new fixtures, updated MEP systems, and accessibility upgrades. The program required permits in every jurisdiction where a Target store was being remodeled — from major cities like Los Angeles, Houston, and Sacramento to smaller municipalities like Colma, Novato, and Woodinville.
The core challenges:
- Simultaneous multi-jurisdiction management — 106 permits active at the same time across 6 states, each with different plan review timelines (4 weeks to 16+ weeks), submittal methods, and code interpretations.
- Multiple permit types per location — Most stores required building, health/environmental, fire, electrical, and plumbing permits. Some jurisdictions (like Chula Vista and Sacramento) also required waste management, air quality, and demo permits.
- Plan check comment resolution — Structural, mechanical, fire, and accessibility comments from reviewers had to be tracked, coordinated with architects (RSP Architects), and resubmitted within tight windows. Re-review timelines ranged from 5 to 25 business days.
- General contractor coordination — Two primary GCs (SD Deacon and Conlon) plus others needed permit status updates tied to construction mobilization dates.
- Target’s internal deadlines — Every store had a MOB (Mobilization) date and Turnover date that could not slip without impacting the chain-wide rollout schedule.
The Solution
PermitPlace deployed its jurisdiction knowledge database — built over 20 years covering 15,440+ jurisdictions — to manage every permit from submittal through issuance. Each location was tracked through a centralized permit management system with daily status updates to Target project managers, RSP Architects, and general contractors.
How PermitPlace Managed 106 Permits Simultaneously
- Dedicated expeditor assignments — PermitPlace served as the expeditor of record for all 106 locations, submitting plans directly to each Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
- Daily status tracking — Every permit was tracked with submittal dates, plan check comment dates, revision response dates, re-check timelines, and risk scores. Target PMs (Steve Hauser, Alejandro De La Mora, Nick Annoni) received current status on every location.
- Comment resolution coordination — When plan check comments were received, PermitPlace coordinated between the AHJ reviewer, RSP Architects (the design team), and the general contractor to get revisions returned within the re-review window.
- Risk scoring — Each permit was assigned a risk level based on review timeline, comment complexity, and construction schedule impact. High-risk permits received additional follow-up, counter reviews, and in-person AHJ visits.
- Multi-discipline tracking — Building, health, fire, electrical, plumbing, waste management, air quality, and demo permits were tracked independently per location, since different disciplines had different reviewers and timelines.
Results by State
| State | Locations | Programs | Key Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 88 | IR, REM | Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Jose, San Diego, Pasadena, Walnut Creek, Fremont, Irvine, Torrance, Long Beach, Hayward, Chula Vista |
| Texas | 7 | IR | Houston (4 locations), Austin Arboretum, Galleria, Tomball Parkway |
| Arizona | 5 | IR | Arcadia Crossing, Tempe NE, Phoenix Spectrum, Deer Valley, Ahwatukee |
| Washington | 3 | IR | Northgate, Redmond, Woodinville |
| Nevada | 2 | IR | Las Vegas Boca Park, Las Vegas Blue Diamond |
| Oregon | 1 | IR | Portland NE |
California complexity: 88 of the 106 locations were in California, where plan review timelines ranged from 4 weeks (Colma) to 16 weeks (Walnut Creek). California jurisdictions also required additional environmental, air quality, and waste management clearances that other states did not.
Plan Check Timeline Data
Review timelines varied significantly by jurisdiction. PermitPlace’s knowledge of each AHJ’s typical review window was critical for setting expectations and identifying permits at risk of missing construction dates.
| Jurisdiction | State | Building Review | Re-Check Timeline | Notable Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redwood City | CA | ~12 weeks | 10-15 business days (3rd party) | Air quality sign-off for demo |
| Mira Mesa (San Diego) | CA | ~13 weeks | 5-10 business days | Storm water review clearance |
| Walnut Creek | CA | ~16 weeks | 10-15 business days | 3rd party fire re-stamp required |
| Colma | CA | ~12 weeks | Counter review available | Air quality sign-off |
| Chula Vista East | CA | ~15 weeks | 15-25 business days | FOG permit + waste water + health clearance |
| Portland NE | OR | ~4 weeks | Preliminary email review | Seismic calculations required |
| Arcadia Crossing | AZ | ~10 weeks | 10 business days | Separate electrical + health permits |
| Daly City | CA | ~20 weeks | 5-10 business days | Structural fixture updates from Target planners |
All 106 Target Locations
California (88 locations)
- Redwood City
- Daly City Serramonte
- Chula Vista East
- Hayward North
- Sacramento East
- Mira Mesa
- Colma
- Walnut Creek
- Fontana North
- Sacramento Natomas
- Balboa
- Brea
- Aliso Viejo
- Pasadena
- Chino Hills
- San Ramon
- West Covina
- Auburn
- Manhattan Beach
- Redondo Beach
- Tustin
- Culver City South
- Whittier
- Woodland Hills
- Novato
- Elk Grove
- Encinitas
- Citrus Heights
- Pasadena East
- El Dorado Hills
- Carson
- Granada Hills
- Sunnyvale
- San Luis Obispo
- Oakland-Emeryville
- Rosemead
- San Jose College Park
- Upland
- San Francisco West
- LA Central
- Alhambra
- Long Beach Bellflower
- Culver City
- Torrance
- Sports Arena
- Westminster
- Santa Ana
- Valencia
- North Hollywood
- Irvine
- Anaheim Hills
- Fresno North
- Van Nuys
- Seal Beach
- Norwalk
- Huntington Beach East
- Santee
- Inglewood
- West Fullerton
- San Diego Del Sur
- Pleasant Hill
- Cupertino Main Street
- Long Beach Bixby
- West Hills
- Puente Hills
- Poway
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- Thousand Oaks
- San Mateo Fashion Island
- Rancho San Diego
- San Jose East
- Escondido
- San Jose West
- Los Angeles
- Irvine North
- Costa Mesa
- Burbank
- Fremont Hub
- Corona
- Albany
- Northridge
- Oceanside
- Orange
- San Pedro
- San Clemente
- Westlake Village
- West Hollywood
- LA Westwood
Texas (7 locations)
- Houston Central
- Houston South Central
- Houston Meyerland
- Galleria
- Tomball Parkway
- Houston Memorial
- Austin Arboretum
Arizona (5 locations)
- Arcadia Crossing
- Tempe NE
- Phoenix Spectrum
- Deer Valley
- Ahwatukee
Washington (3 locations)
- Northgate
- Redmond
- Woodinville
Nevada (2 locations)
- Las Vegas Boca Park
- Las Vegas Blue Diamond
Oregon (1 location)
- Portland NE
Why Target Chose PermitPlace
- 20 years of national retail permitting experience — PermitPlace has managed permits for Target, The Children’s Place, J. Crew, TUMI, Vuori, and dozens of other national brands since 2006.
- 15,440+ jurisdiction database — Built starting in 2008, this database covers review timelines, submittal methods, contact information, and code requirements for jurisdictions across all 50 states.
- Single point of accountability — One permit expediting partner managing all 106 locations, instead of hiring local expediters in each market.
- Real-time tracking and risk scoring — Every permit tracked daily with risk flags for permits approaching construction mobilization deadlines.
- AHJ relationship management — PermitPlace’s expediters conducted in-person counter reviews, follow-up calls, and direct reviewer coordination — the kind of relationship-driven work that software platforms cannot replicate.
This is what separates PermitPlace from software-only competitors. Managing 106 simultaneous permits across 6 states requires people who know the reviewers, understand local code interpretations, and can walk into a building department when a permit is stuck. No SaaS platform can call a plan reviewer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does PermitPlace manage 100+ permits simultaneously across multiple states?
PermitPlace uses a centralized permit tracking system combined with a jurisdiction knowledge database covering 15,440+ AHJs nationwide. Each permit is assigned a dedicated expeditor and tracked daily with submittal dates, plan check comment dates, revision deadlines, and risk scores. Target’s Innovation Remodel program had 106 permits active at the same time across California, Arizona, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Nevada — all managed through a single coordinated workflow with daily status updates to Target project managers and general contractors.
What types of permits are required for a national retail store remodel?
A typical retail remodel requires multiple permit types depending on the jurisdiction: building permits (structural, architectural, accessibility), health and environmental permits, fire department clearances, electrical permits, plumbing permits, and sometimes specialty permits like waste management, air quality, FOG (Fats, Oils, Grease), and demolition permits. In California, Target’s Innovation Remodel locations often required 4-6 separate permit types per store, each reviewed by different departments with different timelines.
How long does the permit review process take for a multi-state retail rollout?
Review timelines vary significantly by jurisdiction. In Target’s Innovation Remodel program, initial plan check reviews ranged from 4 weeks (Portland, OR) to 16+ weeks (Walnut Creek, CA). Re-check timelines after comment resolution ranged from 5 business days (Daly City, CA) to 25 business days (Chula Vista, CA). PermitPlace’s jurisdiction database tracks these timelines for each AHJ, allowing accurate scheduling against construction mobilization dates. Jurisdictions that offer counter reviews or expedited re-checks can significantly reduce total timeline.
Why use a permit expediter instead of managing permits internally for a national rollout?
National rollout programs with 100+ locations across multiple states face a coordination problem that internal teams struggle to solve: every jurisdiction has different submittal methods, review timelines, code interpretations, and permit types. A single internal PM cannot maintain relationships with 100+ different building departments. PermitPlace’s 20-year jurisdiction database and local expeditor network provide the AHJ knowledge and relationship access that keeps permits on schedule. For Target’s Innovation Remodel, this meant a single point of accountability for all 106 permits instead of hiring and managing local expediters in each market.
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