The biggest challenge in a national rollout isn’t just speed; it’s predictability. When you’re juggling twenty or more projects, a wildly fluctuating construction permit time frame across different locations makes planning nearly impossible. How can you confidently schedule contractors, order materials, or report timelines to leadership when an approval in one city takes three weeks and an identical project takes four months in another? This guide is designed to demystify the process. We’ll break down why timelines vary so dramatically and give you the tools to build a more reliable, repeatable system that brings consistency to your multi-site program and helps you hit your opening dates, every time.
Key Takeaways
- Front-Load Your Efforts for a Faster Review: The most significant delays are preventable and happen before you ever submit. Invest heavily in upfront due diligence and quality control to create a clean, complete application that gives plan reviewers no reason to send it back for corrections.
- Master Each Jurisdiction’s Unique Playbook: A successful national rollout depends on treating every city and county as its own distinct project. What works in one location will likely fail in another, so understanding local codes and processes is non-negotiable for creating predictable timelines.
- Control What You Can After You Submit: Once your application is in review, your biggest risks are self-inflicted. Lock in your designs to avoid resetting the clock, maintain professional communication with reviewers, and diligently track expiration dates to prevent your permit from lapsing.
What Is a Construction Permit, Really?
At its core, a construction permit is an official approval from a local government agency that gives you the legal go-ahead to start a construction project. Think of it as the official green light that confirms your project plans are sound, safe, and in line with local rules. Before you can break ground on a new store, complete a tenant improvement, or roll out a national rebrand, you need this document in hand.
The permit process is designed to ensure every project adheres to current building codes, zoning laws, and public safety regulations. It’s a critical checkpoint that protects not only your future customers and employees but also your investment and brand reputation. For development and construction leaders managing multi-site rollouts, the real challenge isn’t just getting one permit; it’s successfully securing dozens of them across different cities and counties, each with its own unique requirements, processes, and timelines. This variability is what can turn a straightforward national program into a complex logistical puzzle.
Why Permits Are Non-Negotiable for Compliance
Securing a permit isn’t just a box to check—it’s a legal requirement that keeps your project on track and above board. Working without one can lead to immediate stop-work orders, significant fines, and even the demolition of unpermitted work. But compliance doesn’t end once the permit is issued. Most permits come with an expiration date and specific timelines you have to follow.
For instance, you often must begin work within 180 days of the permit being issued and demonstrate continuous progress to keep it active. If a project stalls, the permit can expire, forcing you back to square one with the application process. For a program manager juggling twenty or more locations, letting a permit lapse on even one site can create a domino effect, disrupting schedules and pushing back revenue-generating opening dates.
How Permits Protect Your Project’s Quality and Safety
While it can feel like a bureaucratic hurdle, the permit review process is also a valuable form of quality control. When a plan reviewer from the local jurisdiction examines your architectural drawings, they are acting as a second set of eyes, trained to spot potential issues related to structural integrity, fire safety, accessibility, and more. Catching a design flaw on paper is infinitely cheaper and faster than fixing it after construction has already begun.
This review ensures your final build is safe, durable, and serves your customers and staff well. However, the time it takes to get this approval can vary wildly—from a few weeks to several months, depending on the jurisdiction’s efficiency and your project’s complexity. This is why understanding each jurisdiction’s unique process is key to moving forward without sacrificing quality or safety.
The Big Question: How Long Until My Permit Is Approved?
It’s the question that keeps every development and construction manager up at night. You have opening dates locked in, revenue targets to hit, and contractors ready to mobilize. But all of it hinges on a single, unpredictable variable: the permit approval. While there’s no magic eight-ball to give you a precise date, you can get a much clearer picture by understanding the three core factors that drive your timeline: where you’re building, what you’re building, and who is reviewing your plans. For multi-site rollouts, this isn’t just about one location; it’s about managing dozens of different timelines at once. Getting a handle on these variables is the first step toward turning unpredictable waiting games into a manageable part of your project schedule.
Why Timelines Vary from State to State
If you’re managing a national rollout, you know that no two jurisdictions are alike. A permit that takes a few weeks in one city could take many months in another, even for the exact same project scope. This is because every state, county, and city operates under its own set of rules and processes. Some locations have streamlined digital systems, while others are still working with paper plans. Beyond that, local conditions play a huge role. A site near wetlands or in a historic district will automatically trigger extra reviews and add weeks, if not months, to your timeline. Understanding this patchwork of local government regulations is critical for forecasting your project pipeline accurately.
How Your Project’s Scope Affects the Clock
The complexity of your project is a major factor in how long the review process will take. A straightforward interior remodel or equipment upgrade will generally move through the system much faster than a ground-up new build or a major structural renovation. Why? Because complex designs trigger more scrutiny. An unconventional layout, a new drive-thru, or specialized HVAC systems require reviews from multiple city departments—planning, zoning, fire, health, and public works could all need to sign off. Each of these reviews adds another step to the process. As the City of Denver explains on its plan review dashboard, more complex projects simply have more boxes to check, extending the overall timeline.
The Impact of Local Jurisdiction Efficiency
Finally, the efficiency of the local government office, or Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), has a massive impact on your permit timeline. Some municipal departments are well-funded, fully staffed, and equipped with modern technology that keeps applications moving. Others are dealing with staffing shortages and outdated systems, creating significant backlogs. You can submit a perfect application package and still face delays simply because the plan reviewer’s desk is piled high. This is an element you can’t control, but you can prepare for it. Knowing which jurisdictions are notoriously slow allows you to build realistic buffers into your schedule from the start, preventing downstream delays with your general contractors and vendors.
What Actually Slows Down a Construction Permit?
When you’re managing a multi-site rollout, every day a permit is delayed, your open date gets pushed back and revenue stalls. These delays rarely come out of nowhere. They’re almost always tied to a handful of predictable factors that can turn a straightforward approval into a months-long ordeal. Understanding what causes these bottlenecks is the first step to preventing them. From the complexity of your build to the nuances of local government, each element plays a critical role in your timeline. By anticipating these common hurdles, you can build a permitting strategy that focuses on clean submittals and proactive communication, keeping your projects on track and your openings on schedule. Let’s break down the most common reasons your permit might be stuck in review.
The Complexity of Your Project
The scope of your project is the single biggest driver of your permit timeline. A simple interior refresh or a signage upgrade might sail through the approval process in a few weeks. But a ground-up new build, a major structural renovation, or a restaurant with a full commercial kitchen involves multiple layers of review, from structural and mechanical to health and fire safety. The more complex the design and the more disciplines involved, the more scrutiny your plans will receive. This is why some permits can take a few months while others stretch past a year. It’s essential to set realistic timeline expectations based on the project’s intricacy from the very beginning.
Navigating Local Zoning and Code Requirements
For teams managing rollouts across multiple states, this is a constant challenge. Every jurisdiction has its own unique set of zoning ordinances and building codes. What was approved without a second glance in one city could trigger a major review cycle in the next county over. Local amendments, specific land use regulations, and even the preferences of the local plan reviewers can significantly impact your timeline. Without deep local knowledge, your team can easily get bogged down in a cycle of comments and corrections, trying to adapt a standard prototype to fit hyper-local rules you didn’t know existed. This is where having a partner with nationwide experience becomes invaluable.
The Quality of Your Application Package
A surprising number of permit delays are caused by simple, avoidable errors. Building departments will not review incomplete applications. If your package is missing a required document, a signature, or a specific engineering report, it will likely be rejected at intake, sending you to the back of the line. A “clean” submittal package is your best tool for a faster review. This means every form is filled out correctly, all architectural and engineering plans are clear and compliant, and every required supporting document is included. Investing time in quality control before you submit is the most effective way to prevent unnecessary resubmittals and cut down your days-to-permit.
Unexpected Site-Specific Hurdles
Sometimes, the land itself is the source of the delay. Your project site might have issues that aren’t apparent until you get into the permitting process. These can include things like unforeseen stormwater management requirements, utility easements that conflict with your site plan, or the discovery of poor soil conditions that require a geological study. For renovations, you might uncover ADA compliance gaps or structural issues that need to be addressed. Thorough due diligence before you finalize designs can help uncover many of these potential problems early, allowing you to address them in your plans rather than having them derail your review later.
When Environmental Reviews Come into Play
If your project site is near sensitive areas like wetlands, coastal zones, or protected habitats, you can expect a much longer and more complex review process. Environmental regulations trigger reviews from additional local, state, and even federal agencies outside of the building department. These reviews are meticulous and can add months, or in some cases, years to your timeline. Projects requiring environmental impact studies or special approvals for things like air quality or endangered species protection demand a specialized approach and a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape to keep them moving forward.
The Reality of Government Staffing
Finally, a factor that’s entirely out of your control is the workload and staffing at the local jurisdiction. Many municipal planning and building departments are understaffed and overwhelmed with a high volume of applications. When a plan reviewer is handling dozens of projects at once, it’s easy for yours to get lost in the pile. This is where proactive and professional communication makes a difference. An experienced permit expeditor knows how to build relationships with city staff, provide clear and timely responses to questions, and ensure your project stays visible and moves steadily through the queue without adding to the reviewer’s burden.
A Step-by-Step Guide to the Permit Application Process
The construction permit process can often feel like a black box, especially when you’re juggling timelines for dozens of locations across the country. Each jurisdiction has its own rules, its own timeline, and its own set of gatekeepers. But while the specifics vary, the journey from application to approval follows a predictable path. Understanding these core stages is the first step toward taking control of your project schedules and preventing unnecessary delays.
Think of it as a four-part system. Each step builds on the last, and a misstep early on can cause a cascade of problems down the line. For multi-site brands, mastering this process isn’t just about getting one permit approved; it’s about creating a repeatable, scalable system that ensures your new locations open on time, every time. Let’s walk through what that system looks like, from initial research to having that approved permit in hand.
Step 1: Pre-Application Due Diligence
The fastest way to get a permit is to do your homework before you ever submit an application. This upfront research, or due diligence, is the single most critical factor in preventing delays. It’s where you uncover the specific rules of the road for each project location. This means digging into local zoning ordinances, building codes, and any unique requirements the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) might have. For a national rollout, this involves confirming land use, setback requirements, parking ratios, and signage rules for every single site. Getting this right ensures your designs are compliant from day one, so you don’t waste time and money on plans that are dead on arrival.
Step 2: Submitting Your Documents for Review
Once your plans are aligned with local requirements, it’s time to assemble your application package. The goal here is simple: submit a clean, complete package that gives the plan reviewer no reason to reject it. This includes finalized architectural drawings, structural engineering plans, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) schematics, and any other required reports or calculations. Every jurisdiction has its own submission quirks—some use a specific online portal, while others may still require physical copies. A single missing signature or an incorrectly formatted file can get your application kicked back, forcing you to resubmit and lose your place in the review queue.
Step 3: The Plan Review and Correction Cycle
After you submit, your project enters the plan review phase. This is where your application is scrutinized by various municipal departments, such as building, zoning, fire, and public works. Each department reviews your plans for compliance with their specific set of codes. If a reviewer finds an issue, they’ll issue a comment or a correction request. This kicks off the dreaded back-and-forth cycle that can stretch timelines from weeks into months. While minor comments are sometimes unavoidable, a thoroughly vetted application minimizes them. Proactive communication with plan reviewers during this stage is key to clarifying questions quickly and keeping your project moving forward.
Step 4: Getting Final Approval and Your Permit
After your plans have satisfied every department, you’ll receive notification that your permit is ready to be issued. This typically involves paying the final fees, after which you’ll receive the official building permit. But your work isn’t quite done. It’s crucial to note the permit’s expiration date and any stipulations about when work must commence. Most permits are valid for a limited time and can expire if the project doesn’t start or show consistent progress. For complex, multi-site rollouts, actively tracking these permit timelines is essential to avoid a stop-work order and the headache of having to re-apply.
How to Get Your Construction Permit Faster
Waiting on a permit can feel like watching paint dry, except millions of dollars in revenue are on the line. While you can’t control a jurisdiction’s backlog, you can absolutely influence your spot in the queue and the speed of your review. Getting ahead of the process with a smart, proactive strategy is the key to pulling your project timelines forward. It’s about submitting an application so clean and complete that it sails through the review cycle, minimizing the back-and-forth that grinds projects to a halt. This isn’t about finding a secret shortcut; it’s about executing the fundamentals flawlessly. Here are five actionable steps you can take to make that happen.
Partner with Experienced Local Professionals
Every city, county, and state has its own set of rules, and more importantly, its own way of doing things. Working with professionals who have established relationships and a deep understanding of the local landscape is a game-changer. An architect or engineer who knows the plan reviewers by name can often anticipate feedback and resolve issues before they become official comments. For multi-site rollouts, this “local” expertise needs to scale across dozens or even hundreds of jurisdictions. This is where a dedicated permit expediting partner becomes invaluable, acting as your seasoned local expert in every market you enter.
Submit a Flawless Application the First Time
The single biggest cause of delays is an incomplete or incorrect application package. Plan reviewers are trained to spot missing information, and most building departments will not even begin a review if the submission is incomplete. A flawless application goes beyond just filling in the blanks; it means providing all required drawings, engineering reports, and supporting documents in the correct format from day one. Taking the time to perform due diligence and quality control on your package before you submit is the most effective way to shorten your timeline and avoid the dreaded correction cycle.
Master Each Jurisdiction’s Unique Rules
What gets you an over-the-counter permit in one county might trigger a multi-departmental review in another. The timeline is almost entirely dependent on the specific requirements of the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). From zoning ordinances to hyper-local amendments to the international building code, the nuances are endless. Instead of learning these lessons the hard way on every project, you need a system to master these rules upfront. This knowledge allows you to tailor each submission package to the AHJ’s exact expectations, demonstrating professionalism and making the reviewer’s job easier—which always works in your favor.
Use a Portal to Track Real-Time Progress
Once your application is submitted, it can feel like it has disappeared into a black hole. Leading jurisdictions are improving transparency with online dashboards, but this still leaves you checking multiple sites for updates across your portfolio. Using a centralized portal that provides real-time visibility into every project is critical for managing a national rollout. A single source of truth for status updates, reviewer comments, and key documents gives you the predictability needed for accurate forecasting. It replaces uncertainty with actionable data, so you always know exactly where each permit stands.
Keep Communication Open and Proactive
Building a professional and respectful relationship with plan reviewers can make a significant difference. This isn’t about calling every day for an update; it’s about proactive, clear, and concise communication. When a reviewer has a question, a prompt and thorough response prevents minor clarifications from turning into major delays. Knowing who to contact for specific issues and how to frame your questions effectively is a skill. An experienced partner manages this communication for you, ensuring your project stays top-of-mind and moves forward without unnecessary friction.
What Are the Most Common Permit Delays?
Even the most buttoned-up project plan can get derailed by a slow permit approval. While some factors are out of your control, many of the most common delays are entirely predictable—and preventable. When you’re managing a multi-site rollout, understanding these potential roadblocks is the first step to getting ahead of them. A delay at one location can have a domino effect on your entire program, pushing back opening dates and revenue projections. Let’s break down the five most frequent culprits that slow down permit approvals so you can build a strategy to keep your projects on track.
Unforeseen Site Complications
Every piece of land has a history, and sometimes that history creates permitting headaches. You can’t see things like poor soil stability, undocumented utility lines, or complex stormwater management needs on a standard site plan. These issues often surface during the initial due diligence phase or, worse, during the plan review itself. When a jurisdiction flags a site-specific issue, it can trigger requirements for additional surveys, engineering reports, and specialized approvals. For a national rollout, this means your standardized prototype might need significant adjustments for one location, creating a bottleneck that stalls your timeline while you gather the necessary documentation.
Environmental Red Flags like Wetlands
Nothing stops a project faster than an environmental flag. If your proposed site is near or on protected areas like wetlands, floodplains, or habitats for endangered species, you can expect a much more intensive review process. These projects often require sign-off from multiple agencies beyond the local building department, such as the Army Corps of Engineers or state environmental protection agencies. Each agency has its own timeline and submission requirements, adding layers of complexity. Proactively identifying these environmental constraints through a thorough due diligence report is critical to forecasting an accurate timeline and budget from the start.
Required Geological or Archaeological Studies
Sometimes, what’s under the ground is just as important as what you plan to build on top of it. Certain regions are known for specific geological risks, like seismic activity or unstable soil, which may require a geotechnical study before a permit is issued. Similarly, if your project is in an area with historical significance, the city may mandate an archaeological survey to ensure you aren’t disturbing important artifacts. These studies require specialists and can take weeks or even months to complete, adding significant time to your pre-construction schedule before you can even submit your application.
Intricate or Unconventional Designs
While innovative architecture can make your brand stand out, it can also slow you down at the permit office. Plan reviewers are trained to evaluate projects against established building codes. If your design includes unique structural elements, non-standard materials, or a complex layout, they will spend more time scrutinizing every detail to ensure it meets safety requirements. This often leads to a longer review cycle with more questions and requests for additional information or engineering justifications. For multi-site brands, it’s a balancing act between maintaining a unique brand identity and designing for efficient, repeatable permit approvals.
Incomplete Applications and Missing Paperwork
This is the most common—and most avoidable—permit delay. Submitting an application with missing forms, incorrect information, or subpar drawings is a guaranteed way to get sent to the back of the line. Every jurisdiction has a slightly different checklist of required documents, from structural calculations and energy compliance forms to approvals from the local fire or health department. A single missing signature or an outdated form can result in an immediate rejection, forcing you to correct the error and resubmit. This simple mistake can easily add weeks to your timeline, all while your project sits idle. A quality control review before submission is the best way to ensure your package is clean and complete the first time.
How Timelines Differ Based on Project Type
Not all projects are created equal, and your permit timeline will reflect that. The scope and nature of your build—whether it’s a ground-up construction, a simple interior refresh, or a nationwide rollout—play a huge role in the number of reviews and approvals you’ll need. A simple tenant improvement might sail through a plan check, while a new build on undeveloped land could trigger months of environmental and zoning reviews before you even break ground.
Understanding these distinctions is the first step to setting realistic schedules and avoiding the kind of surprises that derail opening dates. For construction and development leaders managing a portfolio of projects, this isn’t just about one timeline; it’s about creating a predictable system. Each project type comes with its own set of common hurdles and requirements. New builds often contend with site-specific studies, renovations can uncover hidden code issues, and multi-location rollouts introduce the immense complexity of navigating dozens of different jurisdictions at once. Getting a handle on these variables allows you to build more accurate forecasts, allocate resources effectively, and ultimately, get your locations open and generating revenue on schedule.
Commercial Builds vs. Residential Projects
If you’ve ever heard a friend complain about the months it took to get a permit for a home addition, you already know the process can be slow. Now, multiply that complexity for a commercial space. Commercial projects face a much higher level of scrutiny because they involve public safety, accessibility standards, complex fire codes, and a greater impact on local infrastructure. While a residential permit might take a few months, a commercial permit involves more departments—planning, building, fire, public works, health—each with its own review cycle. For multi-unit brands, this complexity isn’t a one-off challenge; it’s a recurring reality for every new location, making a deep understanding of commercial permitting a non-negotiable for staying on schedule.
New Construction vs. Renovations and Upfits
Building from the ground up is a fundamentally different process than working within an existing structure. New construction timelines are often at the mercy of the land itself. Before you can even think about the building, you might face delays from required geological or archaeological studies, or run into environmental red flags like wetlands or stormwater management concerns. These site-specific issues can add months to your pre-application phase. Renovations and tenant upfits are typically faster because the building’s shell and basic infrastructure are already in place. The scope is more contained, but be prepared for surprises. Opening up walls in an older building can reveal outdated electrical or plumbing systems that must be brought up to current code, triggering additional reviews and extending your timeline.
The Unique Challenge of Multi-Location Rollouts
Managing a single permit is tough enough. Managing dozens across multiple states and provinces at the same time is a masterclass in logistics. The biggest variable in any rollout is the jurisdiction itself. The rules, submission portals, review processes, and timelines can vary dramatically from one city to the next. What gets approved over-the-counter in one county might require a multi-departmental review that takes weeks in another. Without a centralized strategy, your team can get bogged down tracking different requirements and chasing down updates from various plan reviewers. This is where having a partner who can perform consistent permit due diligence across your entire portfolio becomes critical for creating predictable timelines and successful, on-time openings.
Avoid These Common Mistakes That Wreck Timelines
Getting your permit approved is a major milestone, but the journey is filled with potential missteps that can send your project timeline into a tailspin. The good news is that many of these delays are entirely avoidable. They’re the unforced errors that come from last-minute changes, poor communication, or simple oversights that can easily get lost in the shuffle when you’re managing dozens of projects at once. For multi-site brands, these small mistakes can compound into massive revenue delays, pushing back opening dates and stalling an entire rollout. Let’s walk through the most common pitfalls so you can steer clear of them and keep your projects moving forward.
Changing Designs After You’ve Submitted
One of the surest ways to delay your permit is to alter your plans after the application has been submitted. Even a seemingly minor change can force the plan reviewer to start their assessment from scratch, effectively sending you to the back of the line. Complex or unusual designs already tend to trigger more scrutiny and longer waits; introducing changes mid-review only makes it worse. To keep your multi-site rollout on schedule, it’s critical to finalize all architectural and engineering plans before you submit. Lock in your designs to avoid resetting the clock and jeopardizing your opening date.
Communicating Poorly with Reviewers
How you communicate with the plan review staff can make or break your timeline. It’s best to view them as partners in compliance, not obstacles. If you have questions, make them specific and reference the relevant building codes. Vague inquiries or a combative tone won’t get you answers any faster. Every jurisdiction has its own preferred method for contact, so be sure to follow their process, whether it’s through a portal, a specific email, or a designated phone number. Clear, professional, and proactive communication with local officials is a skill that pays dividends, especially when you’re managing permits across dozens of different municipalities.
Forgetting About Permit Expiration Dates
A building permit isn’t valid forever. Most are issued with an expiration date, often lasting for one year. For large-scale rollouts or projects that face unexpected pauses, it’s easy to lose track of these crucial deadlines across your portfolio. Letting a permit expire can be a catastrophic setback, potentially forcing you to re-apply from the beginning under a new and possibly stricter set of codes. The best practice is to implement a robust project tracking system that monitors every permit’s status and expiration date. Know the rules for filing an extension long before you ever need one.
Underestimating the Review Process
It’s tempting to be optimistic about timelines, but assuming a quick approval is a common and costly mistake. The time it takes to get a permit can vary wildly, from a few weeks to many months, depending on the jurisdiction’s workload, staffing, and the complexity of your project. As one builder noted, the process can take anywhere from “2 weeks or as long as 2 years.” For national brands, this variance is the norm, not the exception. Build realistic buffers into your project schedule based on thorough due diligence for each specific location. This manages expectations internally and prevents a single slow jurisdiction from derailing an entire regional or national initiative.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I just use my standard prototype plans for every location? While using a prototype is great for brand consistency, it’s a common pitfall to assume one set of plans will work everywhere. Every city and county has its own unique building codes, zoning laws, and land use requirements. What sails through in Phoenix might get stuck for months in Boston because of local amendments or site-specific issues like soil conditions or stormwater rules. The most effective approach is to treat your prototype as a starting point and invest in due diligence to adapt the plans for each specific jurisdiction before you ever submit.
Is there anything I can actually do to speed up a government agency’s review time? You can’t control a city’s staffing levels or their backlog of projects, but you can absolutely influence how quickly your project moves through their system. The key is to make the plan reviewer’s job as easy as possible. This means submitting a perfectly clean and complete application package that anticipates their questions and leaves no room for confusion. When you remove the friction and eliminate the need for a long back-and-forth correction cycle, your project naturally moves forward much faster.
What’s the single most common reason a permit gets rejected right at the start? Hands down, the most frequent cause for an immediate rejection is an incomplete application. It sounds simple, but missing signatures, incorrect forms, or failing to include a required report will get your package sent straight to the back of the line without even being reviewed. A thorough quality control check before you submit is the single most effective way to prevent this unforced error. It’s a small step that saves you weeks, if not months, of delays.
My project is just a simple interior renovation. How much of this process really applies to me? It’s true that a tenant improvement is less complex than a ground-up build, but don’t let the smaller scope fool you. The core process of due diligence, clean submittal, and review still applies. You might uncover that the building’s existing systems aren’t up to current code, or that the jurisdiction has new accessibility requirements you need to meet. Even simple projects can get bogged down by details, so doing your homework is just as critical to keeping your timeline on track.
We’re planning a 50-store rollout. What’s the biggest risk we need to plan for? For a large-scale rollout, the biggest risk is failing to account for the immense variability between jurisdictions. Each location will have a different process, a different timeline, and a different set of contacts at the city. Trying to manage this without a centralized system for tracking progress and requirements is a recipe for delays. The real challenge isn’t getting one permit; it’s creating a repeatable, predictable process that works across dozens of different municipalities at once.