Large Retailer Saves 3 Weeks in Laguna Niguel, California

The Permit Place team recently completed a permit expediting project for a 2,500-square-foot Kohl’s department store in a Laguna Niguel, California shopping center. The project included several unique challenges we were able to overcome to save weeks on building permit approvals. 

Challenge

At Permit Place, our due diligence process involves identifying key project contacts at the outset, understanding major sticking points in the submittal process, and thoroughly researching and documenting all project-specific details. This approach ensures that we can proactively tackle any challenges that may arise during the permitting process.

The renovation construction project for Kohl’s Department Store required a building permit from the City of Laguna Niguel. One of the first challenges we identified early on was the AHJ requires in-person submittals and comment pickups, which adds time and complexity to the overall process. 

Project Win

Despite the challenges posed by the AHJ’s in-person requirements, Permit Place got approval to FedEx the submittals for revisions, allowing us to maintain efficient communication with the AHJ without the need for frequent in-person visits. The first-round revision addressed all comments, underscoring the value of our due diligence research.

Our project team remained in close contact with the Laguna Niguel plan checkers throughout the review process. We initially estimated a 16-week turnaround time. Kohl’s was very pleased when approvals took just 13 weeks despite client project team dynamics resulting in seven weeks for drawing revisions.

Permit Place’s dedication to due diligence, innovative problem-solving, and close collaboration with the AHJ allowed us to overcome the challenges faced during the permitting process for Kohl’s Department Store in Laguna Niguel, California. Our ability to expedite the plan check process resulted in a significant project win, enabling our client to move forward with their renovation project swiftly and efficiently.