PwC Stairs Secures 6-Day Demolition Permit Approval in San Jose

Permit Place provided permit expediting services for Skyline Construction on the PwC Stairs project, a stand-alone demolition scope in San Jose, California. The engagement focused on securing a demolition permit for stair removal through the City of San José Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department as part of a broader federal program.

Because the demo scope was tied to downstream milestones, rapid plan check approval was essential. Permit Place managed coordination between Skyline Construction, PwC Stairs, and the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to deliver a clean, review-ready submittal aligned with San José’s expedited review criteria.

Challenges

While fast approval was required, permit issuance needed to align precisely with the construction schedule. The demo permit reached plan check approval well ahead of the intended start of field work, creating the need to carefully manage timing so the permit could be issued when the client team was ready, without triggering premature activity or unnecessary holding costs.

Solutions and Strategies

Permit Place relied on its Due Diligence process and San José–specific experience to route the demo scope through the City’s Thursday express review pathway. Key actions included:

• Narrowly scoping the application to the stair demolition only
• Structuring the submittal to meet express review requirements
• Coordinating directly with City staff to confirm routing and expectations
• Maintaining close communication with Skyline Construction to align issuance timing with the broader program schedule

This approach ensured the permit was approved quickly and positioned for release at the right moment.

Project Wins

• Plan check approval secured in 6 days through express review
• Approved on the first submission with no resubmittals or major comments
• Preserved schedule flexibility by keeping the permit ready for issuance when needed
• Supported federal program milestones through disciplined permit timing and coordination

This project demonstrates how strategic permit planning and proactive AHJ coordination can deliver both speed and control, even for time-sensitive demolition scopes in complex jurisdictions.