Permit Expediter

Consultants & Advisory

Navigates building permits, plan review, and zoning approvals on an owner's or GC's behalf, a specialized, low-visibility career built for someone detail-oriented who'd rather not work a jobsite.

What is a Permit Expediter?

A Permit Expediter manages the process of getting a project through local building permit approval, plan review, and zoning sign-off, preparing and submitting permit applications, tracking their status through the jurisdiction's review process, and resolving plan review comments so a project can start or continue construction on schedule. Large cities in particular have complex, slow-moving permitting bureaucracies with their own procedures and relationships that matter; some jurisdictions, including New York City, formally require permit expediters to register with the local building department (as a "filing representative" in NYC's case) before they can file on a client's behalf.

What they do

• Prepare and submit building permit applications and supporting documentation
• Track permit and plan review status across multiple projects and jurisdictions
• Respond to plan review comments and coordinate revisions with the design team
• Maintain relationships with local building department staff and plan reviewers
• Advise clients on a jurisdiction's specific permitting requirements and likely timeline
• Manage zoning variance and special approval submissions when a project needs them

A typical day

• 8:00 AMCheck the status of permit applications currently in review across several projects
• 9:30 AMSubmit a new building permit application with the required drawings and documentation
• 11:00 AMRespond to plan review comments, coordinating a revision with the architect
• 1:30 PMMeet with building department staff to discuss an application stuck in review
• 3:00 PMUpdate a client on the projected timeline for their permit approval

Skills

Software

Education

Required:

High school diploma or equivalent; some jurisdictions, including New York City, require permit expediters to register with the local building department (NYC calls this a "filing representative," with two registration classes depending on scope of work) before filing on a client's behalf

Preferred:

Bachelor's degree in construction management, architecture, or a related field

Helpful:

Prior experience working inside a local building department, which gives real insight into how plan reviewers actually think

Not necessary:

A construction-specific degree; many permit expediters build expertise through years of hands-on experience with a specific jurisdiction's process rather than through formal education

Career progression

1. 1.Permit Coordinator
2. 2.Permit Expediter
3. 3.Senior Permit Expediter or Expediting Firm Owner
4. 4.Director of Entitlements (at a larger development or consulting firm)

Who hires for this role