What Does a Permit Expediter Do?

A permit expediter is a professional who manages the permitting process on behalf of a homeowner, contractor, or developer — from preparing the application package to tracking it through the local permitting office and resolving issues that come up during review.

Typical tasks

• Reviewing project plans for completeness before submission
• Preparing and organizing the application package to the local office's requirements
• Submitting the application and paying required fees
• Tracking the application's status and following up with reviewers
• Responding to correction requests or plan-review comments
• Scheduling required inspections

When hiring one tends to make sense

Expediters are most commonly used for larger or more complex projects, in jurisdictions with a reputation for slow or complicated review, or by contractors who submit permits regularly and want to avoid tying up their own time in the office queue. For a very small, simple permit, many homeowners handle the process themselves.

What it generally costs

Expediting fees vary by market and project size — sometimes a flat fee, sometimes a percentage of the permit's valuation-based cost. A local expediter can give you a specific quote based on your project and jurisdiction.

General information only. We are an independent referral resource and may be compensated if you connect with a permit expediting service — see our advertising & affiliate disclosure.

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