A Day in the Life of a Permit Expediter: Insights from Construction Edge

A Permit Expediter never experiences a mundane moment, especially when working in the field, traveling between various municipal departments to ensure that your company’s permits are handled as expeditiously as possible. Since the daily activities of Permit Expediters might be elusive to many, even those involved in design and construction, we at Construction Edge have resolved to elucidate the perplexing world of permit expediting.

We spent a day with James Smith, a Senior Project Manager at Construction Edge, to uncover the regular duties of a Permit Expediter. With an education in Architecture and Building Design, Smith has deep insights into the permitting process. He deals solely with projects in Los Angeles, often spending his day at the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Below, we’ve detailed Smith’s typical workday.

7:30 AM Smith gets to LADBS to pull a ticket and secure a prime spot in the queue for a counter plan check meeting. While awaiting his turn, he keeps up with emails and aligns with the LA team, ensuring a unified understanding of the day’s agenda.

8:00 AM Smith accomplishes the counter review, getting approval on an interior alteration for a small retail store. This approval came quickly, as all prerequisites had already been handled, and only a few items from the structural engineer were pending.

8:30 AM Smith confers with the Building Department to finish a prearranged plan check meeting for a previously submitted project. At this meeting, he scrutinizes a client’s architectural and structural plans with the Plan Reviewer. He answers particular questions about wall details and provides further clarification as needed. The meeting concludes with a request for additional items, which Smith records to communicate to the client.

9:30 AM Smith returns to the Construction Edge office in Beverly Hills to write a succinct update regarding the earlier meeting, sending it to the architect and client. He also briefs the LA team by adding notes to their comprehensive database.

10:00 AM Upon receiving a due diligence request, Smith starts the process by investigating property records tied to the project’s location. He researches the specific zone and use of the site and plans a meeting with a Building and Safety department contact to confirm some details.

11:00 AM Smith assembles his findings into a Due Diligence document, preparing to send it to the client once the remaining details are confirmed later in the day.

11:30 AM Quick lunchtime!

12:00 PM Back at his desk, Smith attends to several vital emails, including one about corrections for a project and another from a client with a proposal for a new tenant improvement project. He then prepares the necessary documents and plans.

1:00 PM After prepping for the afternoon and the following day, Smith heads back to LADBS for additional meetings. He documents the outcomes for the company records and updates clients accordingly.

4:00 PM With input from City representatives, Smith identifies the overall requirements for the permitting process. He follows up on pending projects and secures the plans and corrections noted earlier.

4:30 PM As City Departments wind down, Smith consolidates the day’s results, sending detailed updates to clients and the team. He organizes project progress details and completes his daily tasks, preparing materials for the next day.

5:30 PM Home to family and gearing up for another thrilling day with Construction Edge!

James Smith has been a part of Construction Edge for two years, working on projects ranging from the $1 billion Century City mall overhaul to numerous interior tenant enhancements.

smith’s Day illustrates that a Permit Expediter’s role demands adaptability and organization. They must swiftly respond to varying needs, understand the complexities of building plans and documents, and effectively convey clients’ goals to the city. Strong communication and regular updates to teammates and clients are vital.

In summary, the life of a Permit Expediter is far from monotonous. At Construction Edge, we navigate each unique project strategically, utilizing our architectural, design, and construction management backgrounds to tackle unexpected challenges throughout the process.

Reach out to Construction Edge at (+1) 626 470 4946 for a personal consultation with an experienced Permit Expediter.

ABOUT CONSTRUCTION EDGE: Construction Edge Inc., headquartered in CA, is a comprehensive permit, entitlement consulting, and expediting firm. We exceed mere plan submissions, as some might have experienced with previous expediters. Having built solid relationships with officials across various municipalities, we implement strategies that save time and cost, striving to secure all permits as promptly as possible. We diligently manage the permitting process, ensuring the project receives attention from the entire team, and maintaining open lines of communication with jurisdictions, consultants, and clients. Contact us today for a consultation.