Quick answer
A permit expediter manages the process: forms, filing, scheduling and follow-up with the building department. An engineer designs the project, prepares and seals the drawings and calculations, and answers technical plan review comments. If your permit needs sealed drawings, you need an engineer. An expediter helps most on complex, multi-agency projects in busy cities.
Clients often hire an expediter hoping it will speed up approval, then find the delay was technical: the drawings needed changes only an engineer could make.
What an expediter does
- Prepares and files applications and forms
- Tracks status and follows up with reviewers
- Coordinates approvals from several agencies
- Knows local procedures and who to call
What an engineer does
- Designs the structure or systems to meet the code
- Prepares and seals drawings and calculations
- Answers technical comments and revises the design
- Takes professional responsibility for the work
Which do you need?
- Simple residential permit with engineering: an engineer is usually enough. Most homeowners and contractors file themselves.
- Complex commercial projects or big-city multi-agency approvals: an expediter and an engineer working together.
- Stuck on technical comments: an engineer, because only the design professional can resolve them.
How we keep permits moving
We answer plan review comments directly, quickly and at no extra charge until approval, and we work alongside your expediter or contractor where you have one. See how to respond to plan review comments.
What to send us
- Your drawings and any comment letters
- Project address and a description of the work
Common questions
Is a permit expediter worth it?
On complex projects in busy jurisdictions, often yes. On a simple residential permit, the cost rarely pays off.
Can an expediter stamp drawings?
No. Only a licensed engineer or architect can seal drawings.
Can an expediter make the city approve faster?
They can keep things moving and avoid procedural mistakes, but they cannot skip review or fix technical issues.
Who files the permit if I hire an engineer?
Usually the owner or contractor files, with the engineer’s sealed drawings. In some cities, such as New York, the design professional files.