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A critical step of any building project is the procurement of permits required for the work, particularly after the adoption of the new building codes. Unless the scope of work is confined to repainting, a work/building permit is needed for almost any project.

The local building departments, along with a host of other governmental agencies, such as the Department of Public Works, the County Fire Marshal’s Office, State Department of Health or Transportation, etc. issue the work/building permits. It is also of paramount importance to obtain the required permits in a timely fashion with the proposed project timeline in mind.

The codes are periodically updated due to various reasons. The “Building Department” staff and the Plan Examiners are familiar with the applicable building code and its latest revisions. They review and approve the construction documents for compliance prior to issuing a permit.

Due to complexities inherited in the approval and permitting process, a separate industry, aside from design professionals, has evolved in New York City, which is referred to as “Expediting”. This industry has migrated to other municipalities in the New York Metropolitan area as well.

The Expediter provides a valuable role in obtaining approvals for the project and securing the necessary permit(s) in a reasonable time. Aside from a comprehensive knowledge of the built environment industry, familiarity with the local building department system and personnel is an essential aspect of this process.

Although, the services of consulting expeditors are very beneficial, the most efficient results are achieved if the design firm has an in-house expediting department or person. The in-house expeditor is an integral aspect of the project design development process and part of the Architect’s team. The in-house expeditor can influence the design to meet the required codes at the initial conception and design development level. The communication during project development circumvents the need to completely re-design if construction drawings are completed and deemed non-compliant by a code official/plan examiner. This is the main reason we here at JRS Architect P.C. have our in house expediting service for our client’s projects.

The role of a knowledgeable and competent expeditor is invaluable in obtaining the required permits and quality of project delivery.