Permitting isn’t just paperwork — it’s one of the most persistent roadblocks in getting new housing to market.
Across the country, builders face lengthy approval timelines, inconsistent requirements, and a growing list of local regulations. Even the best-located sites can stall for months (or years) due to permitting delays, eroding margins, and disrupting build schedules.
In today’s market, speed matters. And builders who understand how to navigate the permitting gauntlet, quickly and consistently, are the ones who win.
The Permitting Problem
Permitting is one of the biggest bottlenecks in today’s development landscape — stalling projects before they ever break ground.
In Washington state alone, builders report average local permit delays of 6.5 months, costing buyers more than $31,000 per home in holding and compliance expenses. That’s capital tied up, margins squeezed, and frustrated teams watching opportunities slip away.
What Makes Permitting So Complex
No two jurisdictions operate the same. From zoning rules to environmental policies, builders must navigate a web of local, regional, and state requirements just to get started.
Many sites require multiple levels of entitlement—zoning changes, use approvals, variances—before a single building permit can be filed. And once they’re in the system, the review process itself is often opaque, under-resourced, and prone to delays.
Even experienced teams can hit roadblocks they didn’t see coming:
- Historic overlays that limit design flexibility.
- Traffic studies that trigger infrastructure requirements.
- Public opposition that slows or halts approvals.
Where Builders Lose Time
Most permitting delays aren’t from poor planning, they’re from information gaps and process breakdowns.
- Incomplete submissions: Missing documents or overlooked requirements mean costly resubmissions.
- Jurisdictional blind spots: Teams unfamiliar with local rules underestimate timeline risks.
- Uncoordinated workflows: When acquisition, development, and permitting teams operate in silos, progress stalls.
These issues don’t just impact one project. They ripple across your pipeline — delaying launches, increasing holding costs, and reducing your ability to respond to market demand.
Strategies for Streamlining the Process
If permitting is unavoidable, then getting proactive is non-negotiable. Builders need strategies that eliminate surprises and standardize execution.
Know The Process Before You Buy
Evaluate permitting timelines as part of site selection. Understanding local review cycles, entitlement needs, and common roadblocks allows you to choose projects with realistic delivery horizons.
Build Repeatable Workflows
Create permitting playbooks by market or product type. When teams know what’s required and what steps come next, they move faster—and avoid rework.
Centralize Internal Visibility
Keep your permitting strategy in sync across acquisition, planning, and development teams. That means one shared view of what “permit-ready” looks like and where each project stands.
Move Faster With Acres
At Acres, we’ve seen how permitting slowdowns can derail great sites. That’s why our platform helps you get ahead of the process, before delays start.
- See the full land picture upfront
Visualize zoning, overlays, environmental layers, and infrastructure from the start, so your team isn’t blindsided mid-process.
- Evaluate approval complexity at a glance
Filter for parcels that meet your criteria and spot red flags—like entitlement requirements or environmental risks—before committing.
- Bring clarity and consistency to every project
Acres gives your team a shared source of truth with visual portfolio management tools and team collaboration features, helping you standardize site evaluation and permitting workflows across markets.
The Bottom Line
Permitting is one of the last manual, inconsistent hurdles in land development — and one of the most expensive when managed poorly. But with the right data and systems, you can move through the process faster, with fewer surprises and better outcomes.
The builders who deliver on time in today’s market aren’t just fast, they’re informed. And they know exactly what they’re walking into.
Get ahead of permitting delays. Explore how Acres helps you evaluate risk, streamline workflows, and move with confidence, no matter where you're building next.
