Permitting FAQ

The permitting process typically takes about 60 days on average, though the timeline varies by jurisdiction.

Realm handles permit submittal directly for franchisees using our services. If you're not using Realm for this, you're responsible for submitting the application yourself.

The most common cause of permitting delays is submitting incomplete plans, so it's worth having a professional confirm everything required is included before submission. Delays also happen when waiting to finalizing every personal design choice. The city doesn't need to see your tile color selection, only your General Contractor does. Realm works with the architect and engineers to get the permit set ready first, so we can submit early and separately from your bid set for contractors.

Yes, permit timing varies significantly by city, county, and state. It also varies by time of year, depending on how many permit requests a jurisdiction is processing at once.

If a permit application is rejected or sent back for revisions, you'll have a chance to make the necessary changes. Depending on what's needed, the plans may or may not need to go back to the architect; revisions can range from something minor, like an incomplete address, to something larger, like adding a restroom to meet occupancy requirements.

No, construction cannot begin before all permits are approved. If the city discovers construction started early, they can issue a stop-work order, require demolition of completed work, charge re-inspection fees, and delay your opening.

The architect and engineers draft the plans before they're submitted to the city. Once submitted, they're not involved further unless a change is required and the plans need to go back to them.

Yes, permit fees are the franchisee's responsibility. They vary widely by city, but expect roughly 1–5% of total project valuation. Resubmissions don't cost extra unless the plans repeatedly fail to address the city's corrections.

Realm tracks permit status with a project management software through each stage: contacted, application started, first review, revisions, second review, and approved. If a permit sits in any stage too long, we follow up with the city or whoever it's waiting on to keep it moving.

A franchise buildout typically needs three permits: a building permit, a signage permit, and a fire sprinkler permit. Realm submits the building permit as part of our services. The signage permit needs to be submitted by the signage company, and the fire sprinkler permit needs to be submitted by the contractor or subcontractor.

Yes, franchisees can manage permitting on their own, but it takes time to learn each jurisdiction's requirements and stay on top of reviews and revisions. That's the piece Realm handles for franchisees who use our services: we submit the permit set, track its status through every stage, and follow up on stalled reviews so the timeline doesn't slip.