The Permit Dropped. Now What?
How to guide your client through the most common false start in construction.
Everyone gets excited when the permit hits. The owner breathes a sigh of relief. The builder’s phone lights up. Momentum kicks in, and suddenly, it feels like we’re off to the races.
But just because the permit is in doesn’t mean the project is ready.
This is a pressure point. And if you’re part of the project team, especially client-facing, this is your moment to step in. The owner’s excited. Maybe even anxious. And if no one resets expectations, the project can veer off course fast.
This isn’t about stalling. It’s about steering. If you’re the one who sees that coming, here’s how to say it:
1. Permit Set ≠ Construction Set The drawings used for permitting are designed to satisfy the building department, not to coordinate every detail needed for construction. They're usually incomplete, often conflict-ridden, and not safe to build from.
Think of them as the concept. Not the plan.
How to say it: “The permit set got us through approvals, but it’s not the version we want to build from. If we start here, we’re building with missing pieces—and that creates friction we can avoid.”
2. Fast Start = Expensive Mistakes Pushing forward before the team is aligned creates chaos:
Site crews asking constant questions
Owners making decisions on the fly
Builders stuck interpreting intent in real time
That reactive mode kills momentum. It wastes time, drains energy, and puts pressure on relationships that haven’t even had a chance to settle.
How to say it: “When we move too fast, the job turns into a series of reactions. Questions from the field. Pressure on decisions. It costs more and runs less clean. We can do better than that.”
3. Redefine What Ready Looks Like The permit is a milestone, not a green light. Readiness happens when:
CDs are complete and coordinated
The builder has reviewed and signed off
Scope is reconciled with budget
The owner has made the key decisions, not deferred them
That’s the signal to go. That’s when the project moves clean.
How to say it: “We’ve hit an important milestone—but the green light comes when the team is synced, the builder’s weighed in, and the big decisions are already behind us. That’s when we really move.”
4. Don’t Call It a Delay. Call It Protection Most owners don’t want to wait. But what they really don’t want is rework, busted budgets, or blown schedules. Make it clear this isn’t about slowing the project down. It’s about protecting their investment, their time, and their experience.
Framed that way, they usually get it.
How to say it: “This isn’t about holding back. It’s about protecting the outcome. A little more prep now keeps us from scrambling later—and that’s how we keep things on track.”
5. Give Them a Checklist, Not a Warning Don’t say “we shouldn’t start.” Say, “Here’s what needs to be true before we do.” That small shift keeps the tone collaborative and focused on solutions.
Example checklist:
Final CDs
Documented scope
Builder buy-in
Owner approvals
Once those pieces click, construction doesn’t just begin. It hums.
How to say it: “Here’s what needs to be true before we start: full CDs, scope confirmed, builder alignment, and owner approvals. Once those are locked, we’re not figuring it out—we’re executing.”
These moments take tact. But if you lead with clarity and confidence, your client will feel it. And so will the rest of the team.
Say it early. Say it well. The project will thank you later.