Q. We have a small window of time to redo our kitchen and extend the back room while our kids are away this summer. We found out our permits might not be done by then. The contractor suggested making the foundation ahead of time, since it’s outside and we won’t be disturbing anything or losing heat while it’s still cold. Is there a way we can do the foundation outside and the kitchen remodel while we wait for the permits, since our contractor told us we don’t need a permit for the kitchen remodel?
A. We all wish the permit process took less time. Every aspect of getting a permit adds pressure to our daily lives while we wait. The pressure increases with all the opinions you get from outsiders who can’t imagine why it takes so much time for something so simple. What your contractor is suggesting is a process that in the construction industry is called “fast-tracking,” whereby reviews of the proposed project are broken into parts to allow for scheduling. I’ve only seen this process applied in commercial and large project reviews — never, so far, for a single-family home.
The first project I ever worked on, a six-story hospital wing, was fast-tracked for three main reasons. First, winter was approaching, and the foundations had to go in before the onslaught of bad weather. Michigan winters can be brutal, with no letup. Second, the type of building was a special need serving the greater good of an entire city, and third, the cost of waiting due to financing requirements and infrastructure impact would be economically hurtful, again, to an entire city.
The only time I nearly saw fast-tracking applied to a residence was to facilitate a child born with serious medical issues, and the request was made to set foundations before winter cold set in. Instead, the entire project was reviewed and approved as quickly as possible, still having to meet all codes and restrictions. And that part seems to be most misunderstood about permit reviews. Permits take time because plans and accompanying documents have to be checked. Everything must comply, not just most things.