Bringing in a pro to stamp your plans really does make a difference—city folks seem to trust that more than anything you can explain yourself. I’ve also had better luck with paper copies, weird as it sounds. Sometimes online submissions just get lost in the shuffle. It’s a pain, but being persistent and organized pays off. Don’t let the first denial throw you off... it’s almost a rite of passage at this point.
Don’t let the first denial throw you off... it’s almost a rite of passage at this point.
Definitely feels like a rite of passage, yeah. The first time I got denied, I went through the plans line by line and made a checklist for each item the city flagged. Brought in an architect for the stamp, then submitted both digitally and dropped off a hard copy (they lost my online one too). Kept a spreadsheet tracking every submission date and contact. It’s tedious but it’s saved me more than once when someone claimed I hadn’t sent something. Paper trails matter more than you’d think.
Honestly, I get the need for a paper trail, but sometimes I think we overdo it with all the spreadsheets and double submissions. I've found that just calling the permit office and getting a name for every conversation goes a long way. People remember you if you’re polite and persistent. I’ve had better luck just walking in and chatting with the staff than trying to keep track of every email or document. Not saying your way doesn’t work—just that sometimes a little face time smooths things out faster than a stack of paperwork. Guess it depends on the city, though... some places are just black holes for documents no matter what you do.
Title: Got Denied For A Permit—What Would You Do Next?
- Totally get where you’re coming from with the face-to-face approach. There’s something about being an actual human in a sea of paperwork that can make a difference. But honestly, I’ve been burned before by not having every single thing documented.
- One time, I thought I had it all squared away after talking to “Dave” at the window—super nice guy, gave me a thumbs up on my plans. Fast forward two weeks and suddenly there’s “no record” of our chat and my permit is back at square one. If I hadn’t kept that email thread, I’d have had nothing to show for it.
- Here’s what’s worked for me:
- Keep a running log (even just on your phone) of who you spoke with and when.
- Follow up every in-person convo or call with a quick email recap—just a “Hey, thanks for your time earlier, as discussed…” That way there’s always a trail if things go sideways.
- Still show up in person when things stall out. Sometimes you need that extra nudge to get past the red tape.
- It probably does depend on the city, you’re right. Where I am, they lose stuff all the time—even physical copies. The more backup you have, the less chance you’ll get stuck repeating yourself for weeks.
- Not saying spreadsheets are fun (they aren’t), but sometimes they’re the only reason my projects keep moving when someone new takes over at the desk and has no clue who I am.
It’s kind of like building a deck—sometimes you just want to grab your tools and go, but if you skip steps or don’t measure twice, it comes back to bite you later…
It’s kind of like building a deck—sometimes you just want to grab your tools and go, but if you skip steps or don’t measure twice, it comes back to bite you later…
Couldn’t agree more with the “measure twice” mindset. One thing I’d add—if you get denied, ask for the denial in writing. Sometimes the reasons aren’t super clear, and having it spelled out helps you fix exactly what they want. I’ve had inspectors contradict each other, so having their notes in black and white saved me a headache. Also, I keep a folder (old school, I know) with every version of my plans and correspondence. It’s a pain, but when they “misplace” something, you’re not starting from scratch.
