Permits are Cool!
Our CEO / Owner, Andrew Fairbairn, wrote this article for the Colorado Real Estate Journal.
Wait… did we just say permits are cool? You bet we did – and we stand by it!
At Service First Permits, getting permits both locally and nationwide isn’t just our job – it’s our passion. Why? Because permitting is the critical first step in bringing bold ideas and visionary spaces to life. From ground-up construction of a new dream home, a simple renovation, a family restaurant, or complex medical building or research facility, permits are the green light to build something that matters.
Permitting is more than paperwork – it’s a culmination of commitment, investment, and time to verify code compliance of any size construction project! It’s the assurance that every project (big or small) is built to code, hazard-free, accessible, and energy-efficient.
Code compliant construction is a human-driven industry inclusive of Professional Engineers, Architects, as well as General and Trade contractors in both the Private and Public Sectors. Establishing code compliant design through a comprehensive permitting and plans review process incorporates a multitude of Professional Engineers and Architects. These educated and licensed professionals are responsible for creating unique, safe, and comfortable spaces and deserve our appreciation.
Construction plans and permits are bringing vison to life, and life to the vision on a human level!
Think about it: every time you turn on a faucet, plug in laptop, blast the heat in the winter, and cool off in the summer, you’re enjoying the result of thoughtful planning, permitting, and construction. Behind the scenes, code compliant construction ensures your home, business, or community is safe and built to last.
The permitting process serves as the construction industry’s verification of code compliance in commercial and residential building proposals – protecting workers on-site, business clientele, first responders, and the people who will eventually live and work in these structures.
Interpretation and enforcement of building code takes patience, effective communication, and successful negotiation while being thoughtful about real world limitations. The Plans review and permitting process ensures code compliance before construction and inspections begin. Implementation of the final design, after build-out and inspections of construction projects, improves the day-to-day life of every person in our society.
Submittal, plans review, and permit issuance allows licensed contractors and subcontractors to perform their trade – building to code and completing the project through the Public Sector inspections process.
The Construction industry is resilient and a major driver in Local, State, and Federal economies. Permits and code compliant construction is economic Development; creating employment for Architects and Engineers, construction and trade workers, and employees of various small, medium, and large businesses. Development also brings tax revenue to municipalities and can modernize existing structures, which adds energy efficiency, improved accessibility, and updated fire life-safety systems.
Developers recognize that permitting is a valuable service, but expect the process to be coordinated on the Private Sector side, and therefore efficient within the Public Sector. Efficiency and predictability are paramount to success when Private Sector investment capital is a necessary driver to create compliant buildings in vibrant, investable communities with a verified and predictable return on their financial commitments.
Tenant finish, renovation, ground-up, and adaptive reuse projects are all common permitting projects, but there are outlier permits too – EV chargers, solar systems, fences, site development amendments, generators, Right of Way Occupancy, special events, and signage are some of everyday projects that require permits. With the addition of timelines, fees, local ordinances, and more – it can get confusing.
That’s where we come in. Permits are our livelihood and we know the intricacies of the permitting process, and how to navigate them to save you time, reduce costs, and avoid costly delays.
Service First Permits recognizes that construction and permitting serve as cornerstones of economic development and public safety. Through involvement in projects of all sizes, our Team demonstrates how expert permit management improves the plan review timeline and supports protection of life and property, helps businesses avoid litigation, and encourages community growth. We remain committed to transparency, education, and public engagement, helping stakeholders understand the plans review processes that strengthen our communities through code compliance.
We believe comfort, safety, and smart design are worth celebrating – and that makes permits very, very cool. 😎
HERE is a link to the full publication.
