How Long Do Entitlements Really Take, and How to Speed Them Up
ASK:
Everyone says entitlements take forever. What’s realistic?
ANSWER:
Ask any developer what keeps them up at night and entitlements are usually at the top of the list. Why? Because they take time, and time is money.
But how long do they really take?
The short answer: 3–9 months is typical. But the truth is, entitlement timelines are driven by three main factors:
- Jurisdiction capacity: Some cities process fast; others are understaffed and backlog reviews.
- Project complexity: A simple administrative approval could take 2-6 weeks or conditional use permit 4-12 months. A planned development or rezoning with community opposition can stretch well over a year.
- Stakeholder alignment: The more stakeholders (fire, utilities, neighbors, planning staff), the longer it can take to get consensus.
We’ve seen projects move in two months, and others take two years. What’s the difference? Preparation and clearly defining the exact process during due diligence.
Why Entitlements Drag Out
Delays often come from avoidable mistakes:
- Submitting incomplete applications
- Triggering multiple rounds of “additional information required”
- Ignoring staff feedback before public hearings
- Waiting to address community concerns until opposition has hardened
These are process problems, not city problems. And that means you can actually do something about them.
How to Speed Them Up
At I&D Consulting, we speed up entitlement timelines not by cutting corners but by front-loading the work:
- Pre-application meetings: Sitting down with planning staff early to understand requirements and priorities.
- Full submittal packages: Submitting complete, clean applications so staff can process without extra back-and-forth.
- Stakeholder prep: Meeting with fire, utilities, and public works before plans are official, so their feedback is already integrated.
- Community outreach: Anticipating concerns and building support before the hearing.
These strategies turn entitlements from a guessing game into a managed process.
The Real Cost of Time
If you think of entitlements as “just another step,” you’ll miss how much they affect your pro forma. Carrying costs, lender expectations, and tenant commitments are all tied to your approval timeline. A three-month delay can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
That’s why speed matters. Not reckless speed, but structured speed.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Entitlements typically take 3–9 months, sometimes longer for complex projects
- Most delays are preventable with proper due diligence and complete submittals
- Pre-application meetings, stakeholder prep, and community outreach all shorten the process
- Time kills deals. Manage your entitlement risk early
People Also Ask
1) Why do entitlements take so long?
Because they involve multiple layers of review, public notice, and often political decisions. Staffing shortages at cities can add months to timelines.
2) Can entitlement timelines be shortened?
Yes, by preparing complete applications, holding pre-application meetings, and addressing concerns early. You can’t eliminate approvals, but you can eliminate surprises.
3) What’s the fastest way to get through entitlements?
Engage staff early, anticipate feedback, hire the right design and consulting partners, and treat community members as stakeholders instead of opponents.
