How Do I Keep My Real Estate Deal Alive When Entitlements Stall?
ASK:
What do I do when my deal is stuck in zoning and I’m running out of time with my buyer or tenant?
ANSWER:
Entitlements are the invisible deal-killer in real estate. You can have a site, a buyer, and a timeline, and still lose the deal because zoning didn’t move fast enough.
At I&D Consulting Services, we’ve seen it all: planning commission delays, fire department rejections, and public opposition that turns a four-month process into a nine-month stall.
That’s why we build entitlement strategy into the front-end of every engagement. Our team maps every required permit, meeting, and approval so there are no surprises once the deal is in motion.
That’s why we embed entitlement strategy into the front end of every project. Our team maps out every required permit, meeting, and approval so there are no surprises once the deal is in motion.
This is also where the Development Operating System (Dev-OS) changes the game. Dev-OS is our proprietary project management platform built from $450M+ of real-world development experience. It includes:
– Jurisdiction-specific permitting workflows
– Stakeholder accountability tools
– Document uploads and milestone tracking
– Entitlement-to-approval visibility all before you break ground
If your deal is slipping, we can step in fast. Our advisory sprints help diagnose what’s blocking progress, and Dev-OS turns that into a repeatable action plan your whole team can follow.
Key Takeaways:
– Map your permitting path early to avoid hidden delays
– Assign ownership for every milestone in Dev-OS so nothing falls through the cracks
– Use an advisory sprint to diagnose and de-risk entitlement bottlenecks
People Also Ask:
1) How long do entitlements usually take?
Typically 3–9 months depending on the jurisdiction. With the Development Operating System (Dev-OS), we map out each required permit and milestone so you can plan with precision, not guesswork.
2) Can I close before zoning is final?
Every developer has a different risk tolerance.
• Some won’t close until all permits are approved.
• Others close at entitlement approval.
• The boldest close even before zoning begins.
We help structure deals to match your risk profile and track every step in Dev-OS so you stay aligned with your timeline and capital strategy.
3) What documents do I need to submit for planning review?
Each Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) has its own checklist.
Generally, you’ll need at least:
• A site plan
• Elevations
• A project narrative
Dev-OS includes built-in jurisdiction-specific checklists so you’re never caught off guard.
