It’s about saving time, money, and energy

That one line sums up the PermitUsNow battle cry. In the design and construction industry, those three things — time, money, and energy — are the most valuable currencies. Yet, one of the biggest and most avoidable drains on all three? Submitting a design that’s already outdated the moment it hits the Plan Reviewer’s desk.

Why Our Client Designs Don’t Get Kicked Back

The PermitUsNow staff have worked on projects where even a well-planned, beautifully scoped designs were rejected — not because of bad design, but because it wasn’t aligned with the most recent ordinance or building code amendment. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are — if you’re not working with up-to-date information, your submission is at risk.

That’s why we’ve made it a habit to track code changes closely. For example, the City of Houston releases regular newsletters and alert systems with updates to ordinances and codes. Other jurisdictions do the same. It may seem small, but being on those email lists can save weeks in back-and-forth revisions.

The Hidden Costs of Ignoring Amendments

Most design professionals understand the building codes — but not everyone stays ahead of the changes.

If you build a scope based on an old version of the code, and an amendment has shifted a requirement (even slightly), your design might get flagged. And when that happens, you’re not just getting a comment — you’re getting a delay. One that snowballs:

• Resubmittals take time
• Client trust erodes
• Timelines stretch
• Budgets balloon

How the PermitUsNow Team Stays Ahead (and How You Can Too)

The Hidden Costs of Ignoring Amendments

Here are the simple steps we’ve adopted to avoid preventable rejections:

• Subscribe to your city’s permit and code update newsletters. Most major jurisdictions offer them — including Houston.
• Set a recurring calendar reminder (monthly or quarterly) to review the latest ordinances and amendments.
• Create a centralized resource in your firm or team where everyone can view recent changes.
• Document your scope development process to show alignment with the current code version — this helps reviewers and protects you.

This Isn’t Just About Compliance — It’s a Permitting Strategy

Anyone can be reactive. The professionals who rise are the ones who anticipate. Staying current with building codes isn’t about being a rule follower — it’s about being a strategic partner to your clients. It proves you care about their timeline, their budget, and their success.

In Summary:

If you want to save time, money, and energy on your next project, start with the one step most people skip: staying ahead of the latest building code updates. Design smarter — not harder.

Helen Callier, Founder and CEO, Permit Us Now

PS DM me or call 1-844-PERMIT-4. Let’s make sure your project stays on track: https://permitusnow.com/quote

PPS We received lots of calls and inquiries about using AI to stay abreast of changes at jurisdictions, DM me to learn about tips, insights and nightmares of solely depending of AI for this effort.