Jacksonville contractor Fabian Videla recently discussed the challenges of construction permitting with Kent Justice on the “This Week in Jacksonville” podcast. Videla highlighted permitting as a significant bottleneck in the industry, often causing substantial delays and increased costs for projects across Northeast Florida.

The Problem with Permitting

Videla, a general contractor with over two decades of experience, explained that projects can stall for months after a contract is signed. He emphasized the financial impact, particularly for commercial property owners, stating, “Every day means money,” whether it’s lost rent or a postponed opening date.

Jurisdictional Complexities

The permitting process is complicated by varying requirements across different jurisdictions. “Duval has some forms, Clay County has different forms, St. John’s has different forms,” Videla noted, adding that even neighboring beach cities can have unique paperwork demands. Contractors often spend weeks gathering information and waiting for plan reviews and inspections.

Permit Rockstar's Solution

Videla’s company, Permit Rockstar, is developing a Florida-focused platform designed to simplify the entire permitting process. The platform utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically populate the correct forms with property and product information, minimizing errors and rework.

Streamlining Key Steps

Permit Rockstar also facilitates remote online notarization, ensuring proper witnessing of signatures. Additionally, the company offers private plan reviews for building code compliance and same-day virtual inspections to reduce downtime for construction crews.

Looking Ahead

Videla believes Florida has made progress by allowing private providers to expedite parts of the permitting process. He suggests that a standardized permit application across the state would significantly improve efficiency for contractors. “If they could implement that across the state, it will simplify life for contractors incredibly,” he said.

Kent Justice co-anchors News4Jax’s 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts weeknights and reports on government and politics. He also hosts “This Week in Jacksonville,” Channel 4’s public affairs show each Sunday morning at 9 a.m.