Why Permitting Delays Kill Deals & How LPS Can Help You Avoid Them

Understanding the Hidden Risks of Red Tape in East End Real Estate

In the high-stakes world of building, buying, and renovating in the Hamptons, time is more than money... it’s opportunity. Missing a key window to start construction, close on a deal, or finish a project can have serious consequences. One of the most common culprits behind these missed opportunities? Permitting delays.

Permitting might seem like a small step in a much larger project timeline, but when it’s not handled correctly or on time, it can unravel the entire deal. Whether you’re a homeowner trying to schedule work around the seasons, a contractor lining up crews, or a real estate professional trying to close before the quarter ends, a single holdup in the permitting process can stop everything.

Why Permitting Delays Are So Common on the East End

Municipalities like East Hampton, Southampton, and Sag Harbor all have their own building departments and local zoning regulations. These municipalities are known for their strict oversight, preservation-focused policies, and multi-layered review processes.

Common sources of delay include:

• Incomplete or incorrect permit applications

• Missing or outdated surveys

• Projects requiring variances or special board approval

• Proximity to wetlands or protected areas triggering environmental reviews

• Unanticipated backlogs at the town level

• Failure to close out old permits before new applications are submitted

Even small mistakes, like a mislabeled plan or a missing engineer’s stamp, can add weeks to your timeline.

How Permitting Delays Kill Deals

• Real estate deals fall through when buyers discover open permits or missing certificates of occupancy during due diligence.

• Construction delays drive up costs as subcontractors move on to other jobs and materials arrive before work can begin.

• Financing can collapse if a lender requires approved permits as a condition for disbursement.

• Homeowners lose entire seasons for outdoor construction, like pools or patios, because the window to start closes before approvals are in place.

• Buyers walk away when legalizing unpermitted work becomes a condition of sale.

In many cases, these issues arise not from the project itself—but from an unclear or poorly managed permitting process.

How LPS Keeps Your Deal on Track

At Land Planning Services, we specialize in preventing delays before they start. Our team handles the full permitting process from beginning to end with an obsessive attention to detail and a deep understanding of local codes.

We:

• Review zoning regulations and project scope before plans are finalized

• Identify potential red flags and help adjust designs proactively

• Gather all required documentation, surveys, plans, and supporting paperwork

• Submit permit applications accurately and in compliance with municipality requirements

• Track application status and follow up consistently with building departments

• Represent clients at hearings or board meetings if needed

• Coordinate directly with architects, contractors, and real estate professionals

Our job is to make sure your project moves forward, not sideways.

Permitting delays are avoidable. With LPS on your team, you gain more than a permit, you gain momentum.