Third-party permitting process slow to catch on
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Only three building permits have been issued using third-party permitting since the service began a year ago as a way for the City and County of Honolulu to cut red tape and save time.

The added cost and relative obscurity of third-party permitting have kept many from using the service, despite its ability to drastically reduce the time it takes to get permits.

The city's Department of Planning and Permitting issues about 1,500 permits per month with a constant backlog that means many permits take months to be issued. Third-party permitting allows certified private architects and engineers to review plans for permits. The city then issues permits after the reviewers approve them.

Using a third-party reviewer can cut the time it takes to get a permit in half, or more in some cases, but it also means paying more up front. Construction firms must pay both the city permitting fee and another fee to third-party reviewers.

"The cost of construction is going up almost half a percent a month right now," said Jerry Whitehead, president of Tower Third Party Review. "If you can open 90 days earlier, what's your return? It's a no-brainer. Time is money."

Tower Third Party Review received city certification about six months ago to review building plans and is currently reviewing plans for about 15 clients.

Third-party permitting actually costs less than normal permitting in many cases because so much time is saved, said Karin Holma, a partner with Bays Deaver Lung Rose & Baba law firm.

Holma said third-party reviewers are also able to work with clients to change plans to meet code, something that is harder to do with the city.

David Tanoue, deputy director of the city's Department of Planning and Permitting, said third-party review is especially good for smaller jobs, such as alterations for shops moving into a mall.