Key facts
- Slow permitting processes are a significant drag on housing supply, adding years to development timelines.
- San Francisco and Miami have the slowest permitting and total project durations for new housing.
- A 20-unit apartment building takes an average of 4.6 years to complete in San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles.
- Permitting delays account for 30% to 43% of the difference in completion times between slow and fast cities.
- Developers pay a 50% premium for land with pre-approved permits in Los Angeles.
- 18 states have passed laws requiring cities to act within fixed permit windows or risk automatic approval.
New academic research is providing empirical backing for state-level efforts to curb lengthy permitting timelines that are significantly delaying housing development across the U.S.
Economists from the University of Chicago and Princeton analyzed 1.1 million permits across 60 U.S. cities from 2000 to 2025. Their findings indicate that slow permitting processes are a substantial and worsening drag on housing supply, rather than just anecdotal complaints from developers. The study quanties that a standardized 20-unit apartment building takes an average of 4.6 years to complete in cities like San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles, more than double the two years typical in cities like Raleigh, Orlando, and Phoenix. Permitting delays, specifically, account for 30% to 43% of this gap.
This research supports a policy push already underway in several states. Georgia lawmakers recently enacted a law setting a 45-day deadline for initial permit reviews, with plans for further legislation to shorten final plat review times. Texas has implemented a strict 30-day deadline for plat-review, with automatic approval if missed.
Florida has also seen legislative action, with the Live Local Act allowing developers to bypass local zoning hearings. Milhaus, an apartment developer, reported a 14-month project completion in Manatee County under this act, though they still found the process relatively long compared to Midwest projects. Even with expedited processes, issues persist, such as in Collier County where private inspectors claim officials have added extra inspections and fees, a stance supported by an analysis from the Florida Attorney General's office.
California is also grappling with its permitting processes. San Francisco launched PermitSF in 2025, a new software system aimed at speeding up permit approvals. While initial results for smaller permit types have been positive, the system has not yet been implemented for the crucial entitlement and building permits governing new housing construction, leaving its overall impact on housing supply an open question.