Spotlight On: Helen Callier, Founder & CEO, PermitUsNow
September 2025 — In an interview with Invest: Helen Callier, CEO of PermitUsNow, said that Houston’s permitting landscape requires strategic navigation to overcome bureaucratic challenges. “Before the pandemic, small contractors could get same-day permits through One-Stop at Houston’s Permitting Center if paperwork was correct — in and out in a short period of time,” Callier noted, highlighting how digital transformation created new hurdles for many contractors.
What have been the biggest changes or challenges in Houston’s permitting and construction compliance landscape over the past year?
Before the pandemic, small contractors could get same-day permits through One-Stop at Houston’s Permitting Center if the paperwork was correct — in and out in a short period of time. When everything moved online, approvals stretched to five to 15 days. This destroyed businesses operating on two- to three-day business models. Contractors who could knock on a door on Monday and start work by week’s end now faced 10- 15-day delays with permitting moved online and the in-person One-Stop process eliminated.
The good news: Since March 2025, one-stop service has returned for small projects, such as less than-5,000-square-foot projects without complexity. But Houston’s staffing shortages remain — some departments only have two to three people. Our solution? Start early. Hedge positions. Phase projects strategically. It’s about playing the cards dealt: constant communication with reviewers, contractors, and architects to identify long-lead items and deferred submittals. Whether for billion-dollar projects or $20 million jobs, we get to the table early and stay there. That’s how we win the permitting game for clients who just want to focus on building, not bureaucracy.
What makes Houston an ideal location for PermitUsNow’s operations, and how does the region’s development and business climate set it apart from other markets?
In large cities like Houston, clients want to avoid bureaucratic permitting frustrations. That’s our advantage: we track which departments are understaffed, new ordinances, staff availability, and all variables impacting approvals. It’s Business 101: identify the pain (permitting delays) and provide the solution. Time is money, and building permits are critical milestones for certificates of occupancy — the ultimate ROI when buildings open on schedule.
Houston’s complexity makes it ideal for us. We navigate all moving pieces: city departments, private utilities, easements, TxDOT, CenterPoint Energy, and other organization approvals. Our ideal clients understand delays cost money and time, and their expertise is designing and building, not permitting. We remove that pain so they can focus on their sweet spot. We live and breathe Houston’s permitting landscape, handling approvals while clients concentrate on design and construction. That’s why we’re the right partner: we’re spot-on in a system where others get slowed down by bureaucracy.
What trends are you seeing in the demand for permitting services? What types of development are you noticing in the commercial, industrial, or other sectors?
Healthcare demand remains strong. Major infrastructure projects like TxDOT’s $10 billion-plus North Houston Highway Improvement Project and Harris County Toll Road Authority upgrades are driving development. This spurs real estate, retail, and mixed-use growth, particularly in the East End, downtown adjacent areas, and Allen Parkway, locations where our developer clients remain bullish.
The CHIPS Act and other legislation accelerated the U.S. manufacturing resurgence already underway. If it comes to fruition, projects like Eli Lilly’s planned Generation Park biomedical facility will drive the growth of supporting warehouses, single-family housing (where we work with builders), and retail/clinic spaces.
While HISD’s failed bond program impacted K-12 construction opportunities, smaller districts like Aldine ISD present opportunities. Houston City College and other area community colleges’ projects also remain important for our permitting business. Across sectors, from infrastructure-driven development to manufacturing expansion and education, we’re positioned to handle the permitting needs as Houston grows.
Are you noticing a slowdown in activity as a result of market conditions like inflation, or is business staying steady?
The market continues to hold steady as clients navigate inflation pressures. Following last year’s presidential election, many large contractors and project owners anticipated tariff adjustments and began exploring alternatives, evaluating value engineering options, considering alternate materials, and implementing cost-saving measures to balance rising construction costs. While material prices initially jumped 30-40% during the pandemic with only a partial retreat, tariff threats now risk reversing that modest progress. Despite these challenges, our clients maintain a bullish outlook, actively pursuing opportunities across critical sectors, including healthcare and biomedical projects, K-12 education initiatives, and major government infrastructure programs like Houston’s upcoming $4-5 billion East Water Purification Plant, which is expected to have an aggressive design and CMAR procurement schedule. We’re fully engaged in supporting these water infrastructure developments, focusing on securing timely permits for these essential projects for Houston. Clients continue to carefully negotiate material orders while adapting to evolving market conditions, maintaining strong forward momentum across all sectors. The significant investments in water treatment infrastructure, in particular, represent a substantial growth opportunity for our permitting services as these large-scale projects move forward.
What is your outlook for Houston and your operations, and what are your top priorities for the next two to three years?
Our market priorities start with serving our core client base: H-E-B (Texas’ dominant grocery chain), United Airlines (handling significant airport work), CVS, and single-family homebuilders. We’re expanding our healthcare market share by leveraging our current work on Harris Health’s $2 billion-plus LBJ hospital project, Houston Methodist Hospital, and multiple clinics. In education, we continue supporting K-12 districts like Pasadena ISD and Houston City College projects.
We’re actively hiring, reflecting Houston’s growth as we work to enhance the city’s living, shopping, and entertainment experiences through efficient permitting. Major upcoming projects like the George R. Brown Convention Center renovation (phased), FIFA events, and the Republican National Convention will create additional opportunities.
Houston’s diverse economy — traditional energy combined with growing solar and other green energy segments — provides stability. While focusing on healthcare, education, and single-family housing growth, our primary commitment remains delivering for existing clients while strategically expanding our services to meet Houston’s evolving development needs.
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