This is a question I get asked by clients often. The truth is, I don't have a concrete answer. When I ask my colleagues, they don't have a concrete answer either. When I inquire at the municipality, they don't give me a concrete answer either.
I believe the most scientific way to determine how long it takes to approve a plan in the municipality is by reviewing the historical data on how long plan approvals have taken in the past.
It occurs to me that we could categorize by project size and type, perhaps something like new construction versus renovations. I'll leave that as an idea for anyone willing to undertake it; all architects and our clients would greatly appreciate seeing the results of such a study.
Now, from my perspective, for the projects I've processed, I dare say I've never taken less than 3 months to approve a plan. Some projects have taken up to a year to approve, so I have to say the average is around 6 months. That's all I'll leave here.
Do you think 6 months is too long? Do you know a way to expedite the process? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.
Regards.