What Developers Must Know About Utilities & Entitlements: Step-by-Step Guide - Kristi Kandel

How to Handle Utilities and Entitlements in Real Estate Development What do developers need to know about utilities, entitlements, and site planning? In this episode of Affordable Housing & Real Estate Investing (the top podcast on Affordable Housing Investments hosted by Kent Fai He), Kristi Kandel shares how to navigate permitting delays, utility coordination, and city planning requirements!If you're asking:• How do I get utilities approved for my real estate development?• What is the entitlement process for new housing?• What permits and plans are required before construction?This video is it!If you think development is just about land and loans... think again. In this episode, Kristi Kandel breaks down the real work that happens after you pick the site: negotiating with utility providers, aligning with city requirements, and securing entitlements that can make or break your deal.Hosted by Kent (@kentfaihe), this is a must-watch for developers, consultants, or nonprofit leaders who want to avoid delays, budget blowups, or site plan rejections.🛠️ What You’ll Learn:• What “entitlements” really mean and why they’re crucial• How to coordinate with utility providers & why utility coordination is always more complicated than expected• How cities review, push back, and approve site plans• How to plan utility access for water, sewer, storm, and electric• How do you value engineer the development process during the entitlement phase to lower overall costs and reduce timelines (e.g., what if you can dig the same trench for water, sewer, and power?!)🧠 Key Takeaways • Don’t assume utilities are available just because they’re nearby.• Every utility has its own design and review timeline, build buffer time in your budget.• Site plans must align with zoning and utility reality, otherwise, you’ll redesign and lose months.• Relationships with city staff and engineers are as important as your capital stack.💬 Best Quotes from Kristi“Every developer needs to understand how water, sewer, storm, and electric actually get to their site.” “Entitlement is where theory becomes reality—it’s not sexy, but it’s the work that delivers homes.”Want access to Kristi’s $2,000 Real Estate Development Accelerator course for free?Here’s how:1. Subscribe to her podcast, *The Real Estate Pessimist*, on your favorite podcast app2. Or subscribe to her YouTube channel at [@localrealestatedeveloper](https://www.youtube.com/@localrealestatedeveloper)3. Take a screenshot of you sharing her podcast with 3 friends4. Send it to her via IG or email **[email protected]**📲 Connect with UsDM Kent on IG @kentfaiheJoin our email list: https://affordablehousing.io/waiting-list👍 Like, 💬 Comment, and 🔔 Subscribe if you're building housing and want fewer surprises and more approvals. 00:00 Podcast Trailer02:23 Intro (Getting to Know Kristi: Her Background and Story)07:34 What Are Dry Utilities?  Why They Matter For Development?09:22  Why Do You Need a Transformer for a Real Estate Development Site?11:10 How Long Do Utilities Really Take? How to Avoid 15-Month Delays!16:09 What are the Top Mistakes Developers Make To Getting Dry Utilities Approved?20:17 How to Get Dry Utilities Approved for Real Estate Development (Step-by-Step)24:13 Coordinate Early, Communicate Often or Pay Later In Development!26:33 What Developers Often Gets Wrong About Wet and Dry Utilities 28:46 Trenching Right: How to Save Time and Money as a Real Estate Developer! 33:42 What kind of tools or checklists do you use to help with the utility approval process?37:43 What Quality Questions Should Developers Ask Their Team?48:58 Where/How to contact Kristi?#entitlementprocess #utilitycoordination #affordablehousing #siteplanning #realestatedevelopment #kristikandel #nonprofithousing #urbanplanning #permitting #housingstrategy #kentfaihe