Important Update: City of Austin Removes Restaurants & Medical Offices from the 7-Day Review Program
The City of Austin has officially updated its 7 Business Day Review Checklist, and the change is significant for anyone opening a restaurant, medical office, or dental/veterinary clinic. In the updated August 7, 2025 form, these uses now include an asterisk stating:
*“Change of use must be submitted through 15-day review application.” — 7-Day Review Permit Checklist, updated 8/7/25
Because majority of restaurant and medical TI projects are change-of-use, these project types are now effectively excluded from the 7-day program. They will default to the 15-Business-Day Standard Review.
Why This Matters
1. Longer Approval Timelines
Your permit review time doubles—from 7 days to 15 days.
2. Higher Likelihood of Additional Reviews
Restaurants and medical offices typically trigger:
Health review
Industrial Waste review
Mechanical/ventilation complexity
Plumbing fixture load review
Occupant load increases
…all of which make them incompatible with fast-track workflows.
3. Expedited Review Is Still Possible—but Costly
You can expedite a 15-day review, but the City charges substantial additional fees to accelerate the process.
Standard 15-Day Review vs. Expedited Review (With Fee Estimates)
Below is a simplified comparison using the official 2025 fee schedules you provided.
Typical Project Example:
Commercial TI, 1,501–5,000 sq ft (restaurants and medical offices usually fall here)
Comparison Table
Standard vs Expedited Review Fees (Charged by City)
Standard Review Fees:
Site Plan Exemption: 1K ~ 2K
Plan Review: 2.5K ~ 4K
Building Permit: 1K ~ 2K
Total = 4.5K ~ 8K
Key takeaway:
Expediting does not replace standard fees—it adds several thousand dollars on top of them.
Need Help Navigating Austin Permitting?
At M41 Studio, we specialize in restaurant, medical, and commercial interior permitting throughout Austin and Central Texas. We stay on top of policy changes like this to ensure projects move smoothly without surprises. If you have questions about your project—or want help preparing a permit set that avoids delays—reach out to M41 Studio anytime. We’re happy to guide you through the process and help you open faster and with confidence.
[REFERENCES]
City of Austin Commercial Plan Review Fees
City of Austin Commercial Expedited Review Fees