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The world of permitting and pre-construction is notorious for being complex, oftentimes sluggish and fragmented. For many, navigating the bureaucracy of approvals, zoning and planning is an overwhelming burden. But in Santa Barbara, California, two inspiring young entrepreneurs in their early twenties, Corban Pampel and Tristan Cravens, are changing that narrative.
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Through their company, SB Permitting, they have taken an industry riddled with inefficiencies and built a streamlined, innovative and highly effective system that makes the permitting process as frictionless as possible. While their business has filled an industry gap, the larger story is one about innovation, conscious leadership and a prime example of collaborative partnership — cornerstones of their rapid success.
From opportunity to innovation
For Corban Pampel and Tristan Cravens, SB Permitting wasn’t born out of a long-term strategic vision. Instead, it was a response to an immediate and pressing need in their community.
“It was really just an opportunity that the two of us identified and capitalized on,” Pampel recalls. “At the time, we were both enrolled at Santa Barbara Community College. Tristan had his own business hosting events on and off while I was working for my parents’ design studio.
“My parents had a project that needed a permit in the historic district of Santa Barbara, so I went by the city to see exactly what the process looked like. Upon a brief examination, I came to the same conclusion many do — I didn’t want to touch it with a six-foot pole.”
Faced with a convoluted process and no clear solutions, Pampel approached Cravens with an idea. Together, they realized they had discovered a niche market that was completely unserved. Their initial concept was simple: Provide consultation services to individuals and businesses trying to navigate the permitting process.
“Starting Santa Barbara Permitting was really just acting on a problem we saw,” Cravens explains. “There was no grand vision, no five-page business plan, no ‘marketing analysis.’ The only thing there was were people who said they needed help, and so we did something about it.”
Expanding the vision
What started as a small consulting endeavor quickly grew into something far more ambitious. Pampel and Cravens’ perspective shifted dramatically after a business competition at their community college.
“One of the judges told us that he thought there was so much potential that we were leaving off the table,” Pampel says. “That really changed our perspective because we started wondering just what we could accomplish. The outcome of this was we shifted our question from what we tell people to do, to what we ourselves can do to get a client from ‘I want to do ____’ to a builder breaking ground.”
This mindset shift led to a complete transformation of SB Permitting’s offerings. Instead of just providing advice, they built a full-service operation that managed every aspect of the permitting process. They would not only consult but also manage plans, oversee permits, coordinate with regulatory agencies and ensure a seamless pre-construction process.
“We would no longer be a company you asked how to pull a permit,” Pampel explains. “We would become a company where you could say, ‘I want a house,’ and you wouldn’t have to lift a finger to make it happen. We would manage the plans. We would manage the permit. We would manage the auxiliary bodies such as Edison and Environmental Health and Safety.”
The secret to exponential growth
The rapid expansion of SB Permitting has been nothing short of extraordinary. In a notoriously slow-moving industry, the company has grown at an exponential rate, securing over 50 clients in just 18 months. But what’s at the heart of their success?
“I think the heart of our exponential growth is a desire to innovate and have an impact on the communities we are a part of,” Pampel says. “A big part of what defines us is a client base that feels like they are out of options and out of luck when it comes to creating their dream space.”
For Cravens, the key to their success lies in their deep understanding of what the client truly needs.
“We’re exponential because we have such a thorough understanding of what the client needs,” he explains. “We know where we’re most helpful, and we fill in the gaps. We spot what needs to be done and we do it. We encounter a new problem, and we come up with a unique way to deal with it.”
A leadership style that sets them apart
Both Pampel and Cravens embody leadership styles that complement each other and drive SB Permitting forward. Pampel emphasizes adaptability and flexibility.
“I’d say one of the first words that comes to mind when I think about my leadership style is that I’m flexible,” he says. “I’ve always believed that it’s impossible to account for everything in any given environment or situation, but as long as you are capable of pivoting quickly, you can accomplish anything.”
Cravens, on the other hand, focuses on being a visionary and keeping both their team and clients aligned with a compelling future.
“I would describe myself as someone who really understands the value of being a good visionary,” he says. “It’s important that not only our team members but our clients remember why they’re doing what they’re doing.”
Collaboration with Realtors and industry professionals
SB Permitting plays a crucial role in the real estate industry by bridging the gap between property transactions and the reality of construction and permitting.
“For most of the Realtors we work with, we are that next step in the process for their clients,” Pampel explains. “We can generate plans for a general contractor to bid on, give insight into local regulations, and establish project feasibility and timelines before a client has even closed on a home.”
Cravens adds, “Realtors aren’t really supposed to know a lot about permitting and the details of design and construction — they aren’t walking ‘code books.’ So, we go onsite with Realtors to help provide that certainty and knowledge around home improvements, additions, ADUs and whatever else homebuyers envision.”
An inspiring partnership
Beyond their individual strengths, Pampel and Cravens’ partnership is a key factor in their company’s success.
“We’re very young people,” Cravens acknowledges, “and going into business together allowed us to build up each other’s strengths and shun each other’s bad habits, and really that’s the most valuable part of it. It’s made us not just better leaders but better people.”
For Pampel, their impact on Santa Barbara is deeply fulfilling.
“Santa Barbara is known to be one of the hardest places in the nation to get a building permit,” he says. “For us to be able to make it look easy at times is something that really validates the work and the care we have put into what we have done here.”
A call to action for industry professionals
For real estate agents, developers and professionals in the construction space, the question is simple: How can we rethink how we approach these processes to create a better experience for our clients? The answer may just lie in the kind of forward-thinking, problem-solving mindset that has propelled SB Permitting to the forefront of their industry.
As SB Permitting grows and redefines industry standards, Pampel and Cravens offer a compelling vision of what’s possible when innovation meets action. Their story serves as a reminder that opportunities for transformation exist in even the most bureaucratic and cumbersome industries.
Melanie C. Klein, M.A., is an empowerment and mindset coach.
