Case Study: Chipotle builds a scalable multi-state permitting operation with GreenLite

Chipotle cuts permitting delays with GreenLite, achieving 84% zero-resubmission projects

Chipotle, a leading fast-casual restaurant brand, faced significant permitting challenges as it expanded across seven states. The brand's construction team was burdened by the complexity and variety of municipal requirements, which slowed project openings and created unpredictability. Without a dedicated permitting infrastructure or a private plan review pathway, each project required navigating unique jurisdictional rules from scratch. Chipotle needed a single point of accountability to own the entire permitting process and turned to GreenLite for a solution.

GreenLite became an extension of Chipotle's construction team, providing end-to-end permit coordination. Their solution involved a meticulous pre-submission review process to ensure all applications were code-compliant and tailored to each authority having jurisdiction's specific requirements. This approach resulted in 84% of their 19 projects having zero resubmissions, with the first permit being approved in just 10 business days. By managing the entire permitting pipeline, GreenLite provided Chipotle with a scalable, predictable operation, freeing their internal team to focus on construction.

Chipotle