How far ahead to order service for a new office
What drives the lead time at a new address, why a build can run 60 to 90 business days, and a working timeline back from move-in.
When should you start ordering?
Start as soon as the new address is realistic, not once the lease is signed. Where the building already has the right infrastructure, an install can be quick. Where new fiber has to be built into the premises, it commonly takes 60 to 90 business days, and permits or landlord approvals can push it well past that.
What drives the lead time
| Situation at the new address | Typical lead time | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Existing service you are taking over | Days to a few weeks | Mostly paperwork and a router swap |
| Fiber already in the building | Two to six weeks | Riser cabling and a scheduled engineer visit |
| Cable or fixed wireless serving the block | Two to six weeks | Drop installation and equipment delivery |
| New fiber build to the premises | Commonly 60 to 90 business days | Design, permits, construction crews, weather |
| Build needing street work or a road crossing | Longer, sometimes considerably | Municipal permits and utility coordination |
A working timeline
6 months out — check serviceability
Before the lease is final. What serves a building is a real factor in choosing one, and it is far cheaper to know now.
4 months out — get quotes and lead times together
Ask every provider for an estimated install window in writing alongside the price. The fastest option and the cheapest are rarely the same.
3 months out — sign the order
This is where the 60 to 90 business day clock realistically needs to start if construction is involved.
6 weeks out — confirm the site survey happened
A survey that has not been scheduled is the most common cause of a date slipping quietly.
2 weeks out — confirm equipment and access
Delivery address, building access, riser permits, and who will let the engineer in.
Move week — test before you disconnect
Run the new circuit properly for a few days. Only then set the disconnect date at the old address.
What quietly adds weeks
- Landlord or building-management approval for riser access and rooftop equipment
- A site survey that finds no usable entry point into the building
- Municipal permits for any work in the street or sidewalk
- Waiting on a letter of authorization so a provider can order from another network
- Your own signature sitting in an approval queue
- Ordering a phone port and a new circuit as separate, uncoordinated jobs
If the date is already tight
A temporary connection — fixed wireless or a bonded cellular link — can carry a small office for a few weeks while a fiber build completes. It is not a substitute for the permanent circuit, and it will not match it for upload, but it beats opening an office with no connectivity. Ask whether it can run month to month so it does not become a second contract.
If construction turns out to be involved, read when construction is required before you commit to a move-in date.
Lead times vary by provider, by building and by municipality. Use these ranges to plan, and rely on the estimated date your provider gives for your specific address.
Last reviewed September 14, 2026
