Getting permits through - hassle or handshake

[Heath Clendenning]

Highly interested in Bakersfield area for SFH and potential 10+ apartment units.

I live in regulation-land, sometimes known as Los Angeles. The amount of time, money, eye-rolling and terrible service is something to behold. 

I am making an uneducated assumption that because Bakersfield is a smaller population that somehow the process will be cheaper and faster... easier? I also expect less tools like Zimas. 

Q: Who has experience in this area with the cities and county? What information can you share? Any good home inspectors? Wholesalers in the area?