Generally, you can only sue IF there was something in the agreement or contract stating that there was some time frame. It does  not need to be a date certain, would have to be *something,* such as a statement that time is of the essence, or that the architect will use best efforts to get the permit as soon as reasonably possible, etc. If there's nothing in the contract, but there's schedule-related correspondence, estimates, or memos pre-dating the agreement being signed, which could have been material inducements to you to sign with this architect, that may be enough. But if there's nothing at all, it would be very difficult to sue, unless you can essentially show fraud or theft of some kind (e.g. architect took your money and never even began working).