County holding up permits

We have a project that the county is dragging their feet for the permits. Another contractor said it took 4 months to get his. We started the install without permits and a neighbor doesn't like the solar so they called the county who issued a stop work order. I have talked to everyone possible about expediting the process only to be told we should have started sooner. It took 3 weeks to move from pending to review. What legal options have you guys seen to speed up the process or help this situation?