Contents
For building officials, rapid community growth brings excitement, new challenges, and higher workloads. Building permit software solutions can help you manage the increasing volume of applications without the overhead of significantly expanding your staff. These systems simplify permit processes and offer substantial improvements over methods like paper forms or fillable PDFs.
In this article, you will learn how digital building permit solutions:
- Save you time
- Speed up your community’s economic growth
- Offer cost savings
- Simplify regulatory compliance
- Improve customer satisfaction
1. Time-Saving Benefits of Permitting Software
The traditional approach to building permits often involves time-consuming paperwork, manual reviews, and significant wait times that frustrate officials and applicants. Permitting software offers a refreshing improvement by leveraging technology to reduce delays dramatically.
Immediate Access and Submission
Applicants can submit their forms and documents online, anytime and anywhere, eliminating the need for physical delivery and in-person submissions. This convenience not only saves time for applicants but also speeds up the initial stages of the permitting process for officials. As soon as a document is submitted, it is immediately available for review, cutting down on wait times and physical storage issues.
Data Validation
Automation in permitting solutions replaces much of the manual input and review processes. For instance, suppose a contractor fills out a permit application in GovBuilt. The platform automatically validates data like the address and won’t allow submission without the correct documentation. When the form is submitted, it’s more likely to be complete and accurate. This saves the building department time when making follow-up phone calls and reduces overall permit turnaround time.
Customizable Workflows
A good building permit software solution can be customized with automated workflows that exactly fit your organization’s processes. This keeps applications moving smoothly without the usual bottlenecks caused by paper-based methods. You spend less time on each application, allowing you to handle more cases without sacrificing accuracy or oversight.
Centralized Data Management
Online permitting systems provide a centralized platform where all permit-related information is stored and easily accessible. This centralization helps you quickly access any information necessary without sifting through piles of documents or multiple software systems. It ensures that all stakeholders have up-to-date information, reducing the chances of delays due to outdated or misplaced data.
Discover how Pottawatomie County reduced permit turnaround time by an estimated 80%.
2. Economic Benefits of Faster Building Permits
Speeding up the building permit process benefits individual projects and significantly impacts the broader economy.
Accelerated Project Timelines
Construction projects can start sooner when permits are processed quickly. This acceleration reduces downtime for developers and contractors, enabling them to move on to new projects more rapidly. Quicker project turnarounds mean more projects completed within the same timeframe, increasing business opportunities for all involved.
Stimulated Economic Activity
Every construction project contributes to the economy by creating jobs, increasing demand for materials, and utilizing various services. Shorter permit wait times mean these economic benefits are realized sooner, which can be especially crucial in regions seeking rapid economic development.
Infrastructure Benefits
Faster construction means buildings, whether commercial, residential, or public, can be occupied sooner. Improved infrastructure, in turn, can attract more businesses and residents, further enhancing your community’s economic profile.
3. Cost Savings with Building Permit Software
Although implementing a building permit software solution involves an upfront investment and ongoing costs, it can save you money in the long run—especially if your area is experiencing high growth.
Avoid Increased Staffing Costs
Time saved on permitting means that your building department can focus on other high-value tasks. Plus, while the cost of permitting software will vary depending on the vendor and your specific needs, avoiding 1-2 new hires could mean seeing ROI quickly.
Reduce the Cost of Paper
Going digital could offer significant savings if your permitting process is currently paper-based. An analysis by MCCi estimates that the total cost of a paper document is 141X more than a digital document.
Increase On-Time Payments
Permit software workflows typically allow for automatic billing. That means your accounting department doesn’t have to send out bills manually or wait for the contractor or citizen to pay in person. Customers can pay quickly and easily if your software integrates with your payment processor (as GovBuilt nearly always can).
4. Enhance Regulatory Compliance
The regulatory environment for building permits isn’t getting any simpler.
For instance, California’s SB 379 (2022) requires most cities and counties to adopt an automated system for processing residential solar permitting applications. But many agencies haven’t implemented one yet, leaving them vulnerable to lawsuits if they don’t process solar applications within seven days. A permit software solution such as GovBuilt would fulfill this requirement.
Other compliance benefits include:
Accessibility Requirements
Across the US, accessibility regulations are gaining strength. In April 2024, the DOJ issued a rule specifying that state and local governments must make their website content, including permit applications, accessible to those with disabilities. While it’s possible to create ADA-compliant PDF forms, it requires a bit of technical know-how. GovBuilt is accessible by default, which simplifies ADA compliance.
Consistent Application of Building Codes
Digital systems help enforce uniformity in how regulations are applied across all applications, reducing human error and the variability that can come with manual processing. This uniformity is crucial for maintaining high regulatory compliance standards, building safety, and adhering to local laws.
Compliance Tracking and Reporting Features
Advanced features in online permitting solutions allow for better tracking and reporting of compliance metrics. Building officials can quickly generate reports to monitor and audit permit activities to ensure all processes meet legal standards. These tools also assist in preparing for audits and inspections—simplifying what can often be a complex and demanding process.
5. Improve Customer Satisfaction
Online permitting solutions significantly boost customer satisfaction by providing faster and more accessible services. This, in turn, positively affects employee morale and reduces stress. Happier citizens lead to fewer complaints and confrontations, making the work environment more pleasant for everyone involved.
Transparent Processes
Building permit systems offer an unprecedented level of transparency. All stakeholders, from builders to local community members, can track the status of a permit application in real-time. This visibility helps reduce misunderstandings and complaints and fosters a higher degree of trust between municipalities and the public.
Enhanced Customer Service
When you speed up response times and processes, you’ll naturally increase customer satisfaction. Satisfied customers are less likely to lodge complaints or make angry phone calls, which directly improves the work experience for employees. This positive feedback loop enhances the overall atmosphere and reduces the emotional burden on staff.
Reduced Employee Stress
Reduced negative interactions free employees from confrontational situations and allow them to focus on more productive and fulfilling tasks. This shift improves their day-to-day tasks and contributes to long-term job satisfaction and employee retention.
Organizational Reputation
No city, town, or county wants to be considered a backwater without modern amenities. When you improve customer satisfaction with digital permitting applications, you can strengthen your reputation as a forward-thinking and business-friendly place.
Learn More
While paper forms and PDFs might have worked for your community in the past, sustainable development requires more sophisticated tools.
GovBuilt’s permitting software combines ease of use with comprehensive functionality. It’s budget-friendly, allowing even smaller municipalities to provide your citizens with a high-tech permitting experience like they find in the big city.
We’re ready to help you tailor our system to meet your community’s unique needs and improve the efficiency of your operations.