State of California now has a ‘Pre Check’ program
Reply
California Legislation proposed to Override Local Zoning in Transit Zones
New York City concise drawing standards
New York City Permit Streamlining
Report on current initiatives in Permit streamlining in New York City, via Burnham’s blog
Going Digital: Report from High Point NC
The City of High Point NC (112k) bit the bullet and made a complete transformation to electronic in August 2015. We went from several legacy systems dependent upon paper plans & permits to total electronic submittal, plan review, permitting, and inspections. We have modules for board cases (zoning, special use variance, etc.) land development (site plan, subdivision), permits, and code enforcement. They are all processed digitally. Customers still have the option to walk-in, submit paper applications, and obtain approvals; however, we convert all paper submittals to electronic form and all staff reviews and approvals are in electronic form. Customers have an on-line portal to submit, monitor progress, and obtain approvals. Inspections can be requested through the on-line portal or through an IVR. Inspectors use laptops & Ipads in the field to research inspections and pull up electronic documents when needed. Permits and COs are issued electronically and pdfs are attached to the record for the customers to download. Customers can submit applications, request inspections, and view approvals 24/7.
We totally restructured and streamlined processes where possible. Where it used to take 5 permits (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing & fire) to construct a commercial building, it is now accomplished with one record and one permit. All the inspections are added to the one record. When the customer obtains their permit, it states the required inspections on it.
Overall, we condensed the number of different permit types to limit customer confusion. A number of approvals were moved to an over-the-counter permit process where a contractor submits on-line and a permit specialist reviews the application to validate the contractor and insure the application is complete and then requests fee payment for the permit. This internal review and request for payment only takes a couple of minutes. Once the contractor pays the fee, the permit is automatically issued and inspections are automatically assigned to the permit record.
These changes not only resulted in improving process times, they resulted in savings for customers. No longer do they have to make multiple sets of paper copies and have a runner to go back and forth…or have someone come down to City Hall to submit and come back to obtain a permit.
To say the least this was a huge culture change for us. The biggest learning curve was with staff and motivating them to change. We are not where we would like to be with changes, but after 2 years it is continually improving. We created a webpage (www.buildhighpoint.com) to guide customers and we are continuing to look at ways to improve it. Internally, our conference rooms were equipped with monitors and each staff member has dual monitors to improve performance and limit paper. Our walk-in traffic decreased dramatically and we are re-thinking how to improve that internal space for the customer. With the data available in the system, we are focusing on reporting and measuring ways to improve workflow performance. With a recent software upgrade, we are looking at a smartphone app that the system provider has that will allow customers to monitor progress, access project contacts, and request inspections. We realize that process improvement is a continuous effort and it is never done. Amazingly, over 50% of our customers submitted on-line immediately after go-live. Now, after 2 years we are about 92% for on-line submittals…that is for all applications (rezoning, subdivision, site plan, permit, etc.) Overall, this has shown to us that the customer definitely prefers digital processes.
Thanks,
Lee
P/S
We are using Accela Automation with Laserfische as the document management system, with the plan review and mark-up conducted in Adobe instead of Accela’s document system. We also have an IVR for customers to call in inspections, but the majority of customers use Accela on-line access which allows them to request a future date for an inspection rather than next day only.
Chicago’s Professional Certification Program
Recently the program has undergone some changes, including a new Debt Check process required by the Chicago Department of Finance as of July 2017. We’d like to provide an overview of these changes as well as reminders of some key components of the program. 
image by Jeff Brown
Applying for Self-Certification Registration
In order to utilize the service, Professionals of Record must have valid Illinois architectural or structural engineering license and have held the license for at least three years. All registrants must take a training class coordinated by the City of Chicago Department of Buildings periodically to maintain registration. When enrolling, all applicants must include a valid Certificate of Liability Insurance with limits greater than $500,000 per claim and $1,000,000 in aggregate for all claims with their enrollment application, and renewing registrants must include a copy of their previous Self-Certification registration.
New applicants must also include a list of eight projects within the City of Chicago (including permit numbers) as the Architect or Engineer of Record or the project architect responsible for production of the construction documents. For projects of this nature, applications must include a signed and sealed affidavit letter verifying status as project architect.
The DOB held its most recent class on November 28th-30th, 2017, however architects and engineers have 12 months after the expiration of their current registration to renew. The DOB issues a new Certification of Completion after each training class is completed.
Fees for new enrollees are $2,500 and class completion includes 21 HSW hours and Self-Certification registration for 5 years, while renewal fees are $1,200.
The Self-Certification Submittal Process
Once registered, the AOR and/or EOR may submit the Professional of Record Self-Certification Statement with the permit submittal documents for qualifying projects. The Statement certifies that the plans are correct and the Professional of Record agrees to correct any code compliance issues that may arise, as well as certifies that they are the party responsible for the drawings.
The process of submitting plans to the DOB follows the Standard Plan Review process, however, the plans are not routed to the City’s reviewers but rather directly to an assigned City project manager for administrative review and Final Approval processes.
Eligible projects include commercial (Mercantile, Business, and Institutional use including schools), and residential projects as well as projects that include the installation of solar panels, solar thermal panels, wind turbines and other green energy initiatives. In addition, temporary structures such as tents have been included in the program. Though these projects are eligible for the Self-Certification program, all green elements must be submitted through the DOB’s Green Permit Process.
Changes to the Self-Certification Process: Debt Check Requirement
The DOB implemented a fully electronic Debt Check process for Self-Certification projects earlier this year. Before permits are issued by any city departments, the Department of Finance must confirm that the property owner or applicant has no outstanding debt. The applicant must submit the Building Permit Applicant Debt Check Request Form prior to any plan submittals to the DOB.
Within 7 days after submittal, the Department of Finance will issue a Debt Clearance Certificate in connection with the project address either stating that there is no outstanding debt for the address, owner, or applicant, or information on outstanding debts that must be resolved. Debt Clearance Certificates are valid for 120 days after issuance and must be included with any permit submittals for the same address.
After resolving outstanding debt and receiving an approval stamp from the Department of Finance, the Certificate must be uploaded with the drawings and forms to the E-Plan system as per the City’s plan submittal process. The Certificate will be validated by a DOB project manager before permit issuance.
Further Changes Planned by DOB in 2018
We will continue to provide updates on the process as changes are made to projects eligible for Self-Certification and to the DOB’s new requirements to be implimented in 2018 once finalized by the City of Chicago. As always, the Burnham Nationwide team is always available to assist with Self-Certification projects and past project research for new registrants.
Indiana targets transparancy in Permit Streamlining initiative
Indiana streamlining in the news
Transparency is a core value in a new Indiana streamlining initiative
Streamlining for Technical Innovation: Los Angeles “Building Forward”
Phased Permitting as a path toward Streamlining large projects
The Permit Expediting firm Burnham reports in July 2017:
Also among its many firsts, the Wilshire Grand Tower is the first project to utilize phased permitting, known as the Parallel Design-Permitting Program, in the City of Los Angeles. Burnham facilitated and expedited permit submittals at the Los Angeles Department of Building Safety (LADBS) using their new phased program that reduces approval times by breaking down the review process into multiple permits issued for smaller scopes of work. Though each permit must receive full approval by the LADBS’s various departments, construction runs continuously once the first permit is pulled, and Burnham was able to use our experience with similar processes throughout the country to assist with piloting the program.
This project also reportedly used alternative means to eliminate the typically required helipad on the roof level.