Over 44,000 jurisdictions adopt and enforce building codes and oversee the building permitting process in their respective communities. In the United States codes protect over 95% of our population and serve to regulate our nation's $1.1 trillion domestic building construction industry. Unfortunately onerous permit review systems can cause unnesessary and costly delays. In several instances AIA components have issued studies or statements on the permitting systems of their local jurisdictions. In other cases city leaders have been a driving force behind efforts to improve the permitting system. AIA National Government Advocacy has started to create a compendium of studies, reports, and best practices for component reference and use. The resources that we have been able to accumulate are included on this CD. If you are aware of other streamling efforts, please bring them to our attention so that we may add the information to our available materials.
Below is a listing of the materials related to streamlining reports and implementation that are included on this CD and a brief description of each resource.
AIA Denver STOPP Report, an extensive review of the Denver permitting process that identifies problems and makes recommendations to greatly improve the system. The 34-page document was compiled over four months by AIA Denver and other members of citizens to Streamline our Permitting Process (STOPP). The document is meant to serve as a blueprint to help city officials make changes to its onerous permitting and development process. Also available is a Denver Business Journal article describing the origins of the group and the STOPP report.
AIA New York Zoning Study, a current joint effort of the AIA New York Chapter, the APA Metro Chapter, the Environmental Simulation Center Laboratory and Citizens Housing and Planning Council have formed a Zoning Task Force in order to research innovative development codes and land use initiatives and their impact on the public's perception of the community's quality of life. The goal is to provide the NYC Dept of City Planning with progressive regulatory and administrative approaches employed in other jurisdictions. A copy of a letter announcing the initiative as well as the group's mission statement is included on this CD.
AIA San Francisco City Planning Report, part of a report issued by AIA San Francisco and San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR) to Mayor-Elect Gavin Newsom in December, 2003. The document identifies key problems and makes recommendations for impovements to the city's permitting system
Alliance Report on Streamlining, the final report on the Summit on Streamlining the Building Regulatory Process Through Interoperability (September 24, 2003, New York City) - Details of benefits and steps to be taken by building regulators and the construction and information technology communities to work together to establish a streamlined and interoperable building regulatory system.
Atlanta Building Permit Procedure Primer, a guide to the Atlanta permitting process. This 71-page report is designed to provide information and guidance on the permitting requirements and related review system in Atlanta.
Boston Permit Streamlining Report, formally titled "Management Study and Analysis with Recommendations", this information was compiled at the request of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. This 112-page document provides a thorough review and analysis of the city's permit review system and makes 43 specific recommendations for imporvements.
Chicago Self-Certification Materials, information on Chicago's permit self certification program. The self certification process simplifies and streamlines the permit review process for eligible prjects by allowing the licensed architect or structural engineer of record to assume full responsibility for code compliance.
Honolulu Hawaii 3PR, a set of administrative rules signed into effect on October 12, 2004 by Mayor Jeremy Harris (an AIA Board member). The initiative is designed to significantly reduce the waiting time for permit applications involving large and complex projects, such as high-rise buildings, commercial projects and certain residential projects. The new initiative is called "Third Party Review," or 3PR for short. Under the program, the City's Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) will register qualified private licensed architects and engineers to review building code plans and specifications prepared by other architects and engineers. As of the printing of this CD, information available on the program is limited, but we have included several items: A copy of the Mayor's Press Release announcing the new program, a Honolulu City Council Resolution calling for a streamlined review process, and a newspaper article detailing the plan.
Promoting Responsible Development within the City of Houston: Reforming The City's Building Permit Process, July 2004 Report that reviews the cities permitting process and identifies areas to implement improvements. The report was issued by a 10 member Building Permit Task Force composed of both service providers and users. Included on the Task Force was Martha Seng, AIA, 2004 AIA Houston President and a member of the task group that convened at AIA headquarters in January 2004.
HUD Electronic Permitting Sytems Report, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Report that provides information on technologies that allow for streamlined permit review and makes extensive recommendations on best practices for implementing a technology-based system. Additional information on using technology to improve residential permitting is available at the Partnership for Advancing Technology (PATH) Web site. PATH is a HUD sponsored public-private initiative dedicated to accelerating the development and use of technologies that radically improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance, and affordability of America's housing.
Lincoln Nebraska Streamlining Update (newsletter), the Mayor's Building & Safety Streamlining Committee sent eighteen recommendations to the Mayor's Office for final review. Many of the recommendations have been implemented and others are in the final stage of implementation. The newsletter provides an overview of the city's streamlining effort and progress made in improving the cities permitting process.
Los Angeles Information Bulletins, extensive set of documents provided by the Los Angeles Department of Buildings and Safety on all elements of the city's permit review process and related requirments. Includes such things as department make-up, personnel hiring requirements, guidelines for permit submittals, and many other topics. Because of the amount of material, the bulletins have been divided into six PDF files for ease of viewing and printing. Each of these sections are approximately 100-pages in length.
Permit Streamlining: An Action Agenda for Massachusetts Municipalities, a Department of Housing and Community Development handbook that was prepared in response to requests by some of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth for assistance in making their land-use permitting processes faster and more efficient. It contains a number of ideas suggestions and examples of ways in which applications, approvals and permits can be analyzed and considered. Also included re samples of materials shared by some of those Massachusetts' municipalities that have already begun work on permitting, either because of a desire to serve their residents better or because of a wish to maximize economic development.
Needham Massachusetts
Permit Streamlining Study, a document rooted in long-standing concern among
Needham's
elected and appointed leadership, as well as its property owners and the development
community, that the permitting function in the Town was taking much longer than
should have been necessary, causing unnecessary loss of time and expense. The
report contains numerous recommendations for improving the timeliness, efficiency
and effectiveness of permitting in Needham.
NYC Buildings Strategic Plan 2003-2005, New York City Department of Buildings strategic plan that outlines how the city plans to direct valuable resources toward accomplishing the goals and objectives identified as having potential to transform and streamline the Department. The reports goals fall into five major categories: promoting public safety, facilitating construction and development, setting the standard for integrity, building a modern IT architecture and creating a top-notch professional department. The report indicates that the Department intends to ensure public safety while streamlining procedures and providing the public with easier access to information.
Oregon One-Stop Permitting Project, a 3-page overview of the State of Oregon's plan to create a statewide one-stop permitting system. The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, through the state Building Codes Division, document outlines its proposal to initiate a statewide electronic permitting system that allows customers to easily apply for and purchase building permits, request inspections, submit plans, and process licensing and compliance activities through a single Internet portal.
City of Burien Permit Streamlining Project, report that provides an overview of streamlining efforts that are occuring in Burien, Washington. The 12-page overview discusses recent changes that have already been implemented by the city and identifies areas recommended for streamlining improvement. Pease note that the appendices listed in the report are not included in the PDF on this CD.
Portland Oregon Development Review Process Audit, a detailed analysis the performance of the City of Portland's development review services. These services help ensure that development within the City is consistent with state and local land use and building laws and regulations. In response to periodic public criticism, the City's development review services have been the target of a number of improvement efforts over the years. Most recently, in June 2002, the Portland City Council authorized the Mayor to begin a new effort to streamline the City's development regulations and improve development review procedures. Also included is a separate report on Portland's FY 2003-2004 Regulatory Improvement Workplan.
San Carlos, California Permit Update, provides an overview of progress made in implementing changes recommended to streamline the permitting process. In 1995/1996, the City established a Permit Streamline Core Team (PSCT). The Core team completed a review of the permitting process and made 100 specific recommendations for improvement. 93 of the recommendations were approved and are in various states of implementation. This document reports on the implementation status of each of the PSCT recommendations. Also included is an article that outlines progress made as a result of process revisions.
San Jose Special Incentive Program, an overview of a City of San Jose initiative that provides incentives to the corporate and development community to occupy existing vacant buildings throughout the City of San Jose for industrial or R&D office uses. The program implements a number of services designed to expedite the review and approval of permits for certain classes of properties. Included in the incentives are streamlined review services such as one-stop processes and expedited plan checks. The innovative program also suspends the collection of Building and Structural Construction Taxes for qualified projects.