by Joe Stoddard
It’s a frustrating equation: The more
work a builder has lined up, the less
time he or she can afford to spend
chasing down building permits. The
problem is compounded if combined
with an overall peak in demand,
which can overtax permitting agencies
and lead to weeks or months of
delay. During the current long-running
boom, building departments
nationwide have resorted to moratoriums
on new permits, sending project
overhead through the roof.
The Internet to the Rescue?
Internet “e-permit” services promise
to streamline the permit process and
provide around-the-clock access to
city hall. They paint an appealing picture
of contractors updating drawings
or documents on file at the building
department with a few clicks from
their office PCs, as