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
