Baltimore will now auto-issue certain permits in an effort to cut down on wait times and streamline the city’s permitting process.
The new auto-issue feature is an upgrade to Baltimore’s online permitting platform, Accela.
“Simple” permits that do not require city staff to conduct a technical review or plan examination are now eligible for auto-issue as long as applicants submit complete and accurate materials.
City officials estimate that about 20 percent of all permit applications will be issued instantly after applicants submit the necessary information.
The new feature will allow city staff to focus on more complex applications that require review, which will reduce the wait times for those applications as well.
Applicants will receive automated notifications to keep them up-to-date on the status of their permit application.
The city has also launched a new dashboard updated daily with information about permit volumes, review times, and system performance.
Baltimore transitioned to the Accela permitting system earlier this year. Since then, the city has launched a multi-agency team to identify and resolve issues, retrain staff, and improve the system.
City officials said they reduced the intake bottleneck by more than 70 percent between June and July.
