Building Division Data

Building Permit Performance

One of the core functions of the Building Division is to issue building permits, which serve as a formal and legal authorization to start construction work on a property. Permit volumes can serve as a proxy for economic activity, and timely permit processing is essential for supporting developers and residents and increasing stakeholder satisfaction. 

The graph below shows how many building permits are issued on time. The Building Division has a goal of 80% of building permits issued within 30 days. The Division has been underperforming this goal over the past three quarters, despite a shift to online permit processing in February. March and April saw a 25% surge in permit applications, likely as a result of the move to online permitting. This may be contributing to permit issuance delays.

The Building Division will try to improve this metric by: 

• Engaging in a strategic hiring push for a Senior Plan Examiner.
• Consulting with a Chief Plan Examiner for input on the performance decline and how we can better reach our target goal.
• Starting in FY27, the Building Division will have funds available to contract with a vendor for third-party plan review services to provide Plan Exam staff with additional support.