Oregon to Pursue Nation’s First Statewide Online Permitting Service

“Oregon’s first-in-the-nation statewide e-permitting will save businesses time and money,” Governor Kulongoski said.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - The next step in Governor Kulongoski’s regulatory streamlining initiative will make purchasing a construction permit or scheduling an inspection as easy as a few clicks of your computer mouse.

The state’s Department of Consumer and Business Services Building Codes Division is partnering with business and local government to develop an online one-stop construction e-permitting system -- www.BuildingPermits.Oregon.gov

The new effort would build on the success of the department’s existing e-permitting project and expand the range of building department services currently offered online.

The ultimate goal is to allow both businesses and individuals to conduct building department business, including applying, paying, and receiving building permit approval, online morning, noon and night, with any city or county in the state.

“By creating a user-friendly business environment, we’ll continue to create good, living wage jobs and keep our economy strong and competitive” the Governor said.

Oregon would become the first state in the nation to make electronic permitting available to the construction industry throughout the state. The project underscores the governor’s commitment to streamline state regulatory processes. In recognition of the importance of regulatory streamlining to state and national economies, the federal government earlier awarded DCBS a $250,000 appropriation to pursue the project.

“Our customers already appreciate the easy access to building permits and will find it even more useful when they are able to quickly access all jurisdictions at all times,” stated Cory Streisinger, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “This new effort shows industry and the nation that Oregon is open for business.”

In May 2005, the state launched an e-permitting pilot project and Web site, www.BuildingPermits.Oregon.gov to allow contractors to apply and pay for simple permits from multiple Portland metro-area building departments.

Two significant players in Oregon’s construction business applaud the pursuit of a statewide electronic permitting system.

“The state’s pilot e-permitting site is a great demonstration of how services can be delivered,” notes Larry Sitz, president of Emerick Construction, a commercial building contractor. “But the services are not available statewide. Electronic access to local services would not only save the construction industry time and money, but also accelerate our ability to meet the needs of Oregon’s economic growth.”

Stan Heil of Heil Electric in Portland echoes the praise, “E-permitting is a significant step forward for industry and the state. It continues Oregon’s push to streamline the permitting process while maintaining high standards for the public. E-permitting will keep Oregon on the forefront of an innovative construction industry.”