In March 2020, the City was forced to hastily move its application and appointment system online, and was quite inefficient for some time. More recently in March 2021, the City switched over to a new, streamlined virtual portal for appointments, aiming to simplify and speed up the process. The Building and Code Enforcement staff have told our office that they’re currently working through their large backlog. By mid-2021, operations are planned to be on track. As an office we’ll be monitoring this progression closely, and hope that the permit process will be streamlined as advertised!
For more information on how to obtain a permit, check out our FAQ article: https://help.sjd10.com/support/solutions/articles/66000485741-how-do-i-get-a-permit-for-my-project-
Beyond the City’s systems, plan resubmissions are the most common cause of delays in the permitting process, triggered by applications containing errors or lacking required information. By double-checking your plans before submitting and speaking with your architect, you can increase the likelihood of receiving an approval the first time around.
If you’ve scheduled an appointment but have decided to abandon your project, please cancel your appointment with City staff. This will allow other residents down the line to receive appointments earlier.