Permitting
California city turns to AI to meet housing goals
By automating parts of the housing permitting process, officials in the city of Corona hope to reduce administrative burdens for staff and encourage development among consumers.
Pennsylvania is an efficiency north star, expert says
A permitting reform effort in Pennsylvania could serve as a model for other states looking to streamline operations and improve service delivery, according to a fellow at the Institute for Responsive Government.
LA’s push for modernization looks to spur housing development, reduce agency costs
A centralized portal for permitting services, experts say, will help the city streamline the application and approval process and could set the stage for other municipalities to follow.
Too many cubicles, too few homes spur incentives to convert offices to housing
States are stepping in with tax breaks and zoning changes to help replace the unwanted cubicle farms with much-needed housing.
Government software that shines: Solar permitting’s bright future in 2024
COMMENTARY | By automating the permitting process for rooftop solar, cities and counties can save time and money for their building departments and homeowners.
Plans to install EV charging stations are about to run into an ugly wall of permitting and utility delays
COMMENTARY | We must overhaul dysfunctional municipal permitting systems and utility connection processes if we expect to install close to 7 million electric vehicle charging stations by 2035.
‘I felt so naughty’: New open carry alcohol laws boost downtowns
Some places see promise in areas allowing visitors to shop, sip and stroll.
US water infrastructure ‘unsustainable’ amid rapidly evolving crisis, report warns
The United States is facing an unsustainable demand for water and lacks the security posture to defend the nation’s water systems from emerging threats, according to a new report.
Feds announce funds for renewable energy facility planning
State and local governments can apply for funds to support the complex decision-making processes around large-scale renewable energy planning, siting and permitting.
Mayors Oppose a GOP Bill to Speed Up Broadband Permitting
The proposal would put a “shot clock” on permit approvals in an effort to streamline the process to build broadband around the country. But mayors say it preempts their ability to make crucial construction decisions.
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County sees huge performance gains when permitting moves to the cloud
Cloud-based permitting speeds workflow for staff, eases pressure on IT and gives customers automatic permitting and virtual inspections options.
Why a Power Line Project Can Take 14 Years to Permit
Amid a push to greatly expand the nation’s clean energy infrastructure, key grid upgrades require approvals that can take years to complete. Can regulators strike the right balance between speed and environmental protection?
Clash Over Infrastructure Permitting Heats Up on Capitol Hill
Despite objections from fellow Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says he will press ahead with a deal to attach an overhaul of energy project permitting to a must-pass spending bill. Meanwhile, Republicans have a plan of their own.
A State Provides an Online Option for Driver's License Tests
Prospective drivers in Minnesota can now take their learner's permit knowledge test online, one of several state initiatives deployed during the coronavirus pandemic.
How One City Went Virtual In 30 Days
The southern California city of El Cajon moved to paperless permitting in just under a month, a project that had originally been expected to take a year.
Streamlining Local Health Department Inspections and Permitting
No two agencies are alike, which made designing a software solution for preconfigured forms and procedures difficult in the past.
Mayors Eye Two-Pronged Attack on FCC’s Preemptive 5G Order
The latest effort is a new bill in Congress that would overturn the agency on its rule that strictly limits how much local governments can charge providers and how long officials can take to process applications.
Senators Seek to Rein in State Power Over Key Environmental Permit
A lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council said the GOP-backed legislation threatens to “neuter the rights of all 50 states to protect their rivers, streams and coastal waters.”
5G Faceoff on Capitol Hill
Localities want more of a say in broadband policymaking. The U.S. wireless industry wants to win its race with China.
For Cities, Creativity and Convergence Need to Be the Norm
According to the former mayors of Albuquerque and Philadelphia: “It’s our job to make SXSW live on all year long. Here’s why.”
