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With new technologies, changing business markets and emerging industries, states and local governments are always trying to adapt to new regulatory environments. To assist agencies Accela and the Government Business Council (GBC) polled a random sample of decision makers to provide insights on how governments are responding to new regulatory requirements and increased citizen demand for efficient processes in permitting and licensing. The new research offers recommendations, real-world examples of effective permitting and licensing strategies and a set of best practices for cities and local leaders to consider as they update,… Continue reading

Tags: business licenses, Permitting

Late in 2014, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh announced the launch of Boston 2030, a 15-year strategy to create 53,000 units of housing across demographics and neighborhoods, and effectively plan for anticipated growth at a scale the city has not seen for more than 50 years. Boston isn’t alone in anticipating growth. According to Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, his city permitted a record $2 billion in development in 2014. Additionally, according to the U.S. Conference of Mayors 2015 Metro Jobs Forecast, all 363 metro areas in the U.S. will see future job growth. Meanwhile, the National Association of Counties (NACo) reports that job growth accelerated in 2014,… Continue reading

Tags: digital modernization, Economic Development, Government Software, govtech, Permitting, smart cities

Starting Jan. 1 cities and counties will be extending the time developers have to comply with building permit regulations and Accela is ready to assist governments that may need help adjusting services. California Gov. Jerry Brown signed California Assembly Bill 2913 (AB 2913) on Sept. 21, easing some of the tight building permit compliance deadlines placed on developers. Prior to the law, developers who received a building permit for construction were expected to comply with all building codes currently in force, no matter when those codes were added. This meant builders that received a permit were still required to comply with a code even if it had been added or updated after construction plans were approved or construction was underway. Continue reading

Tags: Building, building app, building application, Building Permits, construction, Construction Permits, Permitting, Planning

The city hopes to speed up its permitting process with a system that gives residents instant access to its building and planning services.

  Accela’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of Accela’s Environmental Health Division Darryl Booth, left, and Fresno Mayor Lee Brand celebrate the launch of the city’s new permitting system. Officials in Fresno, California announced the launch of an interactive permitting and planning tool Thursday, a measure that replaces the city’s previous system while supporting Mayor Lee Brand’s effort to drive economic development through modern city services. Fresno calls the system, developed by Accela, the Fresno Accelerated Application System to Track Electronic Reviews,… Continue reading

Tags: Building Communities, Building Permits, Fresno, Permitting, Permitting and Inspection

The National Association of Counties has recognized San Bernardino with its Achievement Award after the launch of its high-speed digital permitting system 

California’s San Bernardino County’s new permitting system has received top honors from the National Association of Counties (NACo) after earning the organization’s 2018 Achievement Award, an accolade granted to county programs that demonstrate “innovative” service.  NACo announced the awards in a blog post on May 11, where it commended the 615 winning programs submitted from 116 counties and state associations across the U.S. The award validates San Bernardino and Accela’s work to build a modern permitting system that can answer the county’s growing demand in permitting…. Continue reading

Tags: Building Communities, Land Management, NACo, Permitting, Permitting and Inspection

This month, we celebrate Community Development agencies, who oversee the building and permitting codes that save lives and businesses. Accela software helps them do it.

May is Building Safety Month, a public awareness campaign driven by the International Code Council (ICC) to highlight the different elements needed to build safe and sustainable structures.  As the ICC says, building codes save lives. We spend a significant amount of our lives inside structures, so having a safe place to live, work and play is crucial. Building codes, and the local Community Development municipal agencies that oversee and implement them, protect citizens and businesses from many dangerous events like fire,… Continue reading

Tags: Building, Building Safety Month, Code Enforcement, Community Development, Permitting