ABSTRACT
In order for building construction to begin, continue, and finish within the United States, legal codes must be adhered to in accordance with the local and state ordinances. To ensure compliance throughout construction project life cycles, permits must be applied for, reviewed, and issued. Within many jurisdictions, the application, processing, and issuing initially took place on paper. Building contractors would apply for the permit with a paper application in the permitting office of their city, county, or state. Reviews of the application would take place on paper. Communication would be sent via email or physical mail. And the final paper copy of the permit would be sent to or printed by the contractor and posted at the location. Many organizations throughout the country have elected to undergo a digital transformation by eliminating this paper process and replacing it with tech solutions. A mid-size city in the Upper Midwest, a small town near the Canadian border, and an outer-ring suburb of a large Southeastern city serve as informative case studies of this transformation. They reveal several challenges, including change management, lack of available resources, and organizational staff consistency. They also reveal several advantages of a digitized permitting process, including improved levels of service, greater transparency, and more efficient revenue generation. For these and many other organizations, while the digitization process was difficult, the successes justify the effort of adoption.
