How to Expedite Building Permits

The following graphs show that median building permit processing time for small (Mom & Pop) developers is about 4.5 months longer since ePlans became mandatory for new buildings (Figure 1). However, after a troubling start, the median building permit processing time for Large Developers only increased by about 9 days (Figure 4).

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An AIA National policy brief states that permit delays result in lower tax revenue for local municipalities and increase the cost of construction.

Other ideas to expedite building permit processing time:

1. Require an intake review (i.e., zoning, traffic, fire dept, engineering, building, electrical and mechanical code examiners) with the design professional team at the time of initial permit submittal. Projects that do not have adequate parking, required easements, infrastructure, or other major deficiencies can be prevented from beginning plan review -- saving the City and developer a lot of wasted time reviewing plans that have little chance of approval. Other cities (including the Big Island) already have a similar procedure in place.
2. Limit access to key Dept of Planning and Permitting (DPP) personnel to qualified industry professionals, or create a certification process to prescreen who has access to key personnel. Their time is important and should be focused on tasks that require a higher level of skill and experience. 
3. More rigorous certification and training requirements for 3rd party reviewers, especially 3rd party residential plan reviewers. Currently an Engineer can be certified and approve residential projects, but that does not mean that he/she is aware of building height envelopes, parking or park dedication requirements. Establishing a base level of knowledge can help improve training for new City plan examiners as well as quality control for residential 3rd party reviewers. 
4. Seek IAS Accreditation for the Honolulu Dept of Planning and Permitting and implement best practices for plan review and building permit issuance.
5. Review County plan examiner and inspector salaries to improve recruitment and retention  of highly qualified employees. Currwntly, Honolulu DPP salaries do not appear to be competitive with the private sector or comparably-sized  municipalities in the continental US. Sample job posting for Permit Center Manager for the City of Sunnyvale.