Professional builders dislike surprises, particularly when it comes to the cost of projects and the time required to complete them. But obtaining permits is a necessary step for any construction project, and permits aren’t always granted overnight.
The city of Durango launched a new online permitting system in July intended to improve communication and make project timelines more predictable.
Durango Development Services Manager Daniel Murray said a common sentiment the city hears from builders is they want predictability when going through the permitting process. They need to know what standards must be met and what documents they need to submit to the city.
They want to know what the city is looking for during inspections and how long it will take for an inspection to occur, he said. That information helps keep builders on schedule.
“What we need is the ability for people to apply online, make payments online,” Murray said. “That allows people to upload their applications, no longer having to come to our office, drop off paper or pay fees at the counter, and they can (upload their documents) on their schedule.”
He said many construction jobs have people working after-hours on weekends. It’s hard to drop off documents or make a payment at the counter when the Community Development Department is closed.
Building permit fees to increase Tuesday
Building permit fees are scheduled to increase Tuesday.
Durango Development Services Manager Daniel Murray said the fee rate hasn’t changed, but the valuation of homes, determined by the cost of construction per square foot, has risen.
A news release published by the city said the new building permit fees represent an increase in construction costs from 2013 to 2023, but the valuations “are still well below the actual cost of construction in Durango.”
The city relies on the International Code Council, which researches construction costs, creates building codes and publishes the average cost per square foot to build homes, factories and other structures, to determine its building permit fees.
Murray said Durango City Council approved a resolution to update the fees in May, which haven’t been changed since the current fees were adopted in 2013. The city will update its fees to align with the ICC’s 2023 home valuations.
He said the city typically updates building permit fees every five years. He said he doesn’t know specifically why the fees remained the same for the last decade, but the COVID-19 pandemic played at least a part in it.
– Herald Staff
The city’s new OpenGov online permitting system is intended to communicate all of that information and more. Murray said the system has been well-received by builders who have been waiting for better, streamlined communication with the city.
Community Development’s doors remain open during regular business hours too, he added. People who prefer pen and paper to touchscreen are still welcome to submit their information in person.
Permit applicants can view the status of their application and any documents the city needs, from planning and engineering documents to building and fire code inspection information, he said.
Murray said one feature of OpenGov he particularly values is a visual workflow that allows city planners and customers to see exactly where they are in the permitting process, what next steps are and how to finally reach permit issuance.
“There was often this one question of, ‘I've submitted, what comes next?’ And this really helps answer that question,” he said. “We communicate through the portal as well. So if we need changes, we can communicate to the applicant. They upload a piece of information, we're immediately notified they've uploaded that useful missing piece of the plan or revision, and that way it's all being tracked in one central place.”
Since the city of Durango launched its online permitting system for land-use and building permits, it has received 67 planning applications and 55 building permit applications; close to half of those permits have been issued, he said.
Some building permit processes are simpler than others.
“A solar permit can be applied for and issued in the same day,” he said. “Some permits are intended to be very streamlined: plumbing, mechanical, gas lines.”
But a building permit for new home construction, for example, requires many steps and weeks to tick boxes like building compliance, engineering and land-use compliance, he said.
“I've been able to observe firsthand how well the system is working for these same day permits,” he added. “An individual can submit (it) first thing in the morning. You never come. They get … a ‘Yes’ in their inbox.”
He said as Community Development continues to use OpenGov, it will track more data about expected lead times and project costs, allowing staff and customers to gain better ideas of project timelines and expenses.
cburney@durangoherald.com
