One common suggestion made to me by building contractors and land developers is that online permitting solutions need to be regionally focused.   The work of these professionals often takes them across multiple towns, counties and jurisdictions, requiring multiple permits. 
 
These folks would normally start the conversation by posing a couple of questions: “Does your software allow me to see a portal view of all my permits, activities and inspections in all the places I work?”  Does it also allow me to apply and pay for permits across multiple jurisdictions from a single portal screen?”  Our conversation would then drift into the vision of how all this would work, agreeing that it’s a great idea.

Well, I’m happy to report that Accela Automation 6.7 has made this vision a reality.  The product now provides the ability to set up a “super agency” that “rolls up” all the activities of the agencies that it umbrellas.  Smaller agencies within the same regions can now work in concert to provide transparent permit and inspection services to their customers. 

Not only is the functionality available, it’s being put to work in the State of Oregon, where the Department of Consumer and Business Services is performing exactly that “super agency” role through its website, www.BuildingPermits.Oregon.gov.   Using Accela Citizen Access as a portal, the new site provides enhanced functionality for mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits – allowing customers to determine which permits are required in different jurisdictions, apply and pay for them in a single “shopping cart”, and access a list of their permits and authorizations at any time. With this “super agency” in place, the State is able to offer brokered services, in which fees from one consolidated transaction are then dispersed by the state to appropriate jurisdictions. 
 
I recently heard that Oregon’s new program is serving building contractors from 33 municipal building departments across the state and – just since June 2009 – has processed nearly 6,400 permits totaling over $667,000.

I often talk about transparency, immediacy and usability as the most important factors affecting the adoption of e-government technologies at the state and local level.   We all know that transparency is now expected from the public sector.  Regulators and the public demand a greater window into government processes.  Immediacy is increasingly assumed by the public.  Nowadays, we all want to conduct business with our governments 24/7, just as we do with airlines, banks and retailers.  But Usability is often overlooked and is the most critical issue for technology adoption by government agencies.  Solutions have to connect across systems, departments and jurisdictions; scale to meet agencies’ long-term needs; and – most of all -- provide an easy-to-use interface for agency workers and the public. 

Oregon’s approach meets all of these needs.  I say hats off to Oregon for stepping up, addressing market needs, and making the longstanding dream of contractors and land developers a reality in their State.