What to Look for in Building Permit Software for Construction Teams

The permitting process is broken—with complex barriers, red tape, and a winding trail of paperwork to go through, it’s challenging for construction teams to get the necessary permits they need to get their builds done

Building permit software is the solution to that problem. With building permit software, construction teams can identify clear processes based on municipality, manage multiple permits at once, and consolidate permitting documentation all in one place.

The hard part is choosing the right software for your team. This article breaks down the intricacies of permitting software and what you should look for when choosing building permit software.

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What is building permit software?

Building permit software is primarily used by teams within the construction industry to manage the process of applying for and submitting building permits to municipalities for approval before a project begins. Jurisdictions require building permits to ensure that the construction of new buildings and other projects comply with local codes and safety standards.

The best building permit software helps your team manage multiple permit submissions, monitor where permits are in the review process, and analyze your historical permit submission data while expediting your permits so your team can get your project started.

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Why is building permit software necessary?

Depending on the municipality you’re building in, filing a permit can be a convoluted maze of paperwork. If filed incorrectly, your timeline can run into major delays before your project even begins. This process becomes even worse when you add additional permits to the process—so much so that some teams may even hire a dedicated individual just to manage the permit submission process.

Using building permit software helps minimize all of these issues. Effective building permit software clearly outlines the permitting process in different municipalities to ensure that applications are accurate and complete, every time. It’s also a great way to consolidate communications and files related to the permit submission process. If multiple team members are attaching information, this is a great way to provide a central source of truth.

In addition to outlining the requirements needed to submit an accurate permit, building permit software helps provide status updates for permits-in-progress. This helps your team provide a more accurate timeline for your clients, so they know exactly what to expect.

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What to look for when choosing building permit software

Building permit software can come with a variety of different features. You must know what to look for when choosing the right software for your team. Here are three major things to look for when choosing the right building permit software for your construction team. 

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Permit management and expediting

Look for software that visualizes where your permits are in the pipeline, and alerts you if there are any actions needed from your team to move the process forward. Great building permit software like PermitFlow helps centralize all of your projects in one place, so you can quickly identify what permits need your attention at a glance.

The best building permit software helps to get rid of as much of the bureaucratic red tape as possible, so you can start your projects sooner. PermitFlow helps you identify what is needed for your application, no matter what jurisdiction you’re in. That way, each application is submitted correctly the first time without any issues or delays.

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Nationwide coverage and local knowledge

There’s no doubt about it—applying for and obtaining a building permit is a frustrating process. Depending on what municipality you’re in, the information you need and the process varies. This makes managing multiple projects in different municipalities a nightmare.

Building permit software can help construction teams understand what exactly they need to submit to a municipality for their project, no matter where the project is located. This is why it’s important to look for a solution with nationwide coverage and local expertise, so your team can balance several projects with ease. 

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Supports integrations

When implementing building permit software, consider how this tool might interact with other processes you already have in place. Look for a solution that integrates with other software your team is already using like Autodesk or Procore. 

Using software that integrates with your existing workflow minimizes the amount of back-and-forth your team has to do to complete their tasks. With these integrated, all of the information and work is done in one place, simplifying the permit submission process as a whole. Now your team has more time to get back to building, instead of managing the permit process.

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Break ground faster with PermitFlow

Minimize the amount of time chasing paperwork for permits and start your projects faster with PermitFlow. With nationwide coverage and local expertise across all municipalities, you’ll see faster approvals and meet your client’s expectations on time and within budget.

Interested in learning how PermitFlow can help you? Talk to an expert today.