Construction Permit Management Software: How Does it Work?

Construction permit management software is a relatively new concept in the construction industry. Managing vendor agreements, major deadlines, inspection dates, and permit submissions involves many moving parts. Since permit management involves so many moving parts, it’s no wonder that things like project management software and permit management software came into existence. 

While construction project management software is designed to manage and organize the components of an entire project, permit management software focuses specifically on organizing the permits needed to complete construction.

In this article, we discuss the importance of construction permit management software, the challenges with the current system, and ways you can implement this tool into your current workflow.

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What is construction permit management software?

Construction permit management software is a tool that helps construction teams keep permit submissions organized. This software is especially beneficial for teams handling multiple permits across different municipalities. 

Construction permit management software often has key features such as:

• Tracking of permit submissions
• Document management
• Centralized communication tools
• Digital preparation 
• Notifications and alerts for urgent requests

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The problem with the traditional permitting process

The traditional permitting process involves manual submissions, extensive back-and-forth, and communication with multiple stakeholders. While this all used to be done in person or through the traditional postal system, there have been advancements to include digital submissions and electronic correspondence.

The main issue is that submission processes vary by municipality, and communication methods differ widely. This means that information can be hidden in a portal, through your email, or sometimes even verbally over the phone with no written confirmation anywhere. This makes the approval process time-consuming and costly and greatly increases the risk of lost documents and miscommunications.

Construction permit management software like PermitFlow streamlines complex municipal processes into an intuitive, step-by-step system.

PermitFlow leverages advanced software and local expertise to create requirement-ready, error-free applications that can save your team hours and expedite municipal review cycles.

Our digitized process makes permitting faster, easier, and more efficient throughout the entire permitting journey:

1. Preparation: Gather all necessary permit application requirements directly within PermitFlow. Our digitized process minimizes errors, saves time, and reduces costs.
2. Submittal: Submit your application effortlessly via PermitFlow, bypassing the need to navigate confusing municipal websites. We handle the local nuances of both online and in-person submittals.
3. Tracking: Monitor your submittals and receive instant notifications of any municipal responses. We provide updated review time estimates, ensuring transparency and predictability for your project.
4. Approval: Pay any remaining fees, receive your permit, and start construction immediately. It's that simple.

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Benefits of using construction permit management software

Adopting construction permit management software may seem like just another expense to add to your workflow, but implementing it can provide you with some major benefits.

Customers of PermitFlow were able to see:

• Increased workflow efficiency and reduced permit approval times
• Higher accuracy in permit submissions, resulting in fewer resubmissions
• Reduced risk of penalties and non-compliance
• Enhanced communication and collaboration among teams
• Increase in communication and collaboration with other teams
• Organized access to key documents and communications

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Construction permit management software in action

Commercial construction organization Wright Construction Group achieved more visibility and control over their permitting process by adding PermitFlow to their process.

The team juggled many subcontractors and vendors, on top of permit submissions to get everything they needed done. However, this management was time-consuming, and delays from sub-contractors unnecessarily extended timelines and construction costs.

Once the Wright Construction Group adopted PermitFlow, they were able to see a comprehensive view of their permit status for each project. All permits for projects managed by Wright Construction were tracked through PermitFlow, providing the team with the transparency and visibility they needed to keep their permits moving forward.

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Choosing the right permit management software

When considering the right permit management software, it's crucial to understand the features and requirements specific to your organization. When choosing the right construction permit management software, it’s important to think about:

• Permit management visualization and expediting: How your permit management software visualizes the permit submission process is important. Be sure to look for software that clearly outlines when you have necessary action items and how far along you are through the submission process. 
• Nationwide coverage and local knowledge: If you’re a construction company that has projects in a variety of locations, your permit management software should have information for those areas you service. When choosing a permit management software, look for a tool that supports any municipality nationwide. 
• Integrates with existing software: Permit management software that integrates with other existing tools like Autodesk or Procore. This will minimize the amount of software switching your team has to do to complete their tasks. 

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Streamline permit submissions with PermitFlow

Submitting your construction permits doesn’t have to be a huge waiting game. It’s an essential part of maintaining the safety and security of all builds to comply with local regulations, but it doesn’t have to mean a headache for you.

Ensure efficiency and transparency in all of your permit submissions with PermitFlow. Know exactly when permits need your attention, or how far along you are in the process so you can streamline actions and provide your clients with more accurate timelines.

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If you’re interested in learning about how PermitFlow can streamline your permit submission process, speak with one of our permitting experts today.