Paperless Permitting Popularity Grows in Bellevue

Paperless permitting is catching on fast in Bellevue. Just four months after the city launched online review for mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits, nearly 30 percent of them are being processed that way.

While “simple” permits, which require no staff review, have been available online since 2002, making permitting paperless when plans are involved is a big step.

“It has definitely saved our company money in several different ways,” said Darla Doll of Seattle-based contractor MacDonald Miller. “We don’t have to pay a runner up to $35 an hour to take our permits into Bellevue and then again to pick the permit up. 

“The time it takes to fill out the online forms and upload the drawings is less than when I had to print off two sets of drawings, fill out the paper forms and then schedule a runner to take it the next day,” Doll added. “I like the convenience of applying anytime, getting revision requests faster and being able to send in responses or changes so quickly.”  

Bellevue’s Development Services Department is working hard to eliminate the need for paper, with plans to expand online review to all construction, fire protection, right of way, utility connection and land use actions by May 2013. 

Paperless permitting provides customers and staff the benefits of a more efficient method of accessing city services. In October www.mybuildingpermit.com was reconfigured to allow for electronic applications and communication between city staff and the customer, eliminating the need for paper forms, plans and documents.

Bellevue is a founding member of the eCityGov Alliance, a regional effort to provide government services though web portals including MyBuildingPermit.com. Bellevue now issues 72 percent of simple mechanical, electrical and plumbing permits online. 

Bellevue went live with paperless permitting for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing applications that require plan review in October; and Kirkland, Burien and Snohomish County also offer the service. The other nine eCityGov Alliance cities will begin offering paperless permitting in 2013.

Staff is enthusiastic about being able to offer electronic plan review.  

“It is very exciting to be part of the new wave of plan review,” mechanical plans examiner Valerie Graber said. “The whole idea is a win-win. The reviewer and client can easily clarify and resolve problem issues while looking at the plans online. We will be able to work with clients in a more team-like environment.”  

Applying online reduces the costs for the applicant and the city, as well as reducing impacts on the environment. The applicant no longer has to submit multiple copies of paper plans or drive to City Hall to apply only during business hours. City staff no longer have to store large rolls of plans or create and route paper files, and they can more easily access the application to reduce review time. 

Specialized software allows electronic review of the PDF plans and provides the ability to place comments directly on the pages. Collaborating with surrounding jurisdictions to provide this service through a joint portal lowers the overall costs and provides a benefit to our common customers.  

Note: This story originally ran in the city of Bellevue publication "It's Your City," and is reproduced with permission.