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Portland Permitting & Development is now offering commercial building permit customers the option of scheduling a meeting with a plan reviewer to discuss any corrections identified on a check sheet.
City permit review professionals issue check sheets when items on a proposed set of construction plans need updates to meet building codes. Check sheets are common for most development projects and add time to the permit process. By offering time for customers to meet with staff after the first check sheet is issued, the city is aiming to help clarify what is needed to achieve faster permit issuance, Portland Permitting & Development stated in a press release.
While plan reviewers’ contact information is listed on each check sheet so that customers can reach out with questions, this is the first time that Portland Permitting & Development has directly offered virtual meetings, up to one hour long, at this phase of a commercial building permit’s review.
Offers for these consultations are published on check sheets and in ProjectDox – the city’s plan review software. Customers wishing to schedule these meetings must contact the identified city professional to do so.
Portland Permitting & Development began testing this approach last year through a pilot project with 20 new apartment buildings. The average permit review was reduced by one check sheet, saving time and money for the customer, according to the press release.
Due to staff limitations, these virtual sessions are available only to commercial permit customers and only for first-round check sheets addressing life safety, structural, site development, erosion control or mechanical issues. Though such sessions are not offered for other types of permits and reviews, the city encourages customers to contact the reviewers listed on their check sheets as needed.
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