Port Townsend launches new online permit portal

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The city of Port Townsend has launched an online portal to assist with permitting. 

The portal will help streamline the permitting process. Building and right-of-way permit applications will be accepted electronically starting in January. 

The city’s Planning and Community Development and Public Works departments are leading the launch and will accept permits starting Jan. 3. 

The digital transition will reduce permit processing time.

“Electronic permitting will improve our ability to effectively deliver timely and predictable permits,” said Mayor David Faber. “This supports city council’s initiative to resolve our community’s housing challenges by increasing transparency, customer satisfaction, communication, and eliminating the costs involved with printing and managing paper records.”

Applicants will save time, gas money, postage, and supply costs with the online portal, according to the city. The permitting portal will expand beyond mechanical, solar, and re-roofing permits to building, street development, and minor improvement permits. 

“The city’s permit database was never fully developed to accept digital online submissions, until now. Staff diligently worked with our software vendor to configure what would be needed for the digital communication to occur,” said David Nakagawara, a city building official. “The process feels like a space exploration adventure. For years, we knew how to heat the spaceship to grow food and survive, but now we have the knowledge and ability to launch and explore the galaxy.”

Applicants will need a portal account first, and can sign up on the city’s website.