Internet Permitting and Inspection Scheduling System in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

• Author: Sommers, Sheila
• Position: Brief Article

In Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, a new system is making it easier for the construction industry to do the work necessary to continue the county's growth. The new Internet Permit and Inspection System allows builders, electricians, mechanics, and plumbers to apply for permits, schedule inspections, and inquire on inspection and account status all over the Internet.

The new system replaces a remote access permitting system that allowed building contractors to access the department's mainframe computer through a modem and special software. With the former system, the contractor was required to purchase the software and was charged a subscription and monthly use fee. Despite the additional cost, submitting construction permit applications through the remote method became so popular that the system reached its maximum capacity within months of its unveiling. Because the system could only accommodate about 60 contractors, a waiting list had to be created.

To accommodate more contractors and provide greater services, the new Internet-based system was introduced on September 1, 1999.

New System

The new Internet-based system is available at no charge and can be fully accessed by any customer who has a bonded billing account established with the department. As one of the business requirements for Mecklenburg County, anyone engaged in construction, installation, maintenance, alteration, or repair for which a permit is required must file a continuous surety or cash bond with the department. This not only guarantees payment of fees and charges and indemnifies municipalities against loss for damage of municipality property, but it also allows for the broader use of the new permitting system.

System security is monitored by assigning each contractor a unique password that is connected to their permit fee billing account. When a contractor signs on using their password, the system identifies their company. If desired, the contractor can even view the status of their own billing account with the department to determine their current status, when payments are posted, and if their charge limit is about to be exceeded.

Implementation

The project took approximately 18 months to complete with an additional 60-day testing and "fix" period. A pilot program also was performed that allowed a limited number of contractors to use the system for their everyday business with the county during the testing period.

The total cost of the project was $196,000. A...