Philadelphia seeks online portal for permit applications

    The goal is for people to be able to get permits without ever entering the Municipal Services Building.

    The city of Philadelphia is working on ways to streamline the permit and development process. The goal is for people to be able to get permits without ever entering the Municipal Services Building.

    Listen:
    [audio:100125TMPERMIT.mp3]

    Currently, if you want a permit you go to the basement of the MSB and wait in line. Mayor Michael Nutter says it’s time to make that happen over the Internet.

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    Nutter: Our ultimate goal is that anyone would be able to go online, fill out the forms that are needed, attach their plans, submit the application and pay, we really like that part, and track their application, from anywhere in the world.

    A quarter million dollar study funded by the William Penn Foundation came up with ways to make the process better. Many of the recommended tweaks are in the process of being implemented, but no deadline has been set for completing the improvements.

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