Log in

Maricopa County reports increase in building permit submissions

Posted 5/27/20

Data from the Maricopa County Planning and Development Department shows some encouraging signs for the nation’s fastest-growing county.

Building permit submissions are up …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Maricopa County reports increase in building permit submissions

Posted

Data from the Maricopa County Planning and Development Department shows some encouraging signs for the nation’s fastest-growing county.

Building permit submissions are up substantially year-over-year, with a greater percentage of these being completed online, according to a release.

Planning and Development reports 1,371 permit applications were submitted in April 2020 compared to 1,141 in April 2019, a 20% increase, the release states. Permit submission numbers have grown every month so far in 2020.

“We know the economic impact of this crisis is far from over and we are seeing impacts across all industries,” stated Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman, District 4. “What this data represents to me, though, is a reason to be hopeful. People continue to build in Maricopa County. They want to invest in their future here, and the Planning and Development Department is allowing them to do that with greater ease even during times of social distancing."

According to the release, Planning and Development received 4,897 permit applications in the first four months of 2020. The department issued 3,596 building permits, including 720 new house permits, during that same time period. The total value of the issued permits was $294,967,958. In the first four months of 2020, 65% of building permit applications were submitted online, a trend that began even before the full impact of COVID-19 shutdowns was felt.

“Improvements to the online permitting experience made prior to the pandemic have enabled more individuals and businesses to apply for permits on their schedule, at their convenience. In fact, we saw the percentage of permits submitted online jump from 49% in January to 77% in March,” stated Jen Pokorski, Planning and Development Director. “Our team is committed to building on these successes so our community can grow in a safe, balanced way.”

Planning and Development’s customer lobby closed to the public March 26 due to COVID-19, and a virtual counter was established in its place that allowed business to continue with minimal disruption, consistent turn around times on plan review, and prompt building inspections. Permits are accepted online or via drop box, and staff is still available by phone or the website to answer any questions. The data indicates that demand for online services was increasing even when the physical customer lobby was still open, according to the release.

Over the past several months, Planning and Development, with support from the Board of Supervisors and county leadership, has prioritized additional online options, including offering FastTrack permits to be submitted electronically. FastTrack permits are permits for simple projects, such as pools, carports and fences, that can be processed the same day.

Last fall’s redesign of the county website, Maricopa.gov, included an easier-to-understand online permit process.