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Baltimore City Permit Process Streamlining
Since the beginning of the last mayoral campaign, two and a half years ago, the AIABaltimore Urban Design Committee has been working with the mayor and city administration to improve attitude and processes related to the significance of the built environment and high-quality design in the lives of citizens and communities throughout Baltimore and central Maryland.
Discussions and programs with the Baltimore Development Corporation, the Planning Department and the Department of Housing and Community Development include meetings with, and suggestions to, Didi Elmenshawy, Director of Permits and Code Enforcement at DHCD. Elmenshawy has accepted our invitation to summarize the goals and developments since she began the permit process streamlining. Please take special note of her expectations of the architect’s role in improving the process.
If you have any comments or questions, or to join the Urban Design Committee, please contact co-chairs Gordon Ingerson AIA at gingerson@grantarchitects.com or 301.459.8383, or Klaus Philipsen AIA at kphilipsen@archplan.com or 410.685.2002.
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“The City of Baltimore is committed to streamlining the permit process and making it user-friendly. It has completed certain aspects of the process to date and expects overhaul of the whole process within the next 18 months.
The following has been achieved to date:
- Reorganization of staff and creation of Chief of Permits, with all permits process under Didi Elmenshawy, Director of Permits and Code Enforcement.
- Fast Track Permits Process is in place whereby specific kinds of alteration permits are issued on Tuesdays and Thursdays or the next day.
- Adopted the Maryland Building Rehabilitation Code as of June 1, 2001.
- Improved Department of Public Works, Department of Planning referral process by requiring six sets of plans for simultaneous review.
Implementing the following will complete the streamlining in progress:
- Renovate 1st floor of Benton Building for One Stop Shop by relocating the Election Board Offices and Locating all staff functions in the vacated space.
- IVR System for status check and scheduling inspections in progress.
- A comprehensive computerized permit system by "TideMark" is in process with functions related to Department of Public Works, Office of Transportation, Department of Planning and Fire Department integrated into the system for ease of use by these departments.
- Hire Supervisor of Office Services.
- Move Minor Privilege Section back into Department of Housing and Community.
- Development under Director of Permits and Code Enforcement.
- Relocate Property Location Staff on the 1st floor offices at Benton Building.
- Hire case workers and develop customer service training.
- Develop a user-friendly comprehensive permit process manual dealing with all aspects of permitting.
- Develop public accessibility for the TideMark computerized permit processing system, which will be done in stages during the next 18 months.
- Adopt International Building Code 2000 around July 1, 2002.
As a result of changes already implemented:
- 98% of total plans reviewed within thirty days.
- 28% of total plans reviewed under Fast Track Permit Process.
Over the Counter Permits (i.e. without plans) issued same day or if referrals are required, permits are issued within one to three weeks.
Conclusion
When the above is completed and the TideMark computerized system goes on line in the Spring of 2002 with public access to the same available by summer of 2003, we are confident that the design profession at large will realize a tremendous reduction in turn-around time from application to issuance of permits. We are making these improvements for the Design Professionals and, in return, we expect that the profession will provide 100% completed drawings when submitting plans for permits, include a complete code analysis for the project, and respond to review queries in a timely manner.”
-- Didi Elmenshawy, Directors of Permits and Code Enforcement, Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development
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