With new software, Palm Beach will go online to apply and pay for building permits
For the first time in Palm Beach's history, residents and others soon will be able make permit and land-use applications online and pay online, says Planning and Zoning Director Wayne Bergman.
The announcement of the new software — Enterprise Permitting & Licensing software by Tyler Technologies — that will enable this sea change came Friday in a release from the town.
The software, which will launch April 2, is custom-built for the town and has been in development for more than a year, Bergman told the Daily News in an email Monday.
Applications for the Architectural Review Commission, Landmarks Preservation Commission and Town Council, along with Business Tax Receipts and building permits all will be accepted and processed through this new software, Bergman said.
The EPL software will allow people to apply for permits, submit plans, request licenses, make payments and track application progress in an online portal, the town said.
The new system "is going to be a giant step forward from where we are now with our current software," said Planning, Zoning & Building Department office manager Debby Moody.
More: Palm Beach's first Intracoastal waterfront restaurant gets OK for more parking spaces
For the public, the biggest change will be the ability to apply and pay online, Moody said, but the new software also will allow staff to process applications more efficiently.
Because the new software is based on the Geographic Information System, staff will be able to track projects electronically and see on a map where they are, Moody said. While the current system used by the department allows staff to make some maps, it does not allow integration with GIS, she said.
According to U.S. Geological Survey, GIS is a computer system that analyzes and displays geographically referenced information. It uses data that is attached to a unique location.
Moody noted that the new software already is being used by a number of area municipalities including West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens.
"I’m very excited," she added. "I know what it's going to mean a lot for residents, contractors, applicants."
Once the system kicks in, applicants can go to the portal and create an account, then navigate from there.
Because of software updates for the launch, neither inspection scheduling nor inspections will be available on Thursday and Friday. Those services will resume April 2.
For more information, visit the town's Permits and Licenses webpage.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach will go paperless for permit and land-use applications
