Improving Development Review

This report, prepared for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Policy Development and Research and targeted at building departments, addresses the importance of streamlining the development process through effective use of information technology tools to improve both the timeliness and quality of their services. These tools have included online permitting, electronic plan submittals, plans tracking and review, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), licensing of contractors, and scheduling and conducting field inspections. It covers conducting a process assessment, identifying stakeholders, finding resources, procuring hardware and software, and putting a system in place.