Improve Resident Service with Better Community Development Software

Darin Wilson said the choice was clear when the county government he worked for wanted to find modern community development software.

Wilson, who now serves as Planning and Zoning Administrator for the City of Garnett, Kansas, got to know Cloudpermit in late 2023 in his former role for Linn County, Kansas. At the time, he said the county was using several different systems, and it was time to explore new options.

Out of all the ones we looked at, Cloudpermit was the most user-friendly and gave us the best product because it all ties together,” he said.

Garnett now uses Cloudpermit’s software for building permitting, contractor registration, licensing, and code enforcement, and will soon add land use management as well.

Wilson said citizens and contractors quickly learned how to use the platform, and it’s become a popular way to apply for building permits and licenses.

It’s also been crucial in making his work a little easier. With one address search, he can quickly pull up all property information, including permits and code violations.

It’s all right there instead of having to go to different sources to find that information,” he said.

Better Service for Residents

Because it is a user-friendly government platform, Wilson said the vast majority of citizens quickly learn how to apply with Cloudpermit’s community development software if they need a permit or license. Most chose to apply for pet licenses online when the city recently went through its renewal process.

While some people aren’t tech-savvy or are somewhat apprehensive about using online tools, he’s been able to improve customer service to those who need help because he has more time in his day to assist them.

I can put more time into other needs versus what I was doing with the old system that we had,” he said.

Now, if a resident comes in and wants help, Wilson walks them through the Cloudpermit process by showing them training videos and materials that break the process down, step by step.

I use the training side of it quite a bit to show people not to be afraid of it and that it’s easy to use,” he said.

Improved Communication with Applicants

Automatic notifications about application updates or requests for additional information have streamlined the process for Wilson and the citizens he serves. If a building permit is due for renewal, they’re automatically notified and can renew online. If more information is needed, he can quickly send a message through the platform and get a faster response.

He said this saves everyone time and cuts down on back-and-forth phone calls asking about the status of an application.

They’re busy, I’m busy, and so it’s a great feature,” he said.

Overall, he said residents are happy with the way this modern community development software has made the overall process simpler and faster.

You can do it when you have time to do it, versus making the trip here to the office and filling out the paperwork and waiting for it to be processed,” he said. “It gives people more time.”

Faster Turnaround Times

Wilson said there are many ways that Cloudpermit has helped speed up permit processing times, and that means homeowners and contractors aren’t delayed in getting to work on important projects in the community.

The platform requires complete applications, and applicants for a permit or license can’t submit until they’ve entered every required document or detail. He said this cuts down on the need to seek out additional information and makes his job more efficient.

Since we get complete applications, it’s all there when you start your review, and you don’t have to stop and wait a few days for further information,” he said.

Even if he’s on vacation, Wilson can review and approve building permits with his phone or laptop, meaning applicants aren’t waiting for him to get back into the office.

Inspections are faster as well thanks to Cloudpermit’s mobile inspections app that works whether he’s online or offline, making it possible to quickly get his work done in the field and not have to re-enter notes and photos back in the office.

I can do an inspection on my phone, take pictures, and upload them right there,” he said.

He said the seamless platform for citizens and government staff has greatly sped up approval times compared to the community’s former paper-based processes.

It’s cut my time in half from doing it the old way,” he said.

Help Contractors Get to Work Sooner

Wilson and his citizens have appreciated the switch to Cloudpermit, and he said contractors are impressed with it as well because it makes their jobs easier.

Contractor registration and renewals are simple and efficient on the platform, and they can get the approvals they need much sooner so they can get to work.

They don’t have to take time out of their day to come to the office, fill the building permit out, come back, and pick it up,” he said. “They go home at night and make their applications, and I approve them.”

Critical home and business projects can be approved almost instantly now thanks to the many ways that Cloudpermit speeds up processes and cuts down on delays.

Roofing contractors really like it because if the roof is in bad shape, they’ll ask how long it takes to approve the permit — four or five days? Nope. I can usually get it done the day they send it in,” he said.

Improve Government Services with Modern Software

There are many reasons why local governments across North America are choosing Cloudpermit’s community development software. The right platform can improve citizen engagement and make it possible for even a small staff to offer better customer services to residents and stakeholders.