The City of Frederick is proud to announce the launch of its new online portal, powered by OpenGov Permitting & Licensing, aimed at enhancing services by streamlining and expediting the permit processing system. As the population in Frederick has doubled over the past two decades, the City recognized the need for a more efficient permitting process.
The volume of permit and license applications has surpassed 3,000 annually, driven by the city's population growth. The surge in applications is largely attributed to increased construction of new housing units as well as commercial buildings, and constituents modernizing and remodeling various aspects of their properties, including buildings, outdoor dining spaces, decks, sheds, and electrical systems. With the adoption of OpenGov's online application platform, the City aims to meet this demand by providing a more flexible, efficient, and transparent process for residents.
"The implementation of the OpenGov permit portal reflects the City’s commitment to leveraging technology and finding innovative solutions that streamline processes and enhance efficiency in our interactions with residents through City government,” said Matt Bowman, Manager of Information Technology.
Public Works Director Zack Kershner highlighted the significance of streamlining processes, stating, "As the City continues to grow, it's crucial to simplify and expedite our permitting processes both for our staff and applicants, ensuring a smoother experience for all involved. This portal represents a significant move forward for the City."
The OpenGov Permitting & Licensing system offers residents and developers the ability to apply and pay for permits and licenses online. The automation of operational processes will create opportunities through efficiencies gained to shorten the review of applications and reduce turn-around time for permit approvals. In addition to enhancing the speed of processing, the platform allows residents to access critical information about community initiatives, review, approve, and schedule inspections from a single online platform, and improves data accessibility for more informed decision-making.
The permitting and licensing portal follows the launch of a rental property registry on OpenGov in August 2023. This initiative further demonstrates the City's ongoing efforts to provide enhanced service for residents. The rental property registry portal can be accessed here (https://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/rlo ).
"We are thrilled to partner with the City of Frederick to modernize the online permitting and licensing portal," said Claudia Arriaga, SVP of Customer Success at OpenGov. "Our mission is to power more effective and accountable government, and working with agencies like Frederick inspires us to keep investing in our platform and communities."
For more information about the OpenGov Permitting & Licensing platform and the City of Frederick's initiatives, please visit https://www.cityoffrederickmd.gov/onlinepermits.