City of Syracuse Central Permit Office Launches ePermits Service

Phase one of the electronic permit process begins with electrical and HVAC applications, saving customers time and resources

City of Syracuse Central Permit Office announced the launch of the newly implemented electronic permit submission and approval process, ePermits, offering convenient, 24-hour electronic access to electrical or HVAC permit applications. The online permit system from Startup in Residence (STiR) partner, Camino, gives licensed trade professionals the ability to submit an application, pay for and track it remotely. 

Electrical and HVAC trade professionals no longer have to make time to physically come to the Central Permit Office to fill out an application and then pay for it in person. Applications must be associated with an account, which is free to create, requiring a name, e-mail, and professional license number. In addition to being able to submit the application online, applicants can chat directly with inspectors, respond to questions, and see where each application is in the process from start to completion.

“The launch of ePermits is a crucial step in development and improvement procedures for the City, from the largest commercial structure to the smallest residential property,” said Jake Dishaw, director of Central Permit Office. “Customers will save time and resources with our office moving many of its permit application processes online, affording my staff and other departments the opportunity to focus on other priorities.”

Camino, a software development company, focuses on next generation customer service applications. As a part of the STiR program, Camino worked with the City to find innovative solutions to identify challenges for permit operations for the Permit office, the City’s designated service Priority Area in 2019. Camino began building the system over a year and a half ago, with the goal of incorporating additional permit types into the design in the future.

The Central Permit Office issues more than 1,600 HVAC and electrical permits each year. Eliminating the paper process for a number of permits is projected to save more than 400 hours of staff time.

Permit fees have not changed and will vary based on the type of permit(s) requested. The Central Permit Office plans to launch its digital plan review software later this year. The modifications will be a part of the next phase of improvements made to the Office, removing the need to store large sets of plans for an appointed amount of time.