Permitting and Licensing

With the Ohio city pursuing major redevelopment, officials have launched an online permitting portal they hope will ease that effort. Cleveland’s building director explains what’s happening — and what comes next.

The debut of the new website, PermitSF, comes after four months of development work with OpenGov. It reflects the growth of online permitting in governments across the country — a trend supported by AI.

The Ulster County Department of Motor Vehicles will reopen Thursday following a system update that compelled DMVs across the state to shutter. The state has implemented the first phase of a multiyear project.

The company is moving beyond its roots in floodplain management tools for local government. The goal is to provide faster services to residents when it comes to permitting, emergency management and other areas.

The deal seeks to create what amounts to a one-stop shop for permitting and public works. An Accela executive explains the thinking behind the acquisition and what comes next for the combined company.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who took office this week, orders improvements to the permitting process, calling for a dashboard and other work. She also wants to use AI to improve state operations.

State Department of Motor Vehicles offices will temporarily cease operations mid-month to bring the first part of a multiyear project online. The initiative will modernize a great deal of legacy tech.

The local government has partnered with Blitz AI to make its building permit process more efficient. The integration automates formerly time-consuming manual application reviews.

Hawaii’s capital city is using CivCheck’s platform to review applications and speed up the permitting process. Bellevue, Wash., also uses AI permitting process tools, and Louisville, Ky., will soon pilot them.

The largest city in Kentucky recently hired a public-sector AI leader, and marked the first AI pilot for the local government. Louisville, in need of affordable housing, wants to build AI leadership.

The company supplies digital licensing, lien and other automotive-documentation tools, and works with state agencies and other gov tech providers. CHAMP has raised more than $100 million since 2018.

Work on the new portal began in 2023, with the next phase scheduled for 2026. Nevada joins other states in setting up such portals for a variety of tasks, including accessing services such as unemployment benefits.

The myColorado app now lets ID verifiers like government agencies or businesses scan a QR code on a user’s digital ID to quickly determine its validity. Some 1.8 million of the state’s residents use the app.

The startup, backed by two government technology veterans and other investors, uses AI to speed up the permitting process as many cities face housing shortages. Bellevue, Wash., is among the company’s early clients.

The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting has temporarily shuttered its building permit counter to resolve a backlog. Other services remain open. A “first look” at new AI software is imminent.

In North Carolina and elsewhere, thousands of fliers get special screenings every week because they don’t have a REAL ID or other credential that meets federal standards. They may soon be charged for that.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s new digital application, MyWDFW, will support license purchases. It’s coming around the time of the new license year, which starts April 1, 2026.

Residents can add state driver’s licenses and IDs to their Apple Wallets, the secretary of state said Tuesday, enabling their use at select airports, restaurants and bars. An expansion to Android users is next.