DPP outlines permit backlog, new Clarity portal and SIVCheck to speed reviews for Bill 7 and other projects

The Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) briefed the zoning committee on June 26 about its building-permit backlog, staffing and planned software upgrades intended to accelerate reviews—issues that directly affect Bill 7 affordable-housing projects.

DPP reported average internal-review durations for code review cycles and a longer overall duration that includes applicant response time and interagency reviews. For residential code review DPP reported an average 12 days per review cycle (noting residential cycles may repeat) and a reported total average duration of roughly 374 days that includes multiple review cycles and applicant-side time. For commercial code review the department reported an average commercial code-review cycle of 84 days and a total average duration of about 460 days.

Why it matters: Council members and developers have pushed for faster processing of Bill 7 projects—city-designated expedited projects intended to produce affordable rentals—but DPP said the complexity of multi-discipline projects and interagency reviews means a simple 90-day "shot-clock" approval would be unsafe and could approve incomplete plans.

Planned tools and staffing

DPP described two major technology steps: the Clarity-based online portal (to be branded "HNLbuild") and an AI-enabled plan pre-check tool called SIVCheck to run pre-submission validations. DPP said HNLbuild will centralize online permitting, tracking and collaboration; the target launch is in August. SIVCheck, DPP said, will be rolled out for single-family residential review first this fall and for commercial work later; the department called SIVCheck "a real game changer" for reducing review cycles by flagging missing or noncompliant items before formal permit submission.

DPP also described increased standardized training for reviewers (building, electrical, mechanical) and ongoing hiring efforts for commercial plan reviewers. The department reported full staffing for residential-review positions but continued vacancies for commercial electrical/mechanical reviewers.

Bill 7 project status and 90‑day rule

DPP provided a visual status of roughly 57–58 Bill 7 projects: many are in various review stages; several are “with the applicant” for revisions. The department reminded the committee that state law requires that a complete Bill 7 application be approved or disapproved within 90 days — and that failure to do so deems a permit approved. DPP and committee members said neither automatic approval after 90 days nor blanket disapproval is acceptable: automatic approval risks life-and-safety issues; automatic disapproval would unfairly penalize applicants. DPP said it prioritizes Bill 7 projects but that these projects nevertheless entail many disciplines and agency reviews (stormwater, fire, water, wastewater, structural, electrical and mechanical).

Ending: DPP said HNLbuild and SIVCheck, combined with training and hiring, should shorten review cycles and improve consistency; officials asked the committee to avoid policy changes that would force unsafe, premature approvals and to consider supporting resources to sustain the new systems and staffing.