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Dallas planning and permitting overhaul credited with shorter permit times and new digital tools
Summary
City officials described a post-merger Planning and Development Department’s progress — a drop in median permit issuance times across categories, new process teams, virtual inspections and a pending software replacement — and outlined priorities including zoning reform and staffing.
Dallas planning leaders on Wednesday credited a recent merger of planning and development services and a series of process changes with sharply reducing permit issuance times and improving customer service, while warning that staffing shortages — especially plumbing inspectors — remain a constraint.
Emily Liu, director of planning and development, said the merged department is focusing on three priorities this year: development-code reform, process innovation and customer-service culture. “Together, we're planning and building a better Dallas for all,” Liu said as she introduced a report of 2024 accomplishments.
Deputy director and chief building official Sam Eskander detailed specific performance improvements tied to process changes such as a Lean Six Sigma review with…
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