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Development Services highlights faster permit reviews, 'Home of My Own' expansion and video inspections
Summary
Yavapai County Development Services told the board the department has reduced first‑review permit turnaround to about three weeks, expanded the 'Home of My Own' standardized home plans, and is rolling out video inspections intended to cut travel time and speed approvals.
COTTONWOOD, Ariz. — Development Services staff on March 27 outlined recent performance improvements and programs designed to speed permitting, lower costs for homebuilders and improve customer service across Yavapai County.
Director Jeremy Dime and assistant director Mark Busan highlighted three main items: average first‑review permit times have improved to roughly three weeks for all permit types; the 'Home of My Own' program now offers six standard home plans and reduced permitting fees to support workforce housing; and a video inspection program lets inspectors use live or offline video to complete many inspections in 10–20 minutes, saving staff mileage and applicant wait time.
On 'Home of My Own,' Busan said the county provides free, pre‑designed plans and waives plan‑review fees so residents only need to address site‑specific geotechnical or engineering needs. "So currently we have 2 1‑bedroom, 1‑bath; 2 2‑bedroom, 2‑bath; and 2 3‑bedroom, 2‑bath homes for them to choose from," Busan said. He told the board the program has been expanded under the board’s budget to allow other municipalities (Prescott Valley, Pinal County, the town of Clarkdale and others pending) to use the plans under contract.
On remote inspections, Busan described the CitizenServe‑integrated workflow and an app that can operate offline and upload photos and video when a signal is available. "Our inspector will then be able to walk them through what they need to see... and they're able to give that approval within 10 to 20 minutes," Busan said, adding that videos and photos are automatically stored in project records.
Why it matters: Faster reviews and digital inspections reduce cost and time for applicants in rural areas where inspectors face long travel times. The standardized plans aim to lower upfront design costs for workforce housing but supervisors asked for updated issuance and certificate‑of‑occupancy counts to measure program results.
Next steps: Staff agreed to provide a detailed report on 'Home of My Own' permitting and CO timelines and said the department will continue to expand the video inspection program as adoption grows.
