Over the last four years, Virginia’s permitting modernization work has been guided by two simple principles. First, the entire process should be transparent. Second, permits should be simple to apply for and should be issued as quickly as possible. The award-winning Virginia Permit Transparency (VPT) dashboard has been the centerpiece of the first goal, providing an unprecedented level of transparency into permit applications. Agencies have also made enormous strides in issuing permits quickly and simplifying the application process. This week’s Highlights recognizes some major successes.

 

Eight Virginia agencies process permits/licenses in 10 or fewer days.

Time spent waiting for a permit or license is time that could be better spent on other things. In some cases, an applicant may be losing money while he waits to receive official permission to engage in some activity. This is especially true in the case of professional licenses: applicants may be giving up increased earnings while waiting to get official clearance.

Several Virginia agencies turn around their permits or licenses in 10 or fewer working days. This allows people to get to work, start new projects, or pursue other worthwhile activities in short order, improving the lives of Virginia citizens.

Several agencies have simplified existing permits and licenses.

A quick turnaround for permit applications is important for keeping economic activity moving. Equally important is making the application as seamless as possible. A handful of Virginia agencies have significantly simplified their permit/license applications. This has included eliminating unnecessary licenses (VDACS) or redundant licenses along with associated fees (VDOT). It has also included moving to a simpler type of permit application (VMRC) and massively simplifying the application materials by consolidating dozens of documents into a single, much shorter document (DEQ). A simpler application process saves time on the front end and allows citizens and businesses to spend more time on productive activity rather than unnecessary paperwork.