Partnership With Cloudpermit E-Permitting Software Is First In BC
TERRACE – The City of Terrace will now be able to process building permits and complete building inspections online following a partnership with e-permitting software Cloudpermit, which simplifies and streamlines the permitting process for permit applicants, consultants, and City staff alike. The
As the province of BC strives to go digital with permitting services, Terrace is leading the way in the northwest region of BC. The City is the first in BC to make use of this software, which allows applicants to apply for a building permit online, track the progress of their application, and receive their results all in one convenient online portal.
Cloudpermit will also enable consultants, such as those required for Energy Step Code compliance, to engage in a more project-specific way in their client’s permit application process
“We’ve been searching for something like this for almost 10 years. We talked to a handful of different software companies, but none were building permit–specific, and in the end, we started the process of developing something in-house,” said David Block, Director of Development Services. Cloudpermit first started operations in Canada in 2018. “When we were introduced to Cloudpermit, we found they had a package that does exactly the functions we were looking for,” Block said.
“This comprehensive software will allow us to efficiently process, track, and follow up with permits all in one place,” said Nathan Brooks, Building Official for the City of Terrace. “Cloudpermit is flexible, configurable, and very user-friendly for our contractors, who have been asking for this for a while. It will help ensure effective communication with everyone involved in a building project—we can provide updates and request inspections all within a web browser.”
The City also has plans to explore outsourcing its services to nearby municipalities who may not have trained building inspectors on staff. “Logistics and distance made this challenging before, but with the ability to do inspections virtually, there are lots of opportunities to develop service agreements and build partnerships in order to lend a hand to neighbouring smaller local governments,” said Block.
“We’re thrilled for more local governments in BC to learn about Cloudpermit and how it can help communities support each other,” said Paul Hollas, Cloudpermit Sales Manager for Western Canada. “The City of Terrace will set a wonderful example for the rest of the province in its move toward digitalization.”
