New dashboards provide enhanced insights into City of Portlands building permit processes

Portland Permitting & Development launched updated dashboards to boost transparency in the permit review process, responding to customer feedback. The dashboards provide insights into commercial and residential permits, illustrating average and median review times since 2020. Users can filter data by permit type and sub-type, including residential homes and commercial properties, along with total valuations. Interim director David Kuhnhausen stated, "Permitting is a partnership between the City and the customer," highlighting their commitment to improvement. Data updates occur every Monday, enabling City leaders to identify areas needing enhancement in the review process.

This initiative stems from the Permit Improvement Task Force established in 2021, which aimed to reduce approval times for permits. The dashboards initially launched in 2022, offering weekly updates on permit phases and comparisons over the years. Enhanced transparency aims to foster collaboration between the City and its customers, ultimately improving service efficiency.