![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Building-permit-process-improving-house-construction.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo File<\/p>\nTake a look at the following comparisons between the first half of 2025 vs. the first half of 2024.<\/p>\n
RESIDENTIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION: Average duration of permit review and approval process reduced 69%, from more than 6 months to about 2 months.<\/p>\n
RESIDENTIAL ROOFTOP SOLAR: Average duration of permit review and approval process reduced 61%, with most approvals now completed in just more than a month.<\/p>\n
ALL PERMIT TYPES: Average duration of permit review and approval process reduced 66%, from nearly 5 months to less than 2 months.<\/p>\n
\u201cImproving the building permit system required an outside perspective and our county working collaboratively with the private sector,\u201d Alameda said in a release about the improvements. \u201cThat\u2019s why one of my first actions as mayor was to ask this task force \u2014 consisting of contractors, drafters, realtors, architects, engineers and county staff \u2014 to come together to help identify existing barriers and solutions so that we can serve the interests of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
The county is seeing real results through that effort, as well as those of its staff, alleviating the permitting backlog.<\/p>\n
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD<\/p>\n
Changes made based on the task force\u2019s recommendations include:<\/p>\n
Increased training for staff and the public.<\/p>\n
Weekly permit tracking and reporting.<\/p>\n
Filling long-vacant positions.<\/p>\n
Processes that allow flexibility, such as corrections to applications that can be made via the phone.<\/p>\n
Everything is aimed at minimizing corrections and resubmittals, greatly improving the efficiency of the permit review process.<\/p>\n
Local contractors and business owners are noticing the improvements.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is much greater understanding and transparency in the department, which improves communication and engagement with the staff,\u201d Walter\u2019s Electric and Lokahi Construction owner Kaimi Chung said in the county release.<\/p>\n
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD<\/p>\n
Hank Correa with Hank Correa Realty, HJC Development and Hanale Builders added that prior county administrations were challenged with the building permitting process, but it seems like Alameda\u2019s team found the right recipe for success.<\/p>\n
\u201cNavigating the permitting process used to be a major hurdle for our projects, but now it\u2019s much more efficient,\u201d Nicole Kanda with Hawai\u02bbi International Consultants noted in the county release.<\/p>\n
Hawai\u02bbi County also plans to launch a pilot program to streamline residential rooftop solar photovoltaic permits by providing approval through the intake process.<\/p>\n
By consolidating review in a single intake phase, processing times for those solar permits would be further reduced and allow staff to focus on more complicated and review-intensive applications.<\/p>\n