Spokane Valley putting permit processes online

Spokane Valley is allowing people to apply for some permits online.

Demolition and re-roofing permits are available for online application now, and six more are coming for things like signs, plumbing, mechanical and right of way.

These are relatively simple permits that businesses have been applying for via mail or fax for years now, said city Development Services Coordinator Mike Turbak. “It was logical to move that business model to the (online) portal,” he said.

The website also allows individuals to search for all permits granted based on an address, parcel number, type of permit or contractor name. Businesses can check the status of their permit application, whether they applied online or not, and see when inspections are scheduled and make payments.

To apply or search for a permit, visit www.spokanevalley.org, click on the permit center link on the left and click on the link to online permitting.

Perhaps the greatest benefit is that contractors can use the system on their own schedule, Turbak said. They no longer have to make a phone call or stop by City Hall to check on a permit. “They can go online 24/7 and they’ll be able to see the status,” he said.

The city is slowly rolling out the types of permits that can be applied for online because each application is being customized to make it user friendly, said Community Development Director John Hohman. “We’re trying to take an incremental approach to this,” he said.

So far 112 user accounts have been created. “For those two permit types, most of our vendors have switched over,” Turbak said. “This isn’t something we’re going to have to force on people, that’s for sure.”