The City of Chanhassen, Minnesota partnered with CivCheck in a pilot program aimed at improving the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of residential plan reviews within two City review groups.
CivCheck’s software is designed to serve both small and large municipalities. Chanhassen is a smaller city, with a population of 26,000 as of 2023 (DataUSA.io).
Chanhassen plan reviewers add informational stamps directly on plans to remind applicants on what to monitor leading up to inspections. Plans that have errors may be approved conditionally.
This approach poses two problems. First, overlooked stamps could persist as code compliance issues during inspections. Second, this approach puts less pressure on applicants to submit complete and accurate initial applications.
Without a standardized review process, plan reviewers’ comments and expectations can vary between applications. This inconsistency is problematic for one-time applicants unfamiliar with city requirements, increasing review time and applicant confusion.
The CivCheck platform can help standardize the plan review process across different reviewers and departments. Consistently applying code requirements helps ensure fairness, accuracy, and clarity, especially when dealing with a wide variety of applicants.
The platform has the ability to educate applicants, particularly homeowners and one-time submitters, who may not be familiar with the city's requirements or the permitting process. By providing step-by-step guidance and clearly outlining what needs to be included in a plan, CivCheck aims to reduce confusion and improve the quality of initial submissions.
CivCheck’s digital “page-turn” feature walks applicants through the requirements of their submittal, reducing the burden on staff to repeatedly explain regulations and review incomplete or inaccurate plans.
The pilot applied 36 checks on all processed applications. The structured, clear applicant guidance offered by CivCheck’s Permit Intake Module reduced intake errors and omissions, increasing the efficiency of the review process.
Applicants can use CivCheck to apply code-based “stamps” to their plans, using the same standardized language and format that city reviewers use. This approach reduces staff workload by shifting some of the initial markup responsibilities to the applicant. It also improves the quality of initial submissions by encouraging applicants to identify and address code requirements early.
This self-certification process aligns with the City’s “approved as noted” review style. It can also enhance efficiency by streamlining plan review and inspection preparation.
This product definitely improves consistency in reviews because you have to verify that you checked for everything.
-Residential Plans Examiner
CivCheck has the potential to make the permitting process much easier for homeowners and contractors by walking them through the process. By breaking down the code and providing specific standards, it makes the process close to foolproof. It also speeds up reviews by ensuring that applicants submit all necessary information upfront.
-Residential Plans Examiner
